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University of Southern California · John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television

MFA in Writing for Screen & Television

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Writing for Screen and TelevisionPartial funding

Overview

A two-year campus MFA in screen and television writing. Applicants submit two assigned screenplay scenes, a writing sample of up to 10 pages and other written materials; there are no admission interviews.

Official program name
MFA in Writing for Screen & Television
Awarded degree
Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Screen and TelevisionMaster's · Master of Fine Arts
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
School
University of Southern California — John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Delivery
On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required attendance
Regular campus attendanceStudents attend classes on campus throughout the program.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Study intensity
Not published
Duration
Two years
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required credits
Not verified
Start
Fall
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Film and television
The program covers both film and television.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Fields of study

FieldClassificationEvidence
ScreenwritingDedicated degreeThe degree itself is in this field.Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Why this degree is listed

MFA with a major in writing for screen and television (screenwriting).

Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

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

Curriculum, pathways and faculty

Thesis, film or capstone

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

Published areas of study

  • Television pilots in half-hour or hour-long formats are part of the learning objectives.
    Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Workshops

  • Short scripts, feature screenplays, TV episodes, web series and game scripts in small workshop classes.
    Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Faculty listed by the program

  • Mary Sweeney — Chair, John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television, screenwriting
  • David Isaacs — Professor, screenwriting
  • Thomas Abrams — Professor of Cinematic Arts, screenwriting
  • Janet Batchler — Professor of the Practice of Cinematic Arts, screenwriting
  • Irving Belateche — Professor of the Practice of Cinematic Arts, screenwriting

As listed on the program's official page on October 12, 2026. Listing does not mean a faculty member is teaching or supervising new students in a given year.

Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

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

Equipment, computer and software

Laptop
OptionalNo laptop requirement for Writing for Screen & Television; Config C (basic) recommended.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

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

MaterialStatusInstructions as published
Screenplay sampleRequiredCreative Challenges A and B: two assigned scenes in screenplay format, 2-5 pages each.Length: 2–5 pagesSource: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Writing sampleRequiredOne sample of original creative writing; script form not required; maximum 10 pages.Length: up to 10 pagesSource: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Other materialRequiredAutobiographical character sketch, 1-2 pages.Length: 1–2 pagesSource: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Other materialRequiredMost Challenging Moment essay, 1-2 pages.Length: 1–2 pagesSource: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Creative portfolioRequiredCreative Portfolio List of significant creative projects and the applicant's role.Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Other requirements

Prior degree
RequiredBachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required2 letters — Two letters (at least one academic and one professional reference).
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Résumé / CV
RequiredCurriculum vitae (PDF).
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Interview
Not requiredNo admission interviews; applicants may be contacted for clarification.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Transcripts
RequiredOfficial academic transcripts.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

TOEFL iBT
Required — minimum 100International applicants only; minimum 20 per section for tests taken before January 21, 2026.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
IELTS Academic
Required — minimum 7International applicants only; alternative to TOEFL.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

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 deadline

    November 15 · for Fall

    The school does not print a year with this date.

    Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
    Year not printed

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$2,700per unit · 2026-2027Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
First-year tuition (22 units, fall and spring)$61,299per academic year · 2026-2027Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Mandatory institutional fees

USC mandatory fees (estimate)
$1,899 per academic yearMandatory
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Funding

Some scholarships, assistantships or awards exist for some students; full funding is not stated. “Fully funded” never means every personal or production expense is covered. How we classify funding

Partial funding

Assistantship duties
TA, SA and fellowship positions are mentioned.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Other
SCA scholarships based on merit, need or both; generally $1,000 to $25,000.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Named scholarships, assistantships and production grants

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 12, 2026.
  1. cinema.usc.edu/admissions/apply.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  2. cinema.usc.edu/admissions/graduate.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  3. cinema.usc.edu/admissions/procedures/writing/graduateprocedures.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  4. cinema.usc.edu/admissions/tuition.cfm — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 12, 2026
  5. cinema.usc.edu/laptops/index.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  6. cinema.usc.edu/scholarships/index.cfm — Official funding / aid page, verified October 12, 2026
  7. cinema.usc.edu/writing/faculty.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  8. cinema.usc.edu/writing/index.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  9. cinema.usc.edu/writing/learningobj.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026

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