Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Writing for Film, Television, and Digital Media
- San Francisco, USA
- Online
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
8 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 1,463 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* per unit for international students / USD 1,239 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
The BFA program in Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media will teach you the skills you need to develop engaging characters and scripts. Our program is designed to offer personalized attention to your ideas, with an emphasis on industry expectations and standards. Study in a rigorous, supportive writing workshop environment. Explore original and adapted feature films, television comedy and drama, short films, and writing for other forms of digital media.
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Research
- Apply research to create authentic story worlds, characters, and dialogue
Story Development Skills
- Generate story ideas that work for feature films, television, short films, and web series
- Develop stories that are fresh and imaginative
- Apply essential screenwriting tools to develop stories that are structurally sound
- Create sympathetic or empathetic characters
Critical Thinking
- Identify story/script problems and find creative solutions
Written Presentation Skills
- Effectively present stories in a logline, premise, and theme
- Effectively present stories in a beat sheet, synopsis, treatment, and outline
Screenwriting Skills
- Demonstrate proficient screenwriting skills in structure, character development, action description, dialogue, and subtext
- Apply the proper format for film and television scripts
Collaboration
- Effectively collaborate with other students
Professional Readiness
- Complete polished scripts that are ready for seeking representation and employment in the industry
- Develop a strategy for accessing agents, managers, and producers
- Apply the conventions of standard written English to write professionally
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
As a graduate of our writing degree program, you will have the skills necessary for a range of industry opportunities. Our faculty, facilities, and hands-on learning approach are here to provide you with the tools you need to succeed in a professional screenwriter career.
Development Executive
Work with writers in preparing their movies for production.
Screen Writer
Create the blueprint for feature films. Originate the story, characters, and dramatic action in a motion picture or television series. Write scripts for feature films. Sell ideas and spec scripts as a freelancer. Get hired for an open writing assignment. Develop compelling story ideas, effectively pitch and sell those ideas, and deliver imaginative scripts that meet industry expectations.
Show Runner
Oversee all creative aspects of a television series.
Television Staff Writer
Work on the writing staff of a television show. Break stories and write/rewrite scripts. Collaborate with other writers and producers to develop compelling storylines for new and existing characters.
Unit Requirements
| Major | 30 |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts | 45 |
| Elective | 9 |
| Core | 36 |
| Total | 120 |
Degree Requirements
- A minimum grade of C- in all core courses, major courses, and LA 107 Writing for the Multilingual Artist or 108 Composition for the Artist
- Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
- 1 Culture of Entertainment
- 1 Storytelling & Character Psychology
- 1 Historical Awareness
- 1 Quantitative Literacy
- 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
- 1 Employment Communications & Practices
- 1 Written Communication: Composition
- 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking
- 1 Written Communication: Context & Style
After the above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.
Curriculum
Semester 1
- LA 101: Freshman Symposium: Artistic Resilience (Liberal Arts)
- MPT 166: The Power of Story (Core)
- WRI 188: Characters & Backstory (Core)
- WRI 240: Screenplay Analysis (Core)
Semester 2
- LA 108: Composition for the Artist (Liberal Arts)
- LA 110: Writing the Short Story (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - MPT 105: Cinematic Storytelling (Major)
- WRI 200: First Steps in Television (Core)
- WRI 239: Feature Film 1 (Fall) (Core)
Semester 3
- ACT 101: Respect for Acting (Major)
- LA 291: Designing Careers (Liberal Arts)
- WRI 269: Feature Film 1 (Spring) (Core)
- WRI 325: Screenwriting: Adaptation (Core)
Semester 4
- ACT 469: Script Analysis (Major)
- LA 312: Creative Writing (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - LA 383: World Cinema (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - MPT 330: Directing Actors for Film & TV (Core)
- WRI 250: Writing for TV Series 1 (Fall) (Core)
- WRI 339: Feature Film 2 (Fall) (Major)
Semester 5
- LA 195: History of Comics: American Comics (Liberal Arts)
- LA 233: Popular Topics in Health, Nutrition, & Physiology (Liberal Arts)
- WRI 350: Writing for TV Series 1 (Spring) (Major)
- WRI 439: Feature Film 2 (Spring) (Major)
Semester 6
- LA 171: Western Civilization (Liberal Arts)
- LA 289: Tune into the Tube: History of Television (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - LA 462: Power of Myth and Symbol (Liberal Arts)
- MPT 288: Development: Finding Material and Influencing Writers (Core)
- MPT 498WSD: Writing for Production: Shot in a Day (Major)
- WRI 498: Collaborative Project (Elective)
Recommended for summer
Semester 7
- LA 204: Breaking through the Noise of Social Media (Liberal Arts)
- LA 217: Writing for Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Liberal Arts)
- MPT 471: Senior Narrative A (Core)
- WRI 369: Feature Film 3 (Fall) (Major)
Semester 8
- LA 117: Survey of Landscape Architecture (Liberal Arts)
- MPT 472: Senior Narrative B (Core)
- MPT 495: Into the Industry (Major)
- WRI 250: Writing for TV Series 1 (Fall) (Elective)
Recommended for summer - WRI 469: Advanced Screenwriting (Major)
- WRI 500: Internship in Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media (Elective)
Recommended for summer