Skip to content

Writing for Screen & Television Undergraduate Requirements


Four-Year Major Requirements for the B.F.A.:
FALL SEMESTER

Year 1 Year 2

CTWR 106a
Screenwriting Fundamentals
4 units
CTWR 206a Writing the Screenplay
4 units

Social Issues
GE Category VI
4 units
CTWR 213 Content & Consciousness
2 units

Social Issues
GE Category VI
4 units
CTPR 318
Acting for Writers
2 units
WRIT 140
Freshman Writing
4 units

CTCS200 - History of International Cinema I
2 units
GE or Elective
4 - 6 units

GE or Elective
6 - 8 units

Year 3

Year 4

CTWR 306a
Advanced Screenwriting
4 units
CTWR 418a
Senior Thesis
4 Units

CTPR 319 Directing for Writers: Pre-Production
2 units
CTPR 301 - Creating
the Non-Fiction Film
4 units*
CTCS 464 or CTCS 469
4 units*

CTWR 459a
Entertainment Industry
Seminar - 2 units
GE or Elective
6-8 units

GE or Elective
6 - 8 units

SPRING SEMESTER

Year 1 Year 2

CTWR 106b Screenwriting Fundamentals
4 units
CTWR 206b
Writing the Screenplay
2 units

CTCS 190 Intro to Cinema
4 units
CTPR 241/290 - Fundamentals of Cinema-Technique & Visual Communication
2&4 (6) Units
CTWR 105 Non-Verbal Thinking
2 units

CTCS 201 - History of
International Cinema II
2 units
GE or Elective
6 - 8 units
CTWR 215 - Practicum
in Writing Short Scripts
2 units
 
GE or Elective
4-6 units

Year 3

Year 4

CTWR 306b
Advanced Screenwriting
2 units
CTWR 418b
Senior Thesis
4 Units

CTPR 419
Directing for Writers: Post-Production
2 units
CTWR 459b
Entertainment Industry
Seminar - 2 units

CTWR 434 Comedy Writing OR CTWR 435
Writing for Film & TV Genres
2*

GE or Elective
10 - 12 units

CTWR 316
Affective Domain 2 units
 

WRIT 340
4 units
 

Elective or GE
2-4 units
 

* With consultation, student may take course out of sequence.

FOUR-YEAR MAJOR B.F.A. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

A total of 128 units is necessary to earn the B.F.A. degree, as follows:

    36 units General Education Courses:

Cultures & Civilizations I  
(4)
Cultures & Civilizations II (4)
Scientific Principles (4)
Investigations in Science & Technology (4)
Studies in Literature, Thought & the Arts (4)
Social Issues (4)
Writing Requirement (4/4)
Diversity Requirement (4)
70 units Program Required Courses:  
Writing: Production:
CTWR 105     (2) 
CTPR 241     (2)
CTWR 106ab     (4/4) CTPR 290     (4)
CTWR 206ab     (4/2) CTPR 301     (4)
CTWR 213     (2) 
CTPR 318     (2)
CTWR 215     (2) 
CTPR 319     (2)
CTWR 306ab     (4/2) CTPR 419     (2)
CTWR 316     (2) 
Critical Studies:
CTWR 418ab     (4/4) CTCS 190     (4)
CTWR 434 or 435     (2) 
CTCS 200     (2)
CTWR 459ab     (2/2)  
CTCS 201     (2)
Writing Electives: CTWR 431, 433, 434, 435, 437, etc.   CTCS 464 or 469   (4)
    22 units Elective Courses:  
Suggested electives include:  
CTWR 431
Screenwriters and Their Work
           

      
2
CTWR 433  Adaptations: Transferring Existing Work to the Screen 2
CTWR 434
Comedy Writing
2
CTWR 435
Writing for Film and Television Genres
2, max 8
Grade Requirements

A minimum grade of C (2.00) must be earned in all Program Required Courses. A grade of "C-" will not fulfill a Program Course Requirement.

Transfer Students

Students transferring into The Writing Program with previous undergraduate credits should note that units are generally not transferable to fulfill the undergraduate screenwriting required courses, except with special permission of the Division Chair. Transfer units permitted to fulfill General Education and Elective requirements are assessed through regular USC procedures of Transfer Credit Evaluation.

Special Note:

The Undergraduate Writing Program is a unique four-year structured and sequential learning experience. Each semester builds upon the learning and skills developed in the previous semesters. Every student should be prepared to devote four years to earning their B.F.A. degree, and is asked to sign a commitment to that effect.
 

 





















   
         
       
             


      

       

       
           

    


Home