New York University Tisch School of the Arts 27 courses 58 total credits
To earn the Master of Fine Arts degree in dramatic writing, each student must complete several polished, full-length dramatic works. Here, the process is almost as important as the goal. During the first year, the graduate seminars in theatre, film and episodic writing train writers in the nature of dramatic situations, character, conflict, plot, structure, dialogue and theme. Students are required to take introductory courses in play, screen, and episodic writing during their first semester and then write complete works in two of the three media by the end of their first year. Also required are production workshops, text analysis and professional training classes. They continue taking production, text analysis and professional training classes in their second year while also taking advanced writing workshops and masterclasses in any of the three media of theater, film or episodic, leading to a master’s thesis (an original full-length work) in one medium. In addition, the department offers special seminars and colloquia where students hear guest speakers: visiting playwrights, feature writers, episodic writers, directors, agents, and literary managers who either discuss their work or discuss current topics in the entertainment business as they relate to writers. The faculty members with whom students meet in weekly workshops are all professional writers. At times, when they feel it would be of benefit to student work, they will call on outside writers to act as consultants and critics. In each student’s last semester they will discuss their thesis scripts in an individual crit panel with industry professionals.
Major Requirements
Writing Core
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DWPG-GT 2062 | Graduate Playwriting I | 4 |
| DWPG-GT 2066 | Graduate Screenwriting I | 4 |
| DWPG-GT 2042 | Graduate Episodic/TV Writing I: Specs | 4 |
Major Requirements
Select two of the following:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DWPG-GT 2063 | Graduate Playwriting II | 4 |
| DWPG-GT 2067 | Graduate Screenwriting II | 4 |
| DWPG-GT 2048 | Graduate Episodic/TV Writing II: Pilots | 4 |
| Total Major Requirements | 8 credits | |
Major Requirements
Select one of the following:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DWPG-GT 2015 | Goldberg Masterclass in Playwriting | 3 |
| DWPG-GT 2055 | Advanced Screenwriting | 3 |
| DWPG-GT 2150 | Advanced Episodic/TV Writing: Series | 3 |
| Total Major Requirements | 3 credits | |
Major Requirements
Select one of the following:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DWPG-GT 2060 | MFA Thesis in Playwriting | 4 |
| DWPG-GT 2065 | Mfa Thesis in Screenwriting | 4 |
| DWPG-GT 2070 | MFA Thesis in Episodic/TV Writing | 4 |
| Total Major Requirements | 4 credits | |
Major Requirements
Choose four of the following writing electives:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DWPG-GT 2015 | Goldberg Masterclass in Playwriting | 3 |
| DWPG-GT 2017 | Masterclass in Screenwriting | 3 |
| DWPG-GT 2047 | Masterclass in Episodic/TV Writing | 3 |
| DWPG-GT 2080 | Masterclass Across Mediums: | 3 |
| DWPG-GT 2082 | Writing Workshop | 3 |
| Total Major Requirements | 12 credits | |
Major Requirements
Text Analysis
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DWPG-GT 2630 | Comedic Strategies | 3 |
| DWPG-GT 2631 | Dramatic Strategies | 3 |
Major Requirements
Select one of the following:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DWPG-GT 2116 | Play Story Analysis | 4 |
| DWPG-GT 2105 | Film Story Analysis: | 4 |
| DWPG-GT 2110 | TV Story Analysis: | 4 |
| Total Major Requirements | 4 credits | |
Major Requirements
Select one of the following, or another production-related course by advisement:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| OART-GT 2560 | Fundamentals of Filmmaking I: The Art of Visual Storytelling | 4 |
| DWPG-GT 2082 | Writing Workshop | 3 |
| DWPG-GT 2074 | Collaboration: Reloaded | 3 |
| DWPG-GT 2405 | Loving Living Playwright | 3 |
| Total Major Requirements | 3-4 credits | |
Major Requirements
Professional Training
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DWPG-GT 2350 | Business of the Business | 1 |
| DWPG-GT 2355 | Professional Training | 1 |
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