Overview

What you will learn

In addition to receiving an unparalleled master's education in the craft of writing, candidates at the Writing for Screen & Television MFA program offered at University of Southern California 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.

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.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Writing the Short Script
Dramatic Screenwriting
Advanced Hour-Long Television Drama
Advanced Half-Hour Television Comedy
Practicum in Directing Actors for Film
Graduate Writing Symposium
Advanced Motion Picture Script Analysis
Advanced Half-Hour Comedy Series Pilot
Advanced Hour-Long Drama Series Pilot
The Business of Writing for Screen and Television

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-23 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-11-15 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

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PTE Academic

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

44 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Los Angeles, United States

Disciplines

Film Studies Creative Writing View 385 other Masters in Creative Writing in United States

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Academic requirements

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Cinematic Arts Supplemental Materials:

Autobiographical Character Sketch
Creative Challenges (A & B)
Most Challenging Moment
Writing Sample (Maximum of 10 pages)
Curriculum Vitae
Creative Portfolio List
Letters of Recommendation (3).

Admission Requirements:

Submit the General USC Graduate Application for Admission
Submit Supplemental Materials via the SlideRoom Application
Send Official Academic Transcripts
Submit Official English Proficiency Test Scores (International Applicants Only)
Apply for SCA Scholarships (Optional).

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

60478 USD / year

≈ 60478 USD / year
Out-of-State

60478 USD / year

≈ 60478 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

60478 USD / year

≈ 60478 USD / year

Living costs

Los Angeles

United States

1520 - 2570 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Writing for Screen & Television.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

What you will learn

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Los Angeles

Financing

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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