Writing for Film & Television

Return to: Departments

Jeff Ryder
jryder@uarts.edu
Director
215-717-6466

Writing for Film and Television is an undergraduate program dedicated to the art of dramatic writing for film and television. The dramatic script serves as the creative blueprint for the collaborative creation in film and television. The curriculum for the program aims to educate and prepare students for the professional world in this unique genre of writing.

A four-year sequence of studio writing courses act as the cornerstone of the curriculum. Starting with Dramatic Structure in the first year, students will create their own written work in an intensive workshop environment. In the second year, screenwriting is introduced, along with script analysis. In the third and fourth years, students will be writing fulllength scripts for film. Adaptation from fiction and nonfiction sources complements students’ original written work. To appreciate the art form, as well as the collaborative spirit of film and television, there are courses in film and video production, as well as survey courses in the history of film and television. A strong liberal arts experience in drama, literature, and history gives students the breadth of knowledge required of the professional writer. Internships in the senior year will provide students with an exposure to a professional work setting.

In addition to the major, students may take several minors in fivecourse sequences designed to complement their major. Students in Writing for Film and Television are particularly interested in the minors in digital filmmaking, documentary video, game design, strategic advertising, or Web drama. The department also offers a minor in screenwriting available to students in the other majors offered by the College.

Return to: Departments