Creative Writing – Screenwriting
This program is designed to give you the first two years of a Bachelor’s degree.
What You'll Learn
Master your craft with industry-level storytelling, editing, and collaboration skills.
You’ll learn how to bring stories to life for film, television, and digital media. This program emphasizes storytelling structure, dialogue, and character development—along with the creative discipline needed to write for professional markets. You’ll build a strong portfolio of original scripts and gain insight into the collaborative world of film and media production.
You'll have the opportunity to submit your work for publication in our student magazine Ke'lab!
Where You’ll Go
Producers and Directors
- Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
- Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
- Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
- Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
Salary information presented are estimates and can be different for each individual based on education, experience, and the specific employer. Labor market data is based on 2021 estimates derived from Lightcast (Career Coach | Lightcast)
The careers listed above are just a starting point. Our programs mix together important concepts and hands-on skills—but that doesn’t mean your future has to follow the same script. Find out more at Career Exploration & Support.
Program Requirements
To graduate [ 62-64 credits + 2.0 GPA or higher ]
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL098 | Accelerated Writing Skills for ENGL 100 | 3 | |
| MATH017 | Skills & Support Quantitative Reasoning | 1 | |
| MATH020 | Skills & Support for College Algebra | 2 | |
| MATH029 | Skills & Support for Statistics | 3 |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL100 | Academic Writing I | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | A student exempt from ENGL100 must substitute a three-credit liberal arts elective. The course should be in consultation with the student’s advisor. | ||
| ENGL227 | Fundamentals of Creative Writing | 3 | |
| SOCI101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | |
| or PSYC103 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |
| FSS 110 | First Year Experience – General Interest | 1 | |
| SUNY GE #3 | Mathematics | 3 - 4 | |
| RESTRICTED ELEC | Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | Choose from ENGL104 (Spring), ENGL212 (Spring), ENGL215 (Spring), ENGL229 (Fall/Spring), ENGL256 (Fall), ENGL258 (Spring), ENGL262 (Spring), ENGL250 Study Abroad (Fall/Spring), ART 111 (Fall/Spring), ART 117 (Fall/Spring), COMM101 (Fall/Spring), COMM120 (Fall/Spring), COMM127 (Fall) |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL101 | Academic Writing II | 3 | |
| or ENGL101H | Academic Writing II-Honors | 3 | |
| ENGL200 | Screenwriting | 3 | |
| ENGL201 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| or ENGL204 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 | |
| or ENGL210 | Intercultural Communication | 3 | |
| HSTY201 | American History to 1877 | 3 | |
| or HSTY202 | American History Since 1877 | 3 | |
| RESTRICTED ELEC | Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | Choose from ENGL104 (Spring), ENGL212 (Spring), ENGL215 (Spring), ENGL229 (Fall/Spring), ENGL256 (Fall), ENGL258 (Spring), ENGL262 (Spring), ENGL250 Study Abroad (Fall/Spring), ART 111 (Fall/Spring), ART 117 (Fall/Spring), COMM101 (Fall/Spring), COMM120 (Fall/Spring), COMM127 (Fall) |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL102 | Approaches to Literature | 3 | |
| ENGL216 | Advanced Screenwriting | 3 | |
| ENGL233 | Film Analysis | 3 | |
| ENGL274 | Marketing the Screenplay | 1 | |
| HSTY116 | The West in the World to 1500 | 3 | |
| or HSTY117 | The West in the World Since 1500 | 3 | |
| RESTRICTED ELEC | Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | Choose from ENGL104 (Spring), ENGL212 (Spring), ENGL215 (Spring), ENGL229 (Fall/Spring), ENGL256 (Fall), ENGL258 (Spring), ENGL262 (Spring), ENGL250 Study Abroad (Fall/Spring), ART 111 (Fall/Spring), ART 117 (Fall/Spring), COMM101 (Fall/Spring), COMM120 (Fall/Spring), COMM127 (Fall) |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM298 | Cinema Capstone | 3 | |
| ENGL255 | Writing Television Drama & Comedy | 3 | |
| SUNY GE #4 | Natural Sciences Lab Courses Only | 3 - 4 | |
| UNRE ELEC | Unrestricted Elective | 3 | |
| UNRE ELEC | Unrestricted Elective | 3 |
| Transfer School Sort descending | Transfer Program |
|---|---|
Transfer School: Syracuse University |
Transfer Programl: College of Professional Studies |
Student & Faculty Stories
On this page
Take on as much (or as little) as you want. Our microcredentials and certificates provide you with credits to apply to 2-year programs – when you’re ready!