CURRICULUM FOR THE MA IN SCREENWRITING
A minimum of 30 units of approved graduate work is required for the degree. At least 18 units of the program shall be in 500 and 600 level courses. A candidate for the Masters degree in Screenwriting will complete at least three screenplays.
REQUIRED COURSES (21 units):
- CTVA 500 THEORY AND HISTORY OF CINEMA AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA (3 units)
- CTVA 501 CONTEMPORARY FILM ANALYSIS (3)
(CTVA 500 is a prerequisite for CTVA 501)
- CTVA 512 ADVANCED SCREENPLAY SCENE WRITING (3)
- CTVA 525 SEMINAR IN SCREENWRITING (3)
- CTVA 622 WRITING THE FEATURE SCREENPLAY (3)
(525 and 622 together make up a single, two semester course wherein students write and polish one feature-length screenplay)
- CTVA 692 THESIS SCRIPT PERPARATION (3)
- CTVA 698C THESIS SCREENPLAY (3)
ELECTIVE COURSES (9 units):
- CTVA 415A-Z INTERNATIONAL CINEMA (3)
- CTVA 416 THE DOCUMENTARY TRADITION (3)
- CTVA 420 SCREENPLAY ADAPTATION (3)
- CTVA 425 ADVANCED SCREENWRITING (3)
- CTVA 428 WRITING SCREENPLAY COMEDY (Sit-com) (3)
(with an approving faculty member)
Required Course Descriptions
Only courses at the 400, 500, or 600-level carry credit toward the master’s degree in Screenwriting.
CTVA 500. THEORY AND HISTORY OF CINEMA AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate status. Survey of the history of cinema/electronic media and cinema and electronic media theory and criticism from the silent era through the fifties.
CTVA 501. CONTEMPORARY FILM ANALYSIS (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate status. Exploration of screen story structure and the screenwriting tools of dramaturgy used in contemporary motion pictures to impact audiences emotionally and intellectually. Effective story outlining paradigms are investigated, and story strengths and weaknesses are analyzed. Written film analysis assignments are required.
CTVA 512. ADVANCED SCREENPLAY SCENE WRITING (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate status. Investigates the techniques and dramatic tools used to write powerful scenes for the screen. Emphasis on the creation of fully dimensional characters, use of visual elements, tempo, timing, descriptive style, and dialogue. This workshop course is product-oriented and students complete a screenplay project.
CTVA 525: SEMINAR IN SCREENWRITING (3)
Prerequisite: CTVA 512. Focuses on mastering the tools of screen story structure for outlining and writing feature-length motion pictures. Demonstrates how, in visual storytelling, character is revealed through behavior, and how good plotting means communicating with viewers about character development through progressive, linking story actions. This lecture and workshop course is product oriented. Students create and polish a detailed story outline and treatment for a complete, original feature-length film, and write the early pages of the screenplay that will be completed and rewritten in CTVA 622.
CTVA 622: WRITING THE FEATURE SCREENPLAY (3)
Prerequisite: CTVA 525. In this course, screen story structure creation undertaken in CTVA 525 will be continued to the completion of a feature-length screenplay. This is a product-oriented course.
CTVA 692: THESIS SCRIPT PERPARATION (3)
Prerequisite: CTVA 525. Instruction in the steps of thesis publication and individual guidance in developing original story ideas into full outlines for thesis screenplays. The first act of a feature-length thesis script is also written as preparation for final thesis completion and publication in CTVA 698C. This is a product-oriented course.
CTVA 698C: THESIS SCREENPLAY (3)
Prerequisites: CTVA 692, 622, 525: Approval of Graduate Advisor