Nov 27, 2024  
2009-2011 Graduate Catalog 
    
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Screenwriting M.F.A.
 

Admission Requirements

Students are admitted in the fall term of each academic year. In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate College, the following materials must be submitted.

  1. A writing sample to the Graduate Coordinator. This sample should be a screenplay. A stage play or prose fiction will suffice if approved by the coordinator. The sample is needed to demonstrate narrative ability.
  2. The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of two references.
  3. Be interviewed, by telephone or in person, by the Graduate Coordinator.

Review of applications begins January 15.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting take a minimum of 54 credits. The candidate is required to take a minimum 36 credit hours from the following list:

Electives

Elective classes will include additional graduate-level film courses as well as graduate-level dramatic literature or creative writing courses taught in other departments such as English, theatre or foreign languages.

Creative Project Requirement

During the three years of study, each screenwriting student will be expected to complete a minimum of four full-length feature motion picture screenplays and two television scripts. In practice, the output is actually closer to five screenplays and four television scripts. One screenplay will be selected to be the candidate’s thesis script. It will undergo final revision as the work most indicative of the candidate’s art and craft.

Final Examination

A two-hour oral examination will take place at the end of the course of study. This examination focuses on the student’s work as a screenwriter (1 hour) and on films selected from the viewing list (1 hour). The viewing list, presented to the student during the course of study, contains motion pictures chosen by merit of their screenplays and the student must be analytically conversant about those movies

Courses

Course work listed is normally open only to matriculating advanced degree students in the Department of Film. Other students who may qualify under Graduate College or university regulations must receive prior consent to register from the Graduate Coordinator.