What Is Screenwriting?
Screenwriting is the craft of storytelling for film, television, and related media, combining narrative structure, character development, dialogue, and visual thinking. To study Screenwriting is to understand how cinematic stories are conceived, shaped, and realized through writing that anticipates performance, production, and audience reception. Students in this specialization learn to translate ideas into scripts that are both artistically compelling and technically precise, mastering the tools and conventions of professional storytelling while exploring original voices, experimental forms, and genre innovation. Screenwriting requires a balance of imagination, critical analysis, and iterative practice—skills that are essential for creating work that resonates on screen.
Screenwriting at UMass
UMass Film Studies offers students structured opportunities to develop professional-level screenwriting skills. Through a sequence of production-oriented classes, students explore the mechanics of narrative construction, character arcs, dialogue, pacing, and visual storytelling. Courses emphasize both craft and critique, providing multiple rounds of feedback and revision to hone work to industry standards.
Students also gain experience across multiple forms of narrative media, including: Feature film and short film scripts, Television pilots and episodic writing, Experimental and hybrid media projects, Collaborative writing in production contexts
Students completing the specialization emerge with a polished portfolio, prepared for production, professional submission, or graduate study.
Why a Letter of Specialization in Screenwriting?
The Letter of Specialization in Screenwriting recognizes Film Studies majors who have achieved advanced competence in cinematic storytelling and narrative construction. Students completing this pathway demonstrate:
- Mastery of character development, dialogue, and visual writing
- Ability to revise and refine scripts based on critical feedback
- Competence in industry-standard formatting and professional expectations
- Preparedness for careers in film, emerging media, and narrative content creation
- Enhanced qualifications for MFA programs and professional workshops
Graduates of this specialization are equipped to contribute creatively to production teams, pursue professional writing opportunities, or continue their studies in advanced creative writing or screenwriting programs.
Requirements
Students earn a Letter of Specialization in Screenwriting by completing two courses at the 300-level or above, and by earning six additional credits through a Practicum (FILM-ST 398) in which they write a script under the mentorship of one of our Specialization faculty:
FILM-ST 313 - Screenwriting: Story-telling for Film and Video Media
FILM-ST 375 - Film Writing and Criticism New Media (students must develop a script for a feature film)
FILM-ST 390T - Writing for the Screen: Creating the TV/Streaming Series Pilot
FILM-ST 416 - Untold Screenwriting
-Other courses that include elective writing, or genre-specific writing classes, can count towards this specialization, subject to advisor approval
Please contact Prof. Daniel Pope ([email protected]) for advising and questions about this specialization