The Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing for Screen and Television, is an intensive two-year degree program that concentrates on writing for narrative film and television. During the course of their studies, students benefit from a wide array of internship and mentorship opportunities available as a result of the university’s close links to the Los Angeles film industry’s top screenwriters, directors, production companies and studios.
Course work includes practical instruction in everything a working writer needs to learn about the filmmaker’s art and craft. Writing is taught in small workshop-style classes. The approach focuses on the visual tools of storytelling, developing stories from characters and then on an Aristotelian three act structure. Fractured narratives, ensemble stories, experiments with time and points of view, as well as other idiosyncratic styles of storytelling, are also addressed. The curriculum covers other professional concerns, including legal issues, agents and the Writer’s Guild, as well as the history and analysis of cinema and television. Classes are taught by working writers with a wide variety of skills, experience and approaches.
Each fall 32 students are selected to begin the Graduate Writing for Screen and Television Program; there are no spring admissions. Applicants must submit a supplemental application and materials to the Graduate Writing for Screen and Television Program. For specific instructions, contact the Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-8358 or online at cinema.usc.edu .
A total of 44 units is required. A minimum of 30 units must be 500-level or above.
Required Courses (34 units)
Year one, first semester.
CTWR 502 Graduate Writing Symposium Units: 1
CTWR 513 Writing the Short Script Units: 2
CTWR 514a Basic Dramatic Screenwriting Units: 2
CTWR 521 Advanced Hour-Long Television Drama Units: 2 or
CTWR 534 Advanced Half-Hour Television Comedy Units: 2
CTWR 572 Practicum in Directing Actors for Film Units: 2 or 4
CTWR 537 Advanced Half-Hour Comedy Series Pilot Units: 4 or
CTWR 539 Advanced Hour-Long Drama Series Pilot Units: 4
CNTV 530 Cinematic Ethics Units: 1
Year Two, First Semester
CTWR 515a Practicum in Screenwriting Units: 4 or
CTWR 517a Thesis in Half-Hour Television Comedy Units: 4 or
CTWR 519a Thesis in Television Drama Units: 4
CTWR 559 The Business of Writing for Screen and Television Units: 2
Total units: 6
Year two, second semester.
CTWR 515b Practicum in Screenwriting Units: 4 or
CTWR 517b Thesis in Half-Hour Television Comedy Units: 4 or
CTWR 519b Thesis in Television Drama Units: 4
Total units: 4
A minimum of 2 units of course work with a production component is required.
Courses with a Production Component (2 Units)
CTAN 448 Introduction to Film Graphics — Animation Units: 4
CTIN 501 Interactive Cinema Units: 2
CTPR 476 Directing The Comedic Scene Units: 2
CTPR 479 Straight to Series: Development of Episodic TV Drama Units: 2
CTPR 484 Advanced Multi-Camera Television Workshop Units: 4
CTPR 491 Viral Comedy Units: 2
CTPR 504 Fundamentals of Production Units: 4
CTPR 507 Production I Units: 4
CTWR 403 Writing the Narrative Podcast Series Units: 2
CTWR 438 Linked Narrative Storytelling for the Web Units: 2, 4
CTWR 477 Staff Writing the Sketch Comedy Show Units: 2
CTWR 487 Staff Writing the Multi-Camera Television Series Units: 4
CTWR 497 Staff Writing the Single-Camera Half-Hour Series Units: 4
A minimum of 4 units of cinema and media studies course work is required.
CTCS Courses (4 Units)
CTCS 407 African American Cinema Units: 4
CTCS 417 African American Television Units: 4
CTCS 464 Film and/or Television Genres Units: 4
CTCS 469 Film and/or Television Style Analysis Units: 4
CTCS 501 World Cinema Before 1945 Units: 2
CTCS 502 World Cinema After 1945 Units: 2
CTCS 503 Survey History of the United States Sound Film Units: 2
CTCS 504 Survey of Television History Units: 2
CTCS 505 Survey of Interactive Media Units: 2
CTCS 510 National/Regional Media Units: 4 max 12
CTCS 511 Seminar: Non-Fiction Film/Video Units: 4
CTCS 518 Seminar: Avant-Garde Film/Video Units: 4
CTCS 564 Seminar in Film and Television Genres Units: 4
CTCS 569 Seminar in Film and Television Authors Units: 4
CTCS 587 Seminar in Television Theory Units: 4
Electives (10 units)
Students may choose from the following electives to complete their degree. Additional courses beyond the required 4 units of CTCS course work, from the cinema and media studies list of courses, may be taken as electives, as can additional courses from the list of courses with a production component. Electives outside of cinematic arts are available with departmental approval.
CNTV 595 Professional Practicum Units: 1, 2, 4 max 8
CTAN 436 Writing for Animation Units: 2
CTIN 458 Business and Management of Games Units: 2
CTIN 488 Game Design Workshop Units: 4
CTIN 558 Business of Interactive Media Units: 2
CTPR 486 Straight to Series: Production of Episodic TV Drama Units: 4
CTPR 506 Visual Expression Units: 2
CTWR 404 Foundations of Comedy Units: 2
CTWR 407 Creating the Comedic Character Units: 2
CTWR 411 Television Script Analysis Units: 2
CTWR 417 Script Coverage and Story Analysis Units: 2
CTWR 430 Comedy Writers and Their Work Units: 2
CTWR 431 Screenwriters and Their Work Units: 2 max 6
CTWR 432 Television Writers and Their Work Units: 2 max 6
CTWR 499 Special Topics Units: 2, 3, 4 max 8
CTWR 518 Introduction to Interactive Writing Units: 2
CTWR 526 Advanced Storytelling for Interactive Media Units: 2
CTWR 541 Dreams, the Brain, and Storytelling Units: 2
CTWR 555 Pitching for Film and Television Units: 2
CTWR 557 Seminar in the Business of Writing and Producing Television Units: 2
CTWR 560 Advanced Business Practices for Writers Units: 2
CTWR 599 Special Topics Units: 2, 3, 4 max 8
Writing Intensive Electives
CTWR 410L Character Development and Storytelling for Games Units: 4
CTWR 433 Adaptations: Transferring Existing Work to the Screen Units: 2
CTWR 435 Writing for Film and Television Genres Units: 2, 3, 4 max 8
CTWR 468 Screenwriting in Collaboration Units: 4 max 8
CTWR 520 Advanced Scene Writing Workshop Units: 2
CTWR 522 Advanced Hour-Long Television Development Units: 2
CTWR 549 Advanced Rewriting Workshop in Hour-Long Drama Units: 4
CTWR 550 Advanced Story Development Units: 2
CTWR 553 Advanced Rewriting Workshop Units: 4
CTWR 585 Advanced Genre Writing Units: 2 or 4 max 8
Courses listed as writing intensive electives are considered heavy writing classes; students may take a maximum of three courses and 10 units of writing intensive courses per semester, required and/or elective.
Additional Requirements
Grade point average requirement.
An overall grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) must be maintained in all courses. In addition, an overall grade point average of 3.0 in all units attempted is required to qualify for registration in CTWR 515a , CTWR 515b , CTWR 517a , CTWR 517b or CTWR 519a , CTWR 519b . Courses in which a grade of C- (1.7) or lower is earned will not apply toward a graduate degree.
In lieu of a thesis the student is required to either complete a full-length screenplay, which will be developed in CTWR 515a , CTWR 515b ; or a pilot script and a series bible for a half-hour television comedy, which will be developed in CTWR 517a , CTWR 517b ; or an original one-hour drama television pilot, mid-season episode and series bible, which will be developed in CTWR 519a , CTWR 519b ; this final work must be accepted by the Division of Writing Graduation Committee.
Students must maintain satisfactory progress toward their master’s degrees at all times. The time limit to complete all requirements is three years from the first course at USC applied toward the Master of Fine Arts degree. Course work more than seven years old is automatically invalidated and may not be applied toward the degree.
What are you looking for?
The graduate program.
USC English is one of the most vibrant, innovative and productive departments in the nation, with 41 full-time and joint faculty training a talented cadre of Ph.D. students whose work is theoretically sophisticated, broadly interdisciplinary and historically rich. Our Ph.D. program is composed of two tracks, one in Literature and one in Creative Writing and Literature . The Literature track trains students in English, American and Anglophone literary cultures, criticism and theory and admits 10 to 12 students each year. The Creative Writing track admits 4 to 5 students a year.
Three qualities distinguish USC English from other top Ph.D. programs.
Signature Features
Ph.d. in creative writing and literature.
In addition to our Ph.D. in English Literature , USC English is one of a very small group of institutions in America to offer a combined Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature . Students admitted to this track take a series of writing workshops taught by our internationally renowned creative writing faculty and graduate literature seminars with their cohorts in the literature track. Working together as scholars, students in both tracks find the collaboration a remarkably fruitful, mutually inspiring, and indeed unique aspect of our program.
Cross-Examination and Collaboration
Unlike traditional departments that organize themselves according to historical periods, USC English finds its intellectual coherence in a variety of interests that tend to overlap periods and fields. Literary history is vital to our endeavors but is filtered through a series of shared rubrics and strengths which include, but are not limited to:
Early Modern / Nineteenth-Century literature : With over ten faculty members who work between British and American literatures in this historical time period, USC’s English department represents one of the highest concentrations in these fields. Prospective study in these areas is augmented by nearby, world-class institutions such as the Huntington Library and the Clark, and USC’s own Institute for Early Modern Studies.
Poetry and Poetics : Recent years have seen a renaissance of cutting-edge work in the genre of poetry, especially in modernism but reaching out to earlier periods and encompassing the critical work of our poets.
Gender and Sexuality : Historically strong in feminist criticism, the department now boasts unparalleled depth in queer theory and studies in sexuality.
Media, film, and popular culture : The study of popular culture in the department reaches across all literary periods, from twentieth-century film to performance studies and studies in material culture.
Studies in race and minority literatures : Many of our Americanists specialize in minority and ethnic studies; associated concerns such as global, transnational, and postcolonial theory; or regional literatures of California and the West.
Narrative studies : One of the department’s strongest clusters involves the study of narrative, including the history and theory of the novel, film narrative, and non-fictional narrative.
Career Training
To a degree unprecedented in other programs, USC English’s curriculum incorporates a series of “professionalization” courses designed to introduce Ph.D. students in both tracks to current issues and debates in the profession, thereby preparing them to enter academia equipped with the best tools possible. These courses mark pivotal stages in the students’ progress from arrival to placement. See “ Career Training and Placement ” for more details.
Featured Collaboration
See Professor of English and Comparative Literature David St. John discuss his collaboration with Thornton professors Frank Ticheli and Lisa Sylvester , teaching classes in which graduate writer/poets, composers and singers come together for a semester to create and perform new works for voice/piano (some chamber works) with original texts from creative writing students.
Application Codes
Ph.D. in Literature Post code 382
Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature Post code 1087
Graduate Alerts
The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation offers dissertation completion fellowships and is interested in questions concerning violence and aggression in relation to social change, intergroup conflict, war, terrorism, crime, and family relationships, among other subjects. Please see the link below for more information.
Guggenheim Fellowship
Life in L.A.
Living and studying in one of the great cities in the world is an incomparable educational experience.
Contact Details
Usc department of english.
3501 Trousdale Parkway Taper Hall of Humanities 404 Los Angeles, CA 90089-0354
Office Hours
Monday – Friday
8:30am- 5pm
Times may adjust in accordance with university holidays.
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COMMENTS
- PhD in Creative Writing & Literature
the Ph.D. in CREATIVE WRITING & LITERATURE PROGRAM is one of the few dual Ph.D. programs in the country that weaves the disciplines of literature and creative work into a single educational experience. Students complete coursework in both creative writing and literature. The dissertation project is comprised of creative and critical manuscripts ...
Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature
About the Ph.D. Track in Creative Writing and Literature. ... Requirements for admission to study in the Ph.D. program in Creative Writing and Literature include: B.A. degree in any area of study; GPA, undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) ... University of Southern California University Park Campus Los Angeles, CA 90089-0354 (213) 821-0477.
Literature and Creative Writing (PhD)
The program provides dual emphasis in literature and creative writing, culminating in the dissertation, which combines critical analysis with creative originality. Roughly half of the dissertation is based on original research, that is to say, research contributing to knowledge which enriches or changes the field.
Undergraduate
About the Undergraduate Program. We offer a broad range of courses in English, American and Anglophone literature of all periods and genres, but also in related areas such as creative and expository writing, literature and visual arts, ethnic literature and cultural studies, the history of the English language and of literary criticism, and literary and cultural theory.
The Writing Program
Writing Program courses are designed to help students develop practices of reading, writing and critical reasoning that are necessary for success in academic and professional discourse. Writing Program pedagogy emphasizes small classes and frequent conferences in order to provide the highly individuated instruction and careful feedback ...
Programs, Minors and Certificates
Undergraduate Certificate. • Food Industry Management Program. Minor. • 3-D Animation in Cinematic Arts Minor. • 3-Dimensional Design Minor. • 3D Computer Graphics and Modeling Minor. • Accounting Minor. • Advertising Minor. • American Popular Culture Minor.
Best Creative Writing colleges in California 2024
University of Southern California offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 37 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 37 Bachelor's degrees. University of California-Davis offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs.
University of Southern California BA in Creative Writing
Creative Writing is a concentration offered under the writing studies major at University of Southern California. We've pulled together some essential information you should know about the bachelor's degree program in creative writing, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, and more.
How to Apply
Step 3: Pay your Application Fees. The application fee is $90 for all graduate programs, except those offered by the Marshall School of Business ($155) and the International Academy's Pre-Master's program ($175). We accept payments via Visa, MasterCard and Discover card.
Creative Writing at University of Southern California
USC Creative Writing Bachelor's Program. Of the 45 creative writing students who graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2020-2021 from USC, about 31% were men and 69% were women. The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Southern California with a bachelor's in creative ...
John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television
USC University of Southern California. USC Cinematic Arts Search Menu. Programs. ... Division of Writing for Screen & Television teaches students how to create the kinds of scripts that excite creative collaborators, agents, managers, and investors and become real projects. ... Program Coordinator University Park, SCA 335 Los Angeles, CA 90089. ...
Program: English (BA)
University of Southern California ... Programs by School ... Majors emphasizing creative writing must take seven upper-division courses, including two introductory creative writing workshops in poetry and prose, and a third workshop at the 400-level. The remaining upperdivision courses must include one course in literature written before 1900 ...
The Writing Program
University of Southern California ... Writing Program courses are designed to help students develop practices of reading, writing and critical reasoning that are necessary for success in academic and professional discourse. Writing Program pedagogy emphasizes small classes and frequent conferences in order to provide the highly individuated ...
Fully Funded PhD in Creative Writing and Literature at University of
The University of Southern California (USC), located in Los Angeles, California, currently offers an all-encompassing and fully funded Ph.D. program that integrates creative writing and literature. This program is designed for students who aspire to explore both critical analysis and creative expression in their academic pursuits. PhD Program Requirements To be eligible for admission ...
Department of English Language and Literature
Here are the details of our admission criteria, application process, and funding. Applications are due by January 15. The MFA is a three-year, 45-hour program, culminating in a book-length creative thesis. Our signature creative writing outreach program sends MFA students to local public schools to teach poetry and fiction to kids.
Home
The Writing Program has principal responsibility for preparing USC students to write successfully in their academic and professional careers. Our pedagogical approach emphasizes process and rests on three pillars: dialogue and interaction as the core of a writing class; writing workshops as the primary mode of instruction; and individual or group conferences with instructors as a key vehicle ...
Application
Please upload all application materials electronically to the online application. Apply online: https://gradadm.usc.edu/apply/. Upload to your application the following required materials. Creative writing sample: Fiction or Nonfiction (approximately 25 pages) or Poetry (approximately 10 - 12 pages). Please do not send entire manuscripts.
Writing for Screen and Television (MFA)
Applicants must submit a supplemental application and materials to the Graduate Writing for Screen and Television Program. For specific instructions, contact the Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-8358 or online at cinema.usc.edu.A total of 44 units is required. A minimum of 30 units must ...
2025 Best California Colleges with Creative Writing Degrees
#7 Best Colleges in California.University of Southern California. Blue checkmark. 4 Year,LOS ANGELES, CA,4092 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars. Featured Review: Graduate Student says I'm in my second year of the Master of Public Health Program at USC. I originally applied to see if I could get in, and to my surprise, I did.
University of Southern California
University of Southern California. Los Angeles, CA. https://dornsife.usc.edu/cwphd. School notes ... Fiction, Poetry, CNF. Residency type. Full. Program length. 64 units (5 years) Financial Aid. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program in Creative Writing and Literature receive financial support and assistance in the form of Teaching ...
2024 Best Creative Writing Schools in California
11.8% Growth in Graduates. San Diego State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in creative writing. SDSU is a very large public university located in the large city of San Diego. A Best Colleges rank of #141 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means SDSU is a great university overall.
Writing for Screen and Television (MFA)
Applicants must submit a supplemental application and materials to the Graduate Writing for Screen and Television Program. For specific instructions, contact the Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-8358 or online at cinema.usc.edu .
Graduate
The Graduate Program. USC English is one of the most vibrant, innovative and productive departments in the nation, with 41 full-time and joint faculty training a talented cadre of Ph.D. students whose work is theoretically sophisticated, broadly interdisciplinary and historically rich. Our Ph.D. program is composed of two tracks, one in ...
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
the Ph.D. in CREATIVE WRITING & LITERATURE PROGRAM is one of the few dual Ph.D. programs in the country that weaves the disciplines of literature and creative work into a single educational experience. Students complete coursework in both creative writing and literature. The dissertation project is comprised of creative and critical manuscripts ...
About the Ph.D. Track in Creative Writing and Literature. ... Requirements for admission to study in the Ph.D. program in Creative Writing and Literature include: B.A. degree in any area of study; GPA, undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) ... University of Southern California University Park Campus Los Angeles, CA 90089-0354 (213) 821-0477.
The program provides dual emphasis in literature and creative writing, culminating in the dissertation, which combines critical analysis with creative originality. Roughly half of the dissertation is based on original research, that is to say, research contributing to knowledge which enriches or changes the field.
About the Undergraduate Program. We offer a broad range of courses in English, American and Anglophone literature of all periods and genres, but also in related areas such as creative and expository writing, literature and visual arts, ethnic literature and cultural studies, the history of the English language and of literary criticism, and literary and cultural theory.
Writing Program courses are designed to help students develop practices of reading, writing and critical reasoning that are necessary for success in academic and professional discourse. Writing Program pedagogy emphasizes small classes and frequent conferences in order to provide the highly individuated instruction and careful feedback ...
Undergraduate Certificate. • Food Industry Management Program. Minor. • 3-D Animation in Cinematic Arts Minor. • 3-Dimensional Design Minor. • 3D Computer Graphics and Modeling Minor. • Accounting Minor. • Advertising Minor. • American Popular Culture Minor.
University of Southern California offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 37 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 37 Bachelor's degrees. University of California-Davis offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs.
Creative Writing is a concentration offered under the writing studies major at University of Southern California. We've pulled together some essential information you should know about the bachelor's degree program in creative writing, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, and more.
Step 3: Pay your Application Fees. The application fee is $90 for all graduate programs, except those offered by the Marshall School of Business ($155) and the International Academy's Pre-Master's program ($175). We accept payments via Visa, MasterCard and Discover card.
USC Creative Writing Bachelor's Program. Of the 45 creative writing students who graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2020-2021 from USC, about 31% were men and 69% were women. The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Southern California with a bachelor's in creative ...
USC University of Southern California. USC Cinematic Arts Search Menu. Programs. ... Division of Writing for Screen & Television teaches students how to create the kinds of scripts that excite creative collaborators, agents, managers, and investors and become real projects. ... Program Coordinator University Park, SCA 335 Los Angeles, CA 90089. ...
University of Southern California ... Programs by School ... Majors emphasizing creative writing must take seven upper-division courses, including two introductory creative writing workshops in poetry and prose, and a third workshop at the 400-level. The remaining upperdivision courses must include one course in literature written before 1900 ...
University of Southern California ... Writing Program courses are designed to help students develop practices of reading, writing and critical reasoning that are necessary for success in academic and professional discourse. Writing Program pedagogy emphasizes small classes and frequent conferences in order to provide the highly individuated ...
The University of Southern California (USC), located in Los Angeles, California, currently offers an all-encompassing and fully funded Ph.D. program that integrates creative writing and literature. This program is designed for students who aspire to explore both critical analysis and creative expression in their academic pursuits. PhD Program Requirements To be eligible for admission ...
Here are the details of our admission criteria, application process, and funding. Applications are due by January 15. The MFA is a three-year, 45-hour program, culminating in a book-length creative thesis. Our signature creative writing outreach program sends MFA students to local public schools to teach poetry and fiction to kids.
The Writing Program has principal responsibility for preparing USC students to write successfully in their academic and professional careers. Our pedagogical approach emphasizes process and rests on three pillars: dialogue and interaction as the core of a writing class; writing workshops as the primary mode of instruction; and individual or group conferences with instructors as a key vehicle ...
Please upload all application materials electronically to the online application. Apply online: https://gradadm.usc.edu/apply/. Upload to your application the following required materials. Creative writing sample: Fiction or Nonfiction (approximately 25 pages) or Poetry (approximately 10 - 12 pages). Please do not send entire manuscripts.
Applicants must submit a supplemental application and materials to the Graduate Writing for Screen and Television Program. For specific instructions, contact the Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-8358 or online at cinema.usc.edu.A total of 44 units is required. A minimum of 30 units must ...
#7 Best Colleges in California.University of Southern California. Blue checkmark. 4 Year,LOS ANGELES, CA,4092 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars. Featured Review: Graduate Student says I'm in my second year of the Master of Public Health Program at USC. I originally applied to see if I could get in, and to my surprise, I did.
University of Southern California. Los Angeles, CA. https://dornsife.usc.edu/cwphd. School notes ... Fiction, Poetry, CNF. Residency type. Full. Program length. 64 units (5 years) Financial Aid. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program in Creative Writing and Literature receive financial support and assistance in the form of Teaching ...
11.8% Growth in Graduates. San Diego State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in creative writing. SDSU is a very large public university located in the large city of San Diego. A Best Colleges rank of #141 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means SDSU is a great university overall.
Applicants must submit a supplemental application and materials to the Graduate Writing for Screen and Television Program. For specific instructions, contact the Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-8358 or online at cinema.usc.edu .
The Graduate Program. USC English is one of the most vibrant, innovative and productive departments in the nation, with 41 full-time and joint faculty training a talented cadre of Ph.D. students whose work is theoretically sophisticated, broadly interdisciplinary and historically rich. Our Ph.D. program is composed of two tracks, one in ...