| |

Storytellers as Cultural Leaders
Pepperdine's two-year MFA in Writing for Screen and Television trains students
for a vocation as screenwriters and prepares them to become cultural leaders in the
entertainment industry. Courses in the program focus on the storyteller in
conversation with contemporary culture through the lens of ethics, philosophy, film
studies, and religion. Here at Pepperdine we take a values-centered approach to
education and work to strengthen student lives in purpose, service, and leadership.
Visit our Facebook page
here.
Click here for a .pdf of our brochure.
Course Requirements
48 units minimum - 64 units maximum. Maximum of seven years from
start date to complete the program.
| CourseID |
Course Description |
Units |
|
Writing: (30-36 units) |
| STW 601 |
The Storyteller as Cultural Leader |
4 |
| CRWR 510 |
Writing for Screen and Television |
4 |
| STW 610 |
Topics in Writing for the Market
- Writing Comedy
- Writing TV Sitcoms
- The One-Hour Drama
- Advanced Scene Writing
- Writing Film Genres
- Writing Adaptation
- Writing the Documentary
- Writing for New Media
|
4 |
|
Film: (12 units) |
|
FILM 500 |
Film Theory |
4 |
|
FILM 501 |
History of American Cinema |
4 |
|
FILM 602 |
Great Books and Film |
4 |
|
Industry Internship: (2 units) |
| STW 695 |
A supervised internship.
Prerequisite: completion of 24 units in the program. |
2 |
|
Thesis: (2-6 units) |
| STW 690 |
Students are required to register for the
Master's Thesis Project in their final semester and to work with
an advisor; this course must be repeated thereafter until
completion of the Thesis Project. Thesis must be completed
within seven years from the date of entering the program. Grade
of C/NC; may be repeated for one credit each semester in
subsequent years past year two if candidate has not completed
thesis.
Prerequisite: completion of 24 units in
the program. |
2-6 |
| GRST 699 |
Reading for Master's Thesis
By request of the Dean of Seaver College, graduate students
who have completed all academic coursework must enroll in this
course in order to maintain continuous enrollment as a full-time
student. |
0 |
|
Electives: (max 16 units) |
| ITAL 562 |
Italian Cinema and Culture |
4 |
| AAS 531 |
African-American Films |
4 |
| ASIA 565 |
Japanese and Asian Film |
4 |
| REL/FILM 551 |
Religion and Film |
4 |
| WMST 541 |
Women and Film |
4 |
The MFA degree in Writing for Screen and Television will be awarded
upon satisfactory completion of classes and approval of a Master's
Thesis Project and portfolio which will contain:
- Ten-page vocational statement with the writer's approach to
this vocation, including:
- A statement of values, purpose, and goals as a cultural
leader.
- An outline/roadmap to accomplish these goals.
- Thesis Project
- Screenwriting Emphasis: two
full-length screenplays (each 110-120 pages)
- Television Emphasis: two 60-minute teleplays and
two 30 minute teleplays
- Or any combination of the two emphases above
(approx. 180-240 pages), with the approval of the Thesis
Director. The Master's Thesis Project and portfolio will
be overseen by a thesis committee which will include the
Program Director, a faculty member from Creative
Writing, and a faculty member from Film Studies. The
approval of the Thesis Project Committee is necessary
for the awarding of the degree.

Questions?
Contact Dr. Leslie Kreiner Wilson.
|
 |