Apr 20, 2024  
2013-2014 University Catalog 
    
2013-2014 University Catalog [Archived Catalogue]

Writing for Film and Television, Bachelor of Fine Arts


Programs   >  Programs in the College of Art, Media, and Design 
Contacts     Mission     Description     Program Objectives     Program Requirements
 


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  School of Film 
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Contacts

Diane Walsh \ dwalsh@uarts.edu \ 215.717.6560
Program Director

Mission

The Writing for Film and Television program is committed to educating students in the craft technique of screen and television script writing. It emphasizes an applied approach to the writing courses along with an appreciation of the history and criticism of both media. Upon completing the program, students are prepared to engage in scriptwriting professionally or to pursue advanced study in creative writing.

Description

Writing for Film and Television is an undergraduate program that teaches future screenwriters, filmmakers, story-development executives, and producers the art of writing narrative scripts for the screen. Students write feature-length screenplays and hour-long teleplays, gain a sophisticated knowledge of story development, and create, write, and produce episodic drama series for the Web. The core of the experience is writing and revising in a workshop environment with close guidance and support from industry-experienced faculty.

Program Objectives

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Writing for Film and Television will:

  • learn dramatic-structure techniques and apply them to their original written work;
  • solve story problems creatively and through experimentation;
  • gain expertise in critical analysis;
  • develop a more sophisticated and evocative use of language;
  • demonstrate professional scriptwriting practices;
  • generate or find story ideas to develop for movies, television or Web series;
  • learn to work with production crews and to participate in the filming of student scripts;
  • recognize historical and cultural influences on film, television, and the Web in their own writing.

Program Requirements (120 credits)

University Common Curriculum (4.5 Credits)


Additional information available on the University Common Curriculum  page.

CAMD College Core (12 credits)


Required CAMD Core


Image/Time


  • Select 1 course from subjects: IMAG or TIME

Object/Environment


  • Select 1 course from subjects: OBJT or ENVI

CAMD School Core (6 credits)


All CAMD students are required to complete 6 credits of School Core coursework during their first three semesters.  Students are free to select courses from any school or cross-college program.  Refer to the CAMD School Core  page for additional information.

Required Sequence


Complete 1 of the following sequences:

Liberal Arts Distribution (33 credits)


Humanities Seminar (3 credits)


  • Select 1 course from subject HUMS

Period Interpretation (6 credits)


  • Select 1 course from subject LAPI, level 800 (Select 1 course from subject PIPT)
  • Select 1 course from subject LAPI, level 900 (Select 1 course from subject PITC)

Scientific Inquiry Foundation Track (3 credits)


  • Select 1 course from subject LACR, level 200 (excluding LACR 210) (Select 1 course from subject SIFT)

Liberal Arts Electives (15 credits)


  • Select courses from subjects: LAAH, LALL, LAPR, LASM, or LASS
  • Select courses from subjects:
    • AHST (Art History), HIST (History)
    • ARAB (Arabic), FRCH (French), ITAL (Italian), LITT (Literature)
    • PHIL (Philosophy), RELI (Religion)
    • MATH (Math), SCIE (Science)
    • ANTH (Anthropology), PHIL (Philosophy), PSYC (Psychology), SOCI (Sociology)
    • STCU (Cultural Studies), STDA (Dance Studies), STGS (Gender & Sexuality Studies),
      STMU (Music Studies), STPF (Performance Studies)
       
  • Select courses from  : Art History or LA Elective.

Electives (16.5 credits)


  • Complete 16.5 credits of free electives. This requirement is satisfied by any undergraduate course that isn’t required by the program.