The Bachelor of Fine Arts in the John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television is a unique, four-year program for students who seek intensive professional preparation for a career in screen and television writing. This rigorous program emphasizes small, workshop-style classes, and attracts students from all over the world. Students attend a variety of guest speaker presentations, take high level industry internships, are provided with mentors and taught by world-class professors.
The faculty admissions committee places considerable importance on the autobiographical character sketch, story ideas, writing samples, portfolio list and letters of recommendation during the application review process. There are no admission interviews but applicants may be contacted for more information or clarification of submitted materials. The committee ensures that all applicants are judged equitably by limiting evaluation to the items listed.
*Note: The undergraduate Writing for Screen & Television program is a four-year sequential program of study. Thus, transfer students will be required to study at USC for four years to complete program. General education and elective units may be accepted toward the degree based on USC credit evaluation.
Current USC transfer applicants who successfully complete CTWR 409: Fundamentals of Screenwriting: Character, Conflict and Story (with grade of a C or higher) and are admitted will be able to start in year two of the sequential four year degree.
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Autobiographical Character Sketch (must be uploaded in PDF format)
Write a creative essay or short story that evokes an understanding of how you became who you are. We are looking for a sense of you as a unique individual and how your distinctive experiences, identities, values, and/or views of the world have shaped who you are. It's not a resume. (1-2 pages in length) -
Creative Challenges - Both A & B are required (must be upload in PDF format)
Two scenes with assigned parameters:- Write a scene between two very different kinds of people who get stuck in an elevator on New Year's Eve. Please use screenplay format. (2-5 pages in length)
- Write a scene between two people (e.g., a parent and child, roommates, spouses, etc.) who live together. The first character strongly desires to go out; the second desperately wants the first to stay home. Emphasize visual elements as well as dialogue. Please use screenplay format. (2-5 pages in length)
- Most Challenging Moment: (must be upload in PDF format)
Convey in writing the greatest challenge you have faced and how you responded to it. The challenge may be of any kind you care to write about -physical, emotional, moral, creative, personal, professional or some other sort. (1-2 pages in length) -
Commitment Prompt: (must be upload in PDF format)
When did you want to be a writer? Why do you want to be a writer? What keeps you writing? (No more than 300 words) -
Writing Sample: (must be upload in PDF format)
One sample of your creative writing. This may be an excerpt with a note explaining the context. Writing in script form is not required. Please only include original material-do not submit a television spec episode of an existing television show. (Maximum of 10 pages. If you send more than 10, only the first 10 will be read) -
Creative Portfolio List (must be upload in PDF format)
A list of all significant creative projects in which the applicant has participated, noting the role the applicant has played. Formal recognition such as awards, publications, and exhibitions should also be noted. An example of the Creative Portfolio List is below:
- September 24-Current, Pirate Eye Newspaper. Position: Editor-in-Chief and Staff writer. Wrote and managed several stories for high school newspaper starting in junior year and into senior year. Online newspaper averaging 2,500 views a month.
- November, 2024, “Kameron with a K,” short story. Position: Writer. Short story about a high school senior asking his long-time crush to prom. Written for creative writing class. Published in Mercer County Literary Magazine in New Jersey. Circulation of 5,000.
- July 2022, Life of Greene, stage play. Position: Writer. A stage play told through the eyes of 70-year-old Isabelle Greene as she struggles with memory loss and contemplating her life choices. Created for local community theatre showcasing young play writes in North Carolina. A finalist in the Humanitarian category.
- April 2020, “Swipe Right,” web series. Position: Writer/Director. Ten 2-minute videos about dating in a future apocalypse where people only connect via social media. Created for own enjoyment and posted to YouTube. Pilot episode has 75,000 views.
This application is designed to reflect your creativity, individuality, and your original writing skills. Using AI-generated tools for any part of the written portions, or submitted media as part of your creative portfolio, is not permitted. Using AI to create content would be considered plagiarism.