Screenwriting Minor

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The minor in screenwriting is designed to train students in the creatively challenging field of writing for screen and television. Students learn the fundamentals of writing for film and television with the opportunity to specialize in writing feature length screenplays, teleplays in both drama and comedy, or analysis of the craft of screenwriting.

Application Procedures

To apply to the minor in screenwriting, a student must be in good academic standing, have a declared major, and have previously completed with a passing grade CTWR 409 Fundamentals of Screenwriting: Character, Conflict, and Story.

Applications and information can be obtained at the Writing Division office, SCA 336, (213) 740-3303 and online at cinema.usc.edu.

Course Requirements for the Minor

The minor in screenwriting is a specialized course of study for students who desire a solid foundation in the craft of screenwriting. A total of 16 units is required to complete the screenwriting minor, 10 units from fundamental courses and 6 units of electives.

Fundamentals And Feature Development (10 Units)

CTWR 409 Fundamentals of Screenwriting: Character, Conflict and Story Units: 4
CTWR 321 Introduction to Hour-Long Television Writing Units: 2 * or
CTWR 324 Introduction to Half-Hour Television Writing Units: 2 *
CTWR 415a Advanced Writing Units: 2 *
CTWR 416 Motion Picture Script Analysis Units: 2
*Prerequisite Required.

Total units: 10

Additional Electives (6 Units)

CTWR 402 Writing and Social Change Units: 2
CTWR 403 Writing the Narrative Podcast Series Units: 2
CTWR 404 Foundations of Comedy Units: 2
CTWR 407 Creating the Comedic Character Units: 2
CTWR 410L Character Development and Storytelling for Games Units: 4
CTWR 411 Television Script Analysis Units: 2
CTWR 415b Advanced Writing Units: 4 *
CTWR 417 Script Coverage and Story Analysis Units: 2
CTWR 421 Writing the Hour-Long Dramatic Series Units: 2 max 4 *
CTWR 422 Creating the Dramatic Television Series Units: 2 max 4
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
CTWR 433 Adaptations: Transferring Existing Work to the Screen Units: 2
CTWR 434 Writing the Half-Hour Comedy Series Units: 2 max 6 *
CTWR 435 Writing for Film and Television Genres Units: 2, 3, 4 max 8 *
CTWR 437 Writing the Original Situation Comedy Pilot Units: 4 max 8 *
CTWR 438 Linked Narrative Storytelling for the Web Units: 2, 4 max 8
CTWR 439 Writing the Original Dramatic Series Pilot Units: 4 max 8 *
CTWR 441 Writing Workshop in Creativity and Imagination Units: 2
CTWR 449 Rewriting the Original Dramatic Series Pilot Units: 4 max 8*
CTWR 453 Advanced Feature Rewriting Units: 4 max 8 *
CTWR 468 Screenwriting in Collaboration Units: 4 max 8 *
CTWR 477 Staff Writing the Sketch Comedy Show Units: 2 max 6*
CTWR 487 Staff Writing the Multi-Camera Television Series Units: 4 max 8*
CTWR 499 Special Topics Units: 2, 3, 4 max 8
*Prerequisite Required

Additional Requirements

Grade Point Averages

A minimum grade of C (2.0) in each course is required. A grade of C- (1.7) or lower does not fulfill a minor requirement.

Graduate Courses

Students may not apply more than 16 units of graduate level course work toward their university degree.