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Mount Saint Mary's University · Creative Writing and Film, Television & New Media

MFA in Screenwriting

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in ScreenwritingFunding not verifiedEditorial selection: Best Online Film Schools

Overview

A 48-unit low-residency MFA run jointly by Creative Writing and Film, combining screenwriting for film and television with fiction, playwriting, adaptation and video production courses. Most courses are online, with some in-person sessions; the thesis consists of two long-format scripts and a short video example.

Official program name
MFA in Screenwriting
Awarded degree
Master of Fine Arts in ScreenwritingMaster's · Master of Fine Arts
Source: msmu.smartcatalogiq.com · verified October 12, 2026
School
Mount Saint Mary's University — Creative Writing and Film, Television & New Media
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Delivery
HybridA regular mix of online and in-person study.
Source: msmu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required attendance
Low-residencyShort mandatory residencies combined with remote study. Not fully online.
Source: msmu.smartcatalogiq.com · verified October 12, 2026
Study intensity
Not published
Duration
2-3 years
Source: msmu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required credits
48 units
Source: msmu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Film and television
The program covers both film and television.
Source: msmu.smartcatalogiq.com · verified October 12, 2026

Fields of study

FieldClassificationEvidence
ScreenwritingDedicated degreeThe degree itself is in this field.Source: msmu.smartcatalogiq.com · verified October 12, 2026
Why this degree is listed

MFA dedicated to screenwriting (joint Creative Writing and Film degree).

Source: msmu.smartcatalogiq.com · verified October 12, 2026

We list verified film degrees only — no certificates, workshops or generic degrees with a few film electives. Eligibility rules

Online study and attendance

Coursework delivery, campus visits, production work and equipment are recorded separately. Online filmmaking usually means producing work where you live.
Live sessions
Online classes meet in real time.
Source: msmu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Campus residencies
Some courses may require attending 2 of the 6 class sessions in a semester in person, partly for equipment training.
Source: msmu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Curriculum, pathways and faculty

Thesis, film or capstone

Thesis screenplayFinal thesis project of two long-format pieces (e.g., feature film, television pilot) and a 3-5 minute video example of the written work.

Source: msmu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Published areas of study

  • Creative Writing foundations include Writing for the Screen I, Adapting Literary Works for the Screen and Auteur Theory.
    Source: msmu.smartcatalogiq.com · verified October 12, 2026
  • Film foundations: digital video production, visual storytelling, sound design and editing.
    Source: msmu.smartcatalogiq.com · verified October 12, 2026

Other

Faculty listed by the program

Faculty list: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Production costs and equipment

Production and equipment costs are separate from tuition. Tuition does not include cameras, crew, actors, locations, software or thesis-film budgets unless the school says so.

Equipment and facility access

Equipment access: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Published production and equipment costs

Production and equipment costs: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

We never estimate a total cost when key expenses are unpublished. Compare production costs

Admissions

Each submission item is shown exactly as the school states it. Anything not listed is not verified — never “not required”.

Portfolio and submission materials

Portfolio requirements: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Other requirements

Prior degree
RequiredBachelor's degree
Source: msmu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

Test policy: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness. Build an application checklist

Deadlines

Dates are shown with the year and intake the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadlines: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its applicant category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-year and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other. Production costs are listed separately above.
CategoryAmountBasis and year
All studentsFrom the school's rate table for this level$994per unit · 2026-2027Estimate$47,712 = 48 units × $994 per unit. Excludes mandatory fees, production and equipment costs, travel, and any rate change during the program.Source: msmu.smartcatalogiq.com · verified October 12, 2026

Funding

We have not verified an official funding policy for this program. That does not mean funding is unavailable. “Fully funded” never means every personal or production expense is covered. How we classify funding

Funding not verified

Funding policy: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 12, 2026.
  1. msmu.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2026-2027/2026-2027-catalog/courses-of-instruction/film-television-and-ne — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 12, 2026
  2. msmu.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2026-2027/2026-2027-catalog/general-information/expenses-for-2025-2026-ac — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 12, 2026
  3. msmu.edu/admission--aid/graduate-admission/the-application-process/ — Official funding / aid page, verified October 12, 2026
  4. msmu.edu/departments/creative-writing/screenwriting/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026

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Similar programs

Same degree level and field. Listed for discovery, not ranked.

Loyola Marymount University

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Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree) · Producing (broader film degree)
Duration: Three years
Funding: Funding not verified
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Deadline: November 15, 2026 · Fall 2026 (as printed)
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MFAMFA in Screenwriting
Location: Orange, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $28,018 per semester · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 15, 2026 · Fall 2027
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