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John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television

It all begins with a script. Before any film, television show, web series, or video game can become a phenomenon, you need words on a page. The John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television teaches students how to create the kinds of scripts that excite creative collaborators, agents, managers, and investors and become real projects. The curriculum immerses students in the SCA tradition of crafting compelling stories and honing your narrative instincts through small workshop classes. You will learn to write short scripts, feature-length screenplays, television episodes in comedy and drama, web series, and scripts for games and other immersive media.

Our Writing for Screen and Television BFA and MFA program fall under the STEM CIP code: CIP code 50.0504 : Playwriting and Screenwriting.

Kevin Smith Announces 40k Grant for Writing Alumni Gabby Fizsman and Isabella Ares Alumni Profile Read More
The Inevitable Foundation, co-founded by SCA alum Marisa Torelli-Pedevska '22, makes an important case for inclusion. The Inevitable Foundation Alumni Profile Read More
The SCA Council on Diversity and Inclusion Honors Writing Division Students Diversity Awards Program Profile Read More

Student Stories

Chiara D'Ambrosio

Chiara D'Ambrosio BFA, Writing for Screen and Television '26

Brandy Hernandez

Brandy Hernandez BFA, Writing for Screen and TV '24

Giulia Orsenigo

Giulia Orsenigo BA, Writing for Screen and TV '24

Featured Student Work

usc creative writing ba

written by Writing Student Shirley Miller

usc creative writing ba

written by Writing Student Stanley Kalu

usc creative writing ba

written by Writing Student Nichole DeLaura

Degree programs, undergraduate, bachelor of fine arts.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Writing for Screen & Television is a unique, four-year program for students who want a real career in screen and television writing. Students work with talented writers from around the globe in small workshop-style classes, learn from top minds in the industry and working professionals, and intern at top companies in the expanding world of film, television, and interactive media.

Masters of Fine Arts

The Master of Fine Arts, with a major in Writing for Screen & Television, is a two-year degree program which concentrates on training screenwriters to work in the entertainment industry and beyond. In addition to receiving an unparalleled master's education in the craft of writing, MFA candidates also benefit from the University's ties to the industry's top writers, directors, production companies, and studios in Los Angeles, yielding an array of internship and mentorship opportunities.

The minor in comedy is designed to train students in the creation of comedic entertainment in film, television and new media. The only minor of its kind at a major research university, the Comedy Minor is for any student who takes comedy seriously.

Screenwriting

The Minor in Screenwriting covers writing for the screen from many different points of view and allows students to explore television, film and, new media writing and all of the opportunities the Division has to offer.

Contact Information

John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television USC School of Cinematic Arts Kristen Davis, Program Coordinator University Park, SCA 335 Los Angeles, CA 90089.2211 Phone: 213.740.3303 [email protected]

Creative Writing at University of Southern California

Creative writing degrees available at usc, usc creative writing rankings.

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Popularity of Creative Writing at USC

Usc creative writing students, usc creative writing bachelor’s program.

Of the 45 creative writing students who graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2020-2021 from USC, about 31% were men and 69% were women.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Southern California with a bachelor's in creative writing.

Ethnic BackgroundNumber of Students
Asian4
Black or African American4
Hispanic or Latino12
White20
Non-Resident Aliens2
Other Races3

Most Popular Related Majors

Related MajorAnnual Graduates
10

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Discussions about the writing craft.

Those who got their BA in Literature (Creative Writing Concentration) or Literature, do you recommend it?

Hi writers, I love this sub so much and you are all so helpful. I remember a few months back I was struggling to see a future with writing and you all helped me see there are so many options :) I’m currently getting ready to transfer to UCSC (university of California Santa Cruz) and since I got my associates in English I wanted to pick a major where I can write a lot and the classes I took would come in handy so I’m torn between Literature or Literature with a concentration in Creative writing. Any suggestions? I can’t decide because both sound fun, I just want to pick the one where I can become the best writer I can be though I’m sure both are great options. Any advice is greatly appreciated

usc creative writing ba

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Programme Information

The bachelor of arts in english equips students to become proficient teachers of english language and literature, passionate and creative writers, proficient communicators, and well-rounded individuals who can efficiently and effectively function in journalism, media writing and editing. the programme also prepares students for graduate studies in local and overseas universities., campus: main campus, bachelor of arts degree in english emphases:, linguistics and education, literature and language, communication, total programme credits: 128, programme duration:   4 years, programme delivery: face-to-face/blended, gate approved: yes, requirements, five o'level gce/cxc/csec passes, including english language, courses required for the english core:, engl186 a literary experience 3, engl267 approaches to literature 3, engl375 english literature i (to 1600) 3, engl376 english literature ii (1660-1900) 3, engl378 contemporary literature: 1900 and beyond 3, engl285 introduction to west indian literature 3, engl387 studies in west indian poetry: carib. literary masters 3, engl388 studies in west indian drama: carib. literary masters 3, engl389 studies in west indian fiction: carib. literary masters 3, engl400 senior seminar 2, engl424 study in women’s literature 3, engl425-02 literary topics: romantics 3, engl450 literary criticism and theory 3, engl464 major literary authors: shakespeare 3, engl495 independent study: practicum/internship 2, ling210 structure of english grammar 3, ling320 introduction to phonetics and phonology 3, ling230 introduction to morphology and syntax 3, courses required for the emphasis: linguistics and education:, edci486 instructional media and technology in the classroom 3, edfn425 history and sociology of education in the caribbean 3, edte375 principles and practice of education in scripture 3, edte424 classroom testing and evaluation 3, edte479 classroom management 3, ling310 language acquisition 3, ling330 introduction to sociolinguistics 3, ling400 introduction to creole linguistics 3, ling410 introduction to educational linguistics 3, courses required for the emphasis: literature and language:, engl270 american literature i 3, engl271 american literature ii 3, engl315 professional writing 3, engl345 introduction to rhetoric 3, engl377 english literature iii 3, engl470 writing workshop 3, jour230 beginning media reporting 3, ling200 introduction to language and linguistics 3, engl438 advanced composition 3, engl467 creative writing 3, courses required for the emphasis: communications:, comm215 introduction to communication theory and research 3, comm320 interpersonal communication 3, comm436 intercultural communication 3, comm450 communication in the classroom 3, comm456 group dynamics and leadership 3, prel255 introduction of public relations 3, comm454 topics in communication 3, comm495 independent study/readings/research 3, take action, connect with usc.

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How to Write the USC Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

The University of Southern California has a few supplemental essays and creative short answers that students must complete. Your essays are one of the only opportunities you’ll have to show an admissions officer who you are beyond the numbers, and with USC’s many different prompts, it’s clear this school wants you to seize that opportunity.

Here are our tips for responding to the USC essays in a way that will help your application stand out!

Read these USC essay examples written by real students to inspire your own writing. 

USC Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1: Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections (250 words).

Prompt 2 (optional): Starting with the beginning of high school/secondary school, if you have had a gap where you were not enrolled in school during a fall or spring term, please address this gap in your educational history. You do not need to address a summer break (250 words).

Short Answer Prompts: Respond to all the prompts below (100 characters unless otherwise specified)

  • Describe yourself in three words (25 characters each)
  • What is your favorite snack?
  • Best movie of all time
  • If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
  • What TV show will you binge watch next?
  • Which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate?
  • Favorite Book
  • If you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be?

Viterbi School of Engineering Applicants

Prompt: The student body at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. Describe how your contributions to the USC Viterbi student body may be distinct from others. Please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you. (250 words)

Engineering and Computer Science Applicants

Prompt: The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and their 14 Grand Challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. Engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. Learn more about the NAE Grand Challenges at http://engineeringchallenges.org and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why. (250 words)

Dornsife Applicants

Prompt: Many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about — a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. If you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about? (250 words)

All Applicants, Prompt 1

Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at usc specifically. please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections (250 words)..

The tricky bit about this prompt is that it essentially combines the “ Why This Major ” and “ Why This College ” essay archetypes into one essay with a strict cap of 250 words. That’s a lot of information in not a whole lot of space, which might feel overwhelming. The first thing you should do is figure out the content of your essay.

Step One: Think about your academic interests (i.e. your majors). 

  • How did your interests develop? 
  • Why are you passionate about your interests? 
  • What are your goals within your interests?
  • How will pursuing your major help you achieve your goals in life? 

Step Two: Think about the answers to those questions in relation to USC. 

  • How will USC help you to further develop your interests? 
  • What resources does the university have that will help you achieve your goals? 

While your essay should explore resources that will aid in your academic pursuits, you should also keep it as specific to USC as possible—this essay should not be able to be copied and pasted for any other university! Here’s an example of how to achieve the specificity you need:

Bad: USC is a great school, located in the beautiful city of Los Angeles, with unparalleled academics and renowned instructors.

Why is this bad? This sentence could just as easily apply to UCLA. Without the bit about Los Angeles, the reasoning could even apply to any decent school in existence.

Good: At USC, I plan to participate in the Joint Educational Project (JEP) to find a community of students who, like me, are passionate about the intersections of teaching and social justice. Through JEP, I will be able to actively use the teaching principles I learn in my classes about the Dynamics of Early Childhood.

Why is this good? It references a unique resource at USC and relates to the student’s academic interests.

The Final Step: Write a cohesive essay that tells admissions officers why you are pursuing your field and why USC is the right place for you to pursue it. Some examples could include:

  • An Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering student who was obsessed with the launching of the Antares rocket, movies like Gattaca and The Martian , and their physics summer camp as a middle schooler. They could describe their goal of working for NASA, then discussing their interest in the USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (RPL).
  • An English student who ultimately wants to write romance novels discussing the Creative Writing Hour series that is hosted by English faculty. They might want to reference some of the big-name professors at USC—like Maggie Nelson, Aimee Bender, Dana Johnson, and T.C. Boyle—who have inspired their love of writing.
  • A Fine Arts applicant mentioning the Fisher Museum of Art that is on USC’s campus. It was after a school field trip to the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) that they first tried working with graphite and learned of their life goals. They know the power of art museums for inspiration and are excited to have a constant source of inspiration just minutes away.

If you are worried about the word count, one way to maximize the little space you have is to find a way to relate your first- and second-choice majors. This way, your explanations of each wouldn’t read like separate essays; rather, they would be telling different parts of the same story. A student with a first-choice major in Physics and a second-choice major in English might want to write about their ultimate goal of writing Science Fiction novels. A student with a first-choice major in History and a second-choice major in East Asian Languages and Culture might write about their goal of curating Asian American history museums.

Make sure you focus on your academic interests/goals and tell admissions officers the ways that USC will help your academic dreams come true, and you will be set!

All Applicants, Prompt 2 (optional)

Starting with the beginning of high school/secondary school, if you have had a gap where you were not enrolled in school during a fall or spring term, please address this gap in your educational history. you do not need to address a summer break (250 words). .

USC’s second prompt is optional and won’t apply to most students. However, if you do have a gap in your educational history, then be sure to use this space to address it. Give a brief explanation of the reasoning for the gap—be it illness, a move, etc.—as well as an overview of how you spent this time outside of school. 

For example, let’s say your family moved across the country and you took a term off during the transfer. You can describe your role in the move (perhaps you were in charge of organizing a yard sale), why the circumstances warranted an educational gap (maybe the new school doesn’t allow mid-term transfers), and any other projects or commitments to which you dedicated your time. 

Ideally, you want to demonstrate how you made the most of this time off and why the time off was necessary.

All Applicants, Short Answer Prompts

Respond to all the prompts below (100 characters unless otherwise specified), 1. describe yourself in three words (25 characters each), 2. what is your favorite snack, 3. best movie of all time, 4. dream job, 5. if your life had a theme song, what would it be, 6. dream trip, 7. what tv show will you binge watch next, 8. which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate, 9. favorite book, 10. if you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be.

In this section, USC lets you have a little fun. The questions ask for short, rapid-fire responses that give you the opportunity to let your individuality shine.

The most important thing to keep in mind with the short answer supplements is that USC is asking you to provide new information that sheds light on different aspects of your personality. 

Don’t repeat tidbits you’ve already mentioned, although you can and should develop new angles of themes you’ve already established. Most importantly, have fun in this section! If you’re having fun writing it, chances are your admissions officer will have fun reading it.

You can leave descriptions or notes in your responses, though remember that you have 100 characters max. If your choices are more offbeat, we recommend giving a brief description, as your admissions officer certainly won’t have the time to look things up. If your choices are pretty well-known, you can still leave a note about why you chose them (as in the sample response to #8). It’s another opportunity to share your personality, which is valuable!

  • Describe yourself in three words (25 characters max each).

Example: Cinephile. Cynophile. Logophile. 

Tip: Be creative!

Example: My Gram’s Lebuchken, tiny gingerbread-esque German cakes that my family devours each holiday season.

Tip: This is an opportunity to show your roots or quirky favorites. Make your response more interactive by including descriptive words that appeal to the senses, especially taste and smell. Also, if you’re using another language or describing a less common food, feel free to provide a short description or explanation so that someone who’s never heard of it before can still imagine it. 

Example: October Sky; Homer’s rockets remind me of my own homemade science creations, like my DIY lava lamp.

Tip: A lot of applicants will write Harry Potter . Be genuine in your response, but take this opportunity to stand out rather than providing a generic answer. 

Example: A math professor; sharing my love of topology to positively shape students’ view of the subject. 

Example: Crossword Puzzle Writer; my mornings aren’t complete without a cup of OJ and my daily brain teaser.

Tip: If you go with a serious answer, make a clear connection to your major to show that you’re focused on your academic path. Don’t give a generic answer like “doctor” or “lawyer;” talk about what specialty or subfield interests you most. That said, you could also go for a more lighthearted answer, like a crossword puzzle writer, to use the space to show personality.

Example: The [TV show] Intro; I’d like to think of myself as a [character], but I have to admit I’m more of an [character]. 

Example: Happy Birthday by AJR – a catchy tune with funny/sarcastic lyrics about the reality of modern life.

Tip: Just as with the best movie prompt, you may want to avoid mainstream selections and instead put forward a title that says something about you. What song would you want the admissions officer to play while reading your application? Make sure the song you choose is appropriate. 

Example: Road trip around Iceland’s perimeter; stops include Thingvellir National Park and the Geysir Springs.

Tip: Be more specific than simply “Hawaii” or “Europe.” Also, just as with all the prompts, you want to convey something about yourself in your response, so avoid mainstream or overly luxurious answers.

Example: Aggretsuko (anime about a red panda who relieves job stress by singing death metal at karaoke bars)

Tip: Follow similar guidelines to the theme song prompt—mainstream selections are fine and are potentially relatable to the reader, but that quirkier show you have your eye on might make for a more fun response. If your selection is lesser-known, consider adding a brief description.

Example: Rory Gilmore – there definitely won’t be a shortage of coffee or good conversation.

Tip: It’s okay to go with a more well-known character here, since that will allow the reader to relate. It’s just important to use that extra space to elaborate on why you’d want to live with this person.

  • Favorite book

Example: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight – I read the entire book in my favorite pair of Air Max 97s.

Tip: Follow the same advice for best movie of all time.

Example: SETI: Using the Drake Equation to Find E.T., complete with a field trip to outer space!

Tip: You can have some fun with this prompt; try thinking outside the box of the generic “Intro to Calculus.” You can also have the class relate back to your intended major, though that’s not absolutely necessary.

The student body at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. Describe how your contributions to the USC Viterbi student body may be distinct from others. Please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you. (250 words)

USC’s engineering school is extremely competitive to get into, forcing admissions officers to choose between many qualified applicants who look relatively similar on paper. This essay wants to get down to the heart of why they should pick you over others. 

The most important word in this prompt that should job out to you is “contributions”. In this essay, you need to convey what you will bring to the engineering community that is unique. You might be saying to yourself “what can I contribute to an established university?”, but there’s actually a lot to work with here. The prompt gives suggestions of sources that could contribute to your uniqueness so let’s look at some examples of traits and how they relate to contribution to USC.

Trait: You’re from a coastal town in Florida that is experiencing flooding.

Contribution: You plan to join the Structures and Material Lab in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to discover which materials are erosion-resistant.

Trait: You’re the only daughter among four brothers.

Contribution: Since you’re no stranger to asserting your voice as a woman in a male-dominated setting, you want to become a mentor through the Women in Science and Engineering’s Young Researchers Program and encourage female high schoolers to pursue STEM.

Trait: You have OCD.

Contribution: Rather than being a hindrance, you channel your obsessive tendencies into meticulously completing complex calculations which you are excited to do as an Aerospace Engineering major.

Trait: You started an iPhone repair business out of your garage in high school.

Contribution: Your experience working with technology has given you insight into specific aspects of hardware design that could be improved that you plan to experiment with under the supervision of X professor.

As you can see from these examples, there are many ways to approach what you can contribute to the Viterbi community. When it comes to actually writing this in your essay, you should start by highlighting the unique aspect of yourself that you are choosing to focus on with a short anecdote. For example, the student writing about being from a coastal town might open with a vivid description of the damage caused by erosion from the most recent flood.

Once you’ve caught the reader’s attention and communicated what your unique background is, explain how that has positioned you to bring something special to the USC community. It’s important to be as detailed as possible by including specific programs or institutes, professors, classes, or research projects you are interested in. You can also mention more than one way that you will contribute—just ensure that each one is fully fleshed out.

Finally, end your essay with a concise conclusion. This might look like returning back to your anecdote from the beginning, talking about your future plans and how USC will get you there, or something else entirely. 

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and their 14 Grand Challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. Engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. Learn more about the NAE Grand Challenges at http://engineeringchallenges.org and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why. (250 words)

Before you can start answering this prompt, you need to do a little research! Once you go to the website linked above, click on the Challenges button at the top of the page and it will take you to the 14 Grand Challenges that engineers across the globe are committed to addressing. These challenges are broken up into four categorical themes (Sustainability, Health, Security, and Joy of Living) and they range from providing access to clean water to improving urban infrastructure to engineering better medicines to preventing nuclear terror attacks.

Your job is to pick one of these challenges that speaks the most to you. Keep in mind, we didn’t say pick the challenge you think is the “trendiest” or the admissions officers would be most impressed by; in order to write a successful and engaging essay your genuine passion and fascination with the issue has to come through. 

Once you have a challenge in mind, now you have to connect it to you. This is where you will bring in your previous experiences, your academic interests, and personal anecdotes to demonstrate why that particular issue resonates with you. For example, maybe you picked Manage the Nitrogen Cycle because your favorite memories from when you were little were gardening with your grandma which started your fascination with how plants sustain themselves and interact with the environment.

It’s important to connect to the challenge with both past experiences and future goals. So, continuing the nitrogen cycle example, maybe your dream one day is to own your own farm that is pesticide-free, so you are passionate about engineering nitrogen-free fertilizers. They don’t all have to be this personal—it’s just as valid to say you are committed to providing clean water because you dream of a world where no one is denied basic human rights like water—but you should have some explanation of the impact overcoming one of these challenges would have on you and the broader community. This helps demonstrate to the admissions officers that you appreciate the weight of these issues.

One thing to remember that trips up some students: you aren’t asked to solve the challenge in this essay. Although you can definitely contribute ideas you have, especially if you have previous experiences that relate to addressing the issue, it’s not required. The major point of this essay is to learn more about global issues you care about and why you are choosing to address them through an engineering perspective.

Many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about — a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. If you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about? (250 words)

This prompt requires less deep thought than the former. The “education” prompt asks students to think deeply about a question they have probably never thought about before, while this prompt asks you “what are you thinking about all the time?”  

If an idea comes to mind when you first read this prompt, that’s probably where you should start. USC is not looking for wild answers where students turn the holes in swiss cheese into a complex metaphor—they really just want to hear what you care about. That being said, what you care about can totally be weird or nuanced, as long as your interest in the subject tells admissions officers something about you.

Some examples of how you could work this prompt:

  • Writing about a social justice issue. Introducing a specific anecdote (that you would introduce during your hypothetical talk). Providing insightful and unique commentary on the issue—whether that be how we got here or where we should go from here.
  • Writing about a school of thought in science or philosophy. Explaining the importance of certain types of questions. Giving specific examples (historical, fictional, and anecdotal) that show that you have thought through the importance of rationalism, taoism, sensationalism, or any other school.
  • Writing about a lecture on a specific book. Discussing how White Teeth, Giovanni’s Room, or Moby Dick tells multiple important life lessons in one pretty package. Drawing connections between the fictional world and the real world.
  • Writing about the valuable lessons that can be learned from another culture. Introducing stories from your past that show the value of Japanese respect, Persian hospitality, or Indian selflessness. Recognizing negative aspects of cultures, but recognizing the lessons that can be learned when you take the time to learn them.

While these are just some examples, this prompt leaves the door open for you to explore whatever you care about. Because this essay is the simpler option, make sure that your writing is impeccable if you choose this second prompt. Engage with anecdotes and a unique personal voice to keep your essay engaging. Don’t give the reader the option to stop reading!

Where to Get Your USC Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your USC essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

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Creative Writing and Publishing Major Minor

If you have a way with words and a passion for language, then consider studying Creative Writing and Publishing. Learn to master the art of storytelling and work towards your dream career as an author, editor, freelancer, or communications strategist.

Your studies will equip you with the skills to succeed in a broad range of publishing contexts. Experiment with different genres of writing, including novels, short stories, poetry and screenwriting, with all creative outcomes being workshopped by supportive peers and enthusiastic staff.

There will be multiple opportunities for publication during your studies. You will be mentored by a team of published authors, editors and researchers who bring real-world industry experience to the classroom.

Previous USC graduates have achieved publishing success and are now recognised as award-winning Australian authors.

usc creative writing ba

View the full range of Creative Industries majors and minors .

The Creative Writing and Publishing Major can be selected in the   Bachelor of Creative Industries , Bachelor of Communication , Bachelor of Design , Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Creative Industries , Bachelor of Arts , and select double degrees that include the Bachelor of Arts.

The Creative Writing and Publishing Minor can be selected in the Bachelor of Creative Industries , Bachelor of Communication , Bachelor of Design , Bachelor of Arts , and any double degree that includes the Bachelor of Arts.

For a major in Creative Writing and Publishing, students must successfully complete 8 courses:

CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
Playing with Words: an Introduction to Creative Writing Craft : Semester 1 : Semester 1 : Semester 1 : Semester 112 
Playing with Genre : Semester 2 : Semester 2 : Semester 212 
Writing for Children and Young Adults : Semester 1 : Semester 1 : Semester 112 
Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book : Semester 2 : Semester 2 : Semester 212 
Writing the Short Story : Semester 2 : Semester 2 : Semester 212 
Writing Poetry : Semester 1 : Semester 1 : Semester 112 
Writing Your Novel : Semester 1 : Semester 1 : Semester 112 Completion of 144 units of study
Creative Writing and Editing for Publication : Semester 2 : Semester 2 : Semester 212 Completion of 192 units of study

For a minor in Creative Writing and Publishing, students must successfully complete 4 courses:

CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
Playing with Words: an Introduction to Creative Writing Craft : Semester 1 : Semester 1 : Semester 1 : Semester 112 
Playing with Genre : Semester 2 : Semester 2 : Semester 212 
Writing for Children and Young Adults : Semester 1 : Semester 1 : Semester 112 
Writing the Short Story : Semester 2 : Semester 2 : Semester 212 
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    University of Southern California
   
  Jul 01, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2018-2019    
USC Catalogue 2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

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The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Writing for Screen and Television is a unique, four-year program for students who seek intensive professional preparation for a career in screen and television writing. This rigorous program emphasizes small, workshop-style classes, and attracts students from all over the world. Students attend a variety of guest speaker presentations, take high level industry internships, are provided with mentors and taught by world-class professors.

Each fall, a class of 30 undergraduate writing students is selected to begin the program. A total of 128 units is required for completion of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree; 66 of these units are taken in a prescribed sequential order. There are no spring admissions.

Applicants must submit supplemental application and materials to the program office. For specific instructions, contact The John Wells Division of Writing for Screen and Television, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211 or telephone (213) 740-3303, or online at cinema.usc.edu .

General Education Requirements

The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program is effective for all students entering USC in fall 2015 or later, or transfer students beginning college elsewhere at that time and subsequently transferring to USC. It requires eight courses in six Core Literacies, plus two courses in Global Perspectives (which may double-count with courses in the Core Literacies) and two courses in writing. For more information about USC’s general education requirements, see General Education   .

Required Production Courses

Undergraduate writing students are required to take CTPR 290 Cinematic Communication   . This introductory production course is taken during the sophomore year.

CTPR 290    introduces the interrelationship of visuals, sound and editing in cinematic communication. Students participate in directing and producing workshops as well as individual and group projects. Approximately $1,000 should be budgeted for miscellaneous expenses, lab and insurance fees.

Four-Year Major Requirements (66 units)

Year one, first semester.

  • CNTV 101 Reality Starts Here Units: 2
  • CTCS 190g Introduction to Cinema Units: 4
  • CTPR 409L Practicum in Television Production Units: 2, 4
  • CTWR 100g Story: Character, Conflict, and Catharsis Units: 4

Total units: 12

Year one, second semester.

  • CTCS 201 History of the International Cinema II Units: 4
  • CTWR 250 Breaking the Story Units: 2
  • CTWR 321 Introduction to Hour-Long Television Writing Units: 2

Total units: 10

Year two, first semester.

  • CTPR 290 Cinematic Communication Units: 4, 6 (6 units only)
  • CTWR 206a Writing the Screenplay Units: 4
  • CTWR 416 Motion Picture Script Analysis Units: 2

Year Two, Second Semester

  • CTWR 206b Writing the Screenplay Units: 4
  • CTWR 411 Television Script Analysis Units: 2
  • CTWR 421 Writing the Hour-Long Dramatic Series Units: 2
  • CTWR 434 Writing the Half-Hour Comedy Series Units: 2

Total units: 8

Year three, first semester.

  • CTCS 464 Film and/or Television Genres Units: 4 or
  • CTCS 469 Film and/or Television Style Analysis Units: 4
  • CTWR 305 Advanced Screenwriting: The Relationship Screenplay Units: 4
  • CTWR 437 Writing the Original Situation Comedy Pilot Units: 4
  • CTWR 439 Writing the Original Dramatic Series Pilot Units: 4

Year Three, Second Semester

  • CTWR 449 Rewriting the Original Dramatic Series Pilot Units: 4
  • CTWR 453 Advanced Feature Rewriting Units: 4

Total units: 4

Year four, first semester.

  • CTWR 418a Senior Thesis Units: 4 or
  • CTWR 419a Senior Thesis in Dramatic Television Units: 4
  • CTWR 420a Senior Thesis in Half-Hour Television Comedy Units: 4

Year Four, Second Semester

  • CTWR 418b Senior Thesis Units: 4 or
  • CTWR 419b Senior Thesis in Dramatic Television Units: 4
  • CTWR 420b Senior Thesis in Half-Hour Television Comedy Units: 4
  • CTWR 459a Entertainment Industry Seminar Units: 2

Total units: 6

Suggested electives in Cinematic Arts include:

  • CTWR 404 Foundations of Comedy Units: 2
  • CTWR 407 Creating the Comedic Character Units: 2
  • CTWR 410L Character Development and Storytelling for Games Units: 4
  • CTWR 417 Script Coverage and Story Analysis Units: 2
  • CTWR 422 Creating the Dramatic Television Series Units: 2
  • CTWR 430 The Writer in American Cinema and Television Units: 2
  • CTWR 431 Screenwriters and Their Work Units: 2 max 6
  • CTWR 432 Television Writers and Their Work Units: 2 max 6
  • CTWR 433 Adaptations: Transferring Existing Work to the Screen Units: 2
  • CTWR 435 Writing for Film and Television Genres Units: 2, 3, 4 max 8
  • CTWR 437 Writing the Original Situation Comedy Pilot Units: 4 max 8
  • CTWR 438 Linked Narrative Storytelling for the Web Units: 2, 4
  • CTWR 439 Writing the Original Dramatic Series Pilot Units: 4 max 8
  • CTWR 449 Rewriting the Original Dramatic Series Pilot Units: 4 max 8
  • CTWR 468 Screenwriting in Collaboration Units: 4 max 8
  • CTWR 477 Staff Writing the Sketch Comedy Show Units: 2  max 6
  • CTWR 487 Staff Writing the Multi-Camera Television Series Units: 4 max 8
  • CTWR 497 Staff Writing the Single-Camera Half-Hour Series Units: 4 max 8
  • CTWR 499 Special Topics Units: 2, 3, 4 max 8

Grade Point Average Requirements

A minimum grade of C (2.0) must be earned in all required and prerequisite courses (a grade of C- (1.7) or lower will not fulfill a major requirement).

  • BA in English
  • English, The Arts & Interdisciplinary Studies
  • English Major
  • English, Secondary ELA Licensure Major
  • Minors in English
  • First Year English
  • English Faculty
  • Student Organizations
  • Student Teaching
  • Student Accomplishments & Awards
  • Writing Center

Apply Now

Earn a BA in English at USCB

The main objective of the program is to advance the development of graduates who connect texts and worlds and who connect their individual lives to the regional and global communities of which they become a part. The English major prepares these graduates for a wide range of professional, civic and personal opportunities through the work of self-determination in a supportive and challenging environment.

English Professor with Laptop Students

The program also promotes the wider aims and goals of the humanities in dynamic social, political and economic spaces, investing in the ongoing cultural work that we collectively inherit and reinvent.

ENGLISH PROGRAM OF STUDY

Student Learning Outcomes

USCB seeks to ensure that all students who complete the Bachelor of Arts in English…

  • Demonstrate attention to detail through deep reading practices that synthesize formal, intertextual and contextual literacies to analyze the nuanced play of language across periods, histories, geographic or national spaces and cultural differences.
  • Compose texts creatively, coherently, and persuasively with responsiveness to various purposes, audiences, contexts and media. 
  • Explore literature in English as a body of knowledge open to multiple interpretations and formulate their own interpretations in ways that reflect awareness of and diverse approaches to aesthetic values, generic conventions, historical contexts as well as cultural and ideological orientations. 
  • Critically apply theoretical and philosophical frameworks to the positions they articulate and communicate how they impact perspectives on texts, movements and cultures. 
  • Demonstrate intellectual and practical sensitivity to multiple perspectives and identities for the purpose of empathetic civic engagement across local, national and global communities and articulate the complexities of challenging discourses and institutions.
  • Design and manage sophisticated projects, broadening their thinking and developing their ideas through scholarly research and writing processes that focus on inquiry and conversation for academic and public audiences.

English Majors can Choose between these Optional Concentrations:

Concentration in creative writing.

Creative Writing Collaboration

Program of Study - CONCENTRATION IN CREATIVE WRITING

Concentration in Professional Writing

write in student session

PROGRAM of STUDY - CONCENTRATION IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING

Minor in english at uscb.

Students who are majoring in other disciplines may choose to minor in   English (Literature), English (Professional Writing) or English (Creative Writing) . 

Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisor before declaring a minor.  

The department offers three different minors in English: a minor in Literature ,  a minor in Creative  Writing  and a minor in  Professional Writing.   If you are not majoring in English already, pursuing any minor in English is an excellent way for you to 1) demonstrate to employers you have the writing, critical thinking, research and creativity skills they desire, to 2) spend some time thinking and writing about great stories, poems and plays and to 3) indulge your inner muse and your inner word nerd (both of which we know you have or otherwise you wouldn't be reading this page!) 

___ 6 credits of literature courses ENGL 201+

___ 12 credits of literature courses ENGL 301+

___ 3 credits of ENGL 222 Creative Writing Across the Curriculum

___ 3 credits of literature courses ENGL 201+

___ 3 credits of literature courses ENGL 301+

___9 credits of ENGL 322 Playwriting, 464 Poetry Workshop, or 465 Fiction Workshop (464 and 465 can be taken twice for credit)

___ 3 credits of ENGL 460 Professional Writing Workshop

___ 6 credits selected from ENGL 450 through ENGL 470 (all language and writing courses)

___ 6 credits of ENGL 200+ (1 credit courses can work)

___ 3 credits of ENGL 300+ (1 credit courses can work)

Requirements

The student seeking a minor must pass all courses completed for the minor with a grade of 'C' or better. Courses used to satisfy requirements for the minor may apply toward a student's general education requirements but cannot be applied toward the major. If a student elects more than one minor, these minors may not have any courses in common. Students must complete at least half of the minor's credits at USCB.

Edra Stephens

What are you looking for?

Suggested search, phd in creative writing & literature, at home in usc’s department of english,.

the Ph.D. in CREATIVE WRITING & LITERATURE PROGRAM is one of the few dual Ph.D. programs in the country that weaves the disciplines of literature and creative work into a single educational experience. Students complete coursework in both creative writing and literature. The dissertation project is comprised of creative and critical manuscripts, both of which are essential for completion of the degree.

USC CREATIVE WRITING FACULTY include recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, Guggenheim Fellowships, the National Book Award, National Endowment for the Arts grants, Pushcart Prizes and other prestigious recognitions for their exemplary writing and dedication to their creative and scholarly work. As professors, the faculty are committed to developing innovative seminars and guiding students in the cultivation of their abilities as writers and scholars. Each incoming student is assigned a faculty mentor, with whom the student will work closely during their years at USC. While Creative Writing faculty teach critical courses from time to time, most of these literature and theory-based seminars are led by the faculty in the Department of English, all of whom are impressively accomplished scholars who are devoted to the scholarly growth of their graduate students.

Our program prizes INTERDISCIPLINARY SCHOLARSHIP, so students are encouraged to cultivate their diverse interests with courses outside of the English Department. Many students choose to pursue a complimentary graduate certificate concurrent with the Ph.D. degree. The Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences offers graduate certificate programs in Gender Studies, Visual Studies, East Asian Studies and Visual Anthropology, among others.

IN ADDITION TO COURSEWORK, students have the opportunity to participate in Ph.D. student-run projects such as The Loudest Voice, a reading series, and Gold Line Press , a publisher of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry chapbooks.

Though known for its competitive sports teams, USC also organizes an array of stimulating events throughout the year, including the English Department’s Boudreaux Visiting Writers Series and Frank N. Magill Poetry Series, as well as the University-wide Visions & Voices series, which features diverse and dynamic performances, lectures, and discussions that extend the arts and humanities beyond the classroom.

USC also hosts the annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books — one of the largest literary events in the nation. USC itself is located in the heart of beautiful Los Angeles, an international city with a vibrant arts scene, just miles from the beach or hiking trails; students will never be at a loss for something to do.

ADMISSION is extremely competitive: the program accepts 2 or 3 writers per genre every year from hundreds of applicants. All incoming students receive five years of guaranteed funding — three years of fellowship and two of teaching assistantship. Fellowship years are granted during the first, second, and fourth years of study. Funding packages also cover full tuition remission and health insurance.

OUR STUDENTS and ALUMNI have published book-length works and collections with Alice James Books, Anhinga Press, Black Lawrence Press, Copper Canyon Press, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Hogarth, Northwestern University Press, Other Press, Penguin, Red Hen Press, Saturnalia, Siglio Press, Slope Editions, Tebot Bach, Ugly Duckling Presse, University of Iowa Press, and White Pine Press, among others. Their books, poems, stories, and essays have garnered an impressive array of accolades.

For information concerning admission, please visit our Application page.

Many questions concerning the Creative Writing & Literature Program are answered on our FAQ page.

If you do not find the information you are looking for on our website, please feel free to contact us.

Ph.D. in Creative Writing & Literature

3501 Trousdale Parkway

Taper Hall of Humanities 431

Los Angeles, CA  90089-0354

Office Hours

Monday — Friday

8:30 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.

Times may adjust in accordance with university holidays.

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COMMENTS

  1. Undergraduate

    About the Undergraduate Program. We offer a broad range of courses in English, American and Anglophone literature of all periods and genres, but also in related areas such as creative and expository writing, literature and visual arts, ethnic literature and cultural studies, the history of the English language and of literary criticism, and ...

  2. Program: English (BA)

    Majors emphasizing creative writing must take seven upper-division courses, including two introductory creative writing workshops in poetry and prose, and a third workshop at the 400-level. The remaining upperdivision courses must include one course in literature written before 1900, one course in literature written after 1900 and one elective.

  3. English Major

    An English degree can help prepare you for a career in entertainment, journalism, business, technology, law, medicine, public policy, or many other fields. Because of this, many of our students combine English with other majors for a double major. While students cannot double major in Literature and Creative Writing, since they each belong to ...

  4. Program: English (BA)

    English (BA) All English majors must take an introductory course ( ENGL 240 ), senior seminar ( ENGL 491 ) and complete a minimum of 40 units in the major, of which 24 units must be upper-division. Students should take ENGL 240 before enrolling in upper-division literature courses or creative writing workshops.

  5. Literature and Creative Writing (PhD)

    USC Catalogue 2023-2024 ... The program provides dual emphasis in literature and creative writing, culminating in the dissertation, which combines critical analysis with creative originality. ... This program will accept applicants with BA degrees or transfer students with an MA or MFA in creative writing. Degree Requirements.

  6. University of Southern California BA in Creative Writing

    USC Bachelor's Student Diversity for Creative Writing. 34 Bachelor's Degrees Awarded. 73.5% Women. 47.1% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*. During the 2019-2020 academic year, there were 34 bachelor's degrees in creative writing handed out to qualified students. The charts and tables below give more information about these students.

  7. PDF ENGLISH

    BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) GENERAL OVERVIEW Three introductory courses: English Literature to 1800 English Literature since 1800 American Literature ... For additional information, please consult the USC Catalogue. ENGLISH - CREATIVE WRITING All writing is creative — fiction or fact, prose or poetry, with sight or sound —

  8. PDF ENGLISH

    WRITING All writing is creative — fiction or fact, prose or poetry, with sight or sound — and words matter. Stories make us human, and studying English with an emphasis in Creative Writing is a way of knowing our stories. Students explore literatures, genres, and cultures through the ages and use that knowledge to enhance their writing.

  9. USC Cinematic Arts

    John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television USC School of Cinematic Arts Kristen Davis, Program Coordinator University Park, SCA 335 Los Angeles, CA 90089.2211 Phone: 213.740.3303 [email protected]

  10. Majors and Minors

    Computational Linguistics. Computational Neuroscience. Contemporary Latino and Latin American Studies. Creative Writing. Earth Sciences. East Asian Area Studies. East Asian Languages and Cultures. Economics. Economics/Mathematics.

  11. Creative Writing at University of Southern California

    USC Creative Writing Bachelor's Program. Of the 45 creative writing students who graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2020-2021 from USC, about 31% were men and 69% were women. The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Southern California with a bachelor's in creative ...

  12. Modern Campus Catalog™

    Instructors assign extensive reading and writing in order to help students become perceptive readers, critical thinkers and strong writers. Class sizes are kept at 19 to enable full discussion in literature classes and at 12 in creative writing workshops. Taper Hall of Humanities 404. (213) 740-2808. Email: [email protected].

  13. Those who got their BA in Literature (Creative Writing ...

    Do not get a BA in Creative Writing. In the 4 full years I spent on my program, I only got to take 5 courses that were actually "creative writing" courses. The rest was required literature courses. The majority of my education was a glorified book club. ... Someone like Victoria Aaveyard is a accomplished author and she did film at USC.

  14. PDF English (Creative Writing) BA Pre-Fall 2023

    THIS PLAN IS BASED ON REQUIREMENTS IN THE 2022-2023 USC CATALOGUE AND MAY VARY ACCORDING TO TRANSFER CREDITS, DORNSIFE UNITS, PRE-PROFESSIONAL GOALS, AND OTHER FACTORS. CONSULT ACADEMIC ADVISOR AND 2022-2023 USC CATALOGUE FOR MORE INFORMATION. ... Elective. Title: English (Creative Writing) BA Pre-Fall 2023 Author: Dahlie Conferido Created Date:

  15. B.A in English

    Overview. The Bachelor of Arts in English equips students to become proficient teachers of English language and literature, passionate and creative writers, proficient communicators, and well-rounded individuals who can efficiently and effectively function in journalism, media writing and editing. The programme also prepares students for ...

  16. Narrative Studies (BA)

    Writing and Narrative Forms (choose one or two courses, totaling 4 units): CTWR 412 Introduction to Screenwriting Units: 2. CTWR 415a Advanced Writing Units: 2. ENGL 105x Creative Writing for Non-Majors Units: 4 , max 8. ENGL 302 Writing Narrative Units: 4. ENGL 402 Narrative Composition Units: 4 , max 8 *.

  17. How to Write the USC Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

    All Applicants Prompt 1: Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections (250 words). Prompt 2 (optional): Starting with the beginning of high school/secondary school, if you have had a gap where you were not enrolled in school during a fall or spring term ...

  18. Creative Writing and Publishing

    If you have a way with words and a passion for language, then consider studying Creative Writing and Publishing. Learn to master the art of storytelling and work towards your dream career as an author, editor, freelancer, or communications strategist. Your studies will equip you with the skills to succeed in a broad range of publishing contexts.

  19. PDF Creative Writing BA

    CONSULT ACADEMIC ADVISOR AND USC CATALOGUE FOR MORE INFORMATION. Title: Creative Writing BA Author: Courtney Bushman Created Date: 8/14/2023 2:20:47 PM ...

  20. Writing for Screen and Television (BFA)

    Applicants must submit supplemental application and materials to the program office. For specific instructions, contact The John Wells Division of Writing for Screen and Television, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211 or telephone (213) 740-3303, or online at cinema.usc.edu. General Education Requirements

  21. BA in English

    English Major with Concentration in Creative Writing, Class of 2022. University of South Carolina Beaufort offers a bachelor of arts in English which prepares students for a wide range of professional, civic and personal opportunities through the work of self-determination in a supportive and challenging environment.

  22. Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature

    Janalynn Bliss, Graduate Coordinator. Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature. Department of English. Taper Hall 431. University of Southern California. University Park Campus. Los Angeles, CA 90089-0354. (213) 821-0477.

  23. - PhD in Creative Writing & Literature

    USC Dornsife PhD in Creative Writing & Literature. IN ADDITION TO COURSEWORK, students have the opportunity to participate in Ph.D. student-run projects such as The Loudest Voice, a reading series, and Gold Line Press, a publisher of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry chapbooks.. Though known for its competitive sports teams, USC also organizes an array of stimulating events throughout the year ...