It all begins with a script. Before any film, television show, web series, or video game can become a phenomenon, you need words on a page. The John Wells 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. The curriculum immerses students in the SCA tradition of crafting compelling stories and honing your narrative instincts through small workshop classes. You will learn to write short scripts, feature-length screenplays, television episodes in comedy and drama, web series, and scripts for games and other immersive media.
candidates also benefit from the University’s ties to the industry’s top writers, directors, production companies, and studios in Los Angeles, yielding an array of internship and mentorship opportunities.
The Writing for Screen and Television Certificate is awarded for one year of study.
Applicants must be recognized writers outside of the field of screenwriting.
The course of study is no less than 16 units total, over two semesters. Writers, both U.S. and international, should appeal directly to the chair for admission in the fall semester.
Admission is granted to only one or two scholars a year, and is of the highest selectivity. Applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree with at least a 3.0 GPA. Additionally, candidates must show compelling reason for not applying to a formal degree program.
