The Best Screenwriting Programs

Screenwriting programs provide would-be scriptwriters with opportunities to learn the basics and practice their craft. Many screenwriting programs are part of major colleges while some are sections of private filmmaking organizations. The following is a list of some screenwriting programs for interested potential students.

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES:

University of Southern California (USC)

Located in L.A., USC has both undergraduate and graduate screenwriting programs and is considered one of the country’s best school for the study of film. Classes run from USC’s School of Cinema & Television. Students can also take classes in film theory and production.

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
UCLA is also home to highly-lauded screenwriting programs including undergrad, graduate and certificate programs in screenwriting. Students can learn more about programs at the School of Film Television and Theater and it’s professional studies program

Loyola Marymount College
Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles offers a screenwriting program in its School of Film & Television. There are undergraduate and graduate courses.

Chapman College
Chapman’s offers screenwriting classes at the Lawrence & Kristina Dodge College of Film & Media Arts School of Film & Television. Students may pursue the MFA in screenwriting.

New York University’s Tisch School Of The Arts
L.A may be the film capital of America, but New York City’s no slouch either. NYU’s Tisch school offers film students a variety of programs including film & television programs at the Maurice Kanbar Institute.

Ithaca College
Ithaca’s Roy Park School of Communication offers a screenwriting track program. There is a television program and a cinema program.

Emerson College
This communications-centric college in Boston, MA offers a screenwriting program in its School of Visual Media and Arts. Undergrad courses include Writing Feature Film and Writing Television. There is also a graduate program.

Boston University School of Communications
BU has a film program encompassing graduate and undergraduate levels. Electives in the screenwriting program include Writing for Situation Comedies and Film Business.

University of Miami School of Communications
UM, located in Coral Gables, FL, offers a major in Motion Pictures with a concentration in screenwriting offered at both the graduate and undergraduate level.

Florida State University
FSU has a Professional Writing Program which teaches screenwriting as well as theater writing within its Film School.

University of Texas
U Texas has a Department of Radio, Television & Film. Within, students may study basic screenwriting as well as take courses in writing for features, adaptation or TV.

North Carolina School of Arts
Part of the NC state college system, NCSA offers a four-year program in filmmaking with a concentration in screenwriting. It’s located in Winston-Salem.

NON-UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE SETTINGS

American Film Institute Conservatory
The AFI offers screenwriting programs along with many filmmaking classes.

New York Film Academy
This self-described “hands on film school” has a year-long screenwriting program and intensive programs lasting 8 weeks or 12 weeks.

International Film Institute of New York
This NYC based organization offers an intensive style screenwriting program lasting about eight weeks.

The Film Arts Foundation
Along with many film production and theory classes, this San Fransisco-based organization has a screenwriting program, too.