Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Media Arts: Concentration in Screenwriting
Learn more about the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Media Arts.
Prof. Elisabeth Subrin
Annenberg Hall Room 130
subrin@temple.edu
The BFA in Film and Media Arts with a Concentration in Screenwriting is an intensive, professional degree that prepares students to enter graduate Film programs or pursue professional careers in Film and Serial writing. It focuses on narrative feature-film and serial writing. Studies will culminate in the writing and polishing of a feature screenplay or long-form television serial bible in the BFA Screenwriting Final Project Classes.
Students interested in applying for the Screenwriting concentration should complete the following classes by the end of their sophomore year:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FMA 1141 | Film, Video and Interactive Foundations I | 4 |
| FMA 1142 | Film, Video and Interactive Foundations II | 4 |
| FMA 1171 | Media & Culture | 3 |
| FMA 1172 | Introduction to Film and Video Analysis | 3 |
| FMA 2396 | Screenwriting I | 4 |
| One of the following: | 4 | |
| Editing Film and Video | ||
| Producing | ||
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Media Arts: Concentration in Screenwriting
Summary of Requirements for the Degree
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree may be conferred upon a student majoring in Film and Media Arts with a concentration in Screenwriting by recommendation of the faculty and upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 122 credit hours. Students must complete:
- University Requirements:
- New students are required to complete the General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
- All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses specified by the major. The specific writing-intensive courses required for this major are listed below and identified with the code "WI".
- No more than 21 FMA credits can be transferred to the major.
- A student must earn a grade of "C-" or better in all Film and Media Arts courses that count towards the degree.
- Students may take up to 6 internship credits in Film and Media Arts.
- Students may count a maximum of 84 FMA credit hours toward the 122 credit hours required for the degree.
FMA Foundation Courses
Film and Media Arts students will complete the following courses by the end of the sophomore year:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FMA 1141 | Film, Video and Interactive Foundations I | 4 |
| FMA 1142 | Film, Video and Interactive Foundations II | 4 |
| FMA 1171 | Media & Culture | 3 |
| FMA 1172 | Introduction to Film and Video Analysis | 3 |
Concentration Requirements
Courses required after completion of FMA Foundation Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FMA 2241 | Filmmaking | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Creative Writing: Fiction | ||
| Playwriting | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Survey of New Media | ||
| Film History I (1895-1950) | ||
| Film History II (1950-Present) | ||
| History of Experimental Film and Video Art | ||
| FMA 2396 | Screenwriting I | 4 |
| FMA 2551 | Editing Film and Video | 4 |
| FMA 2771 | Producing | 4 |
| FMA 3000+ | Studies Elective | 3-4 |
| FMA 3773 | Contemporary Screen Studies | 4 |
| Select two of the following: | 7-8 | |
| Screen Directing | ||
| Screen Performance | ||
| Scene Analysis for Writers and Directors | ||
| FMA 3343 | Screenwriting II | 4 |
| FMA 3342 | Serial Writing | 4 |
| FMA 3000+ | Advanced Writing Intensive Elective (WI) | 4 |
| FMA 4342 | BFA Screenwriting Projects I | 4 |
| FMA 4343 | BFA Screenwriting Projects II | 4 |
| Total FMA Credit Hours: | 70-73 | |
Suggested Academic Plan
Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Media Arts with Concentration in Screenwriting
Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| FMA 1141 | Film, Video and Interactive Foundations I | 4 |
| FMA 1171 | Media & Culture | 3 |
| ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| FMA 1142 | Film, Video and Interactive Foundations II | 4 |
| FMA 1172 | Introduction to Film and Video Analysis | 3 |
| IH 0851 or 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| FMA 2241 | Filmmaking | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Survey of New Media | ||
| Film History I (1895-1950) | ||
| Film History II (1950-Present) | ||
| History of Experimental Film and Video Art | ||
| FMA 2551 | Editing Film and Video | 4 |
| IH 0852 or 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Term Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| FMA 2396 | Screenwriting I [WI] | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Creative Writing: Fiction | ||
| Playwriting | ||
| FMA 2771 | Producing | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| FMA 3773 | Contemporary Screen Studies | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Screen Directing | ||
| Screen Performance | ||
| Scene Analysis for Writers and Directors | ||
| FMA 3342 | Serial Writing | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| FMA 3000+ Advanced Writing Intensive Elective [WI] | 4 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Screen Directing | ||
| Screen Performance | ||
| Scene Analysis for Writers and Directors | ||
| FMA 3343 | Screenwriting II | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| FMA 4342 | BFA Screenwriting Projects I | 4 |
| FMA 3000+ Studies Elective | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| FMA 4343 | BFA Screenwriting Projects II | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 122-126 | |