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Program Description
The undergraduate program in Dramatic Writing, which leads to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, is divided into three parts: dramatic writing courses, which include core writing, text analysis, and performance and production courses; general education courses; and electives. Students may enter the program either as freshmen or as transfer students. The curriculum as a whole enables them to analyze the dramatic text as it has developed since the time of the ancient Greeks, learn the rudiments of production techniques, explore the world of performance, and develop and refine their writing ability through a series of intensive workshops.
During the first two years of study, students acquire a strong liberal arts background while sharpening their writing skills. This grounding in the arts and humanities encourages the development of imagination and intellect—essential parts of a writer’s training.
Students who have completed one or two years of college are often ready to concentrate on a particular field of interest. For students in their final semesters, the major coursework in dramatic writing serves as pre-professional experience. Work is judged by eminent writers according to rigorous professional standards. Students also get a realistic view of the profession through meetings and discussions with producers, agents, and directors—the people with whom the dramatic writer works.
The undergraduate program is designed to be completed in four years of full-time study. By the senior year, each student is expected to have developed several full-length works for film, stage, or episodic media.
Admissions
New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply.
Program Requirements
The program requires the completion of 128 credits, comprised of the following:
Course List
Course |
Title |
Credits |
DWPG-UT 20 | Craft of Dramatic and Visual Writing | 4 |
DWPG-UT 30 | Playwriting I | 4 |
DWPG-UT 35 | Screenwriting I | 4 |
DWPG-UT 1042 | Episodic/TV Writing I: The Half-Hour | 4 |
| 6 |
| Playwriting II | |
| Screenwriting II | |
| Episodic/TV Writing II: The One-Hour | |
| 3 |
| Advanced Playwriting | |
| Advanced Screenwriting | |
| Advanced Episodic/TV Writing: Series | |
| 3 |
| BFA Capstone Project in Playwriting | |
| BFA Capstone Project in Screenwriting | |
| BFA Capstone in Episodic/TV Writing | |
DWPG-UT 1103 | Forms of Drama I | 4 |
DWPG-UT 1106 | Play Survey: Modern Drama | 4 |
DWPG-UT 1107 | Film Survey | 4 |
DWPG-UT 1108 | Episodic/TV Series Survey | 4 |
DWPG-UT 101 | Shakespeare for Writers | 4 |
DWPG-UT 21 | Undergraduate Drama Lab I | 2 |
DWPG-UT 22 | Undergraduate Drama Lab II | 2 |
OART-UT 560 | Fundamentals of Filmmaking I: The Art of Visual Storytelling (*or any relevant theatre production course by advisement) | 4 |
DWPG-UT 1301 | Professional Colloquium | 2 |
DWPG-UT 1300 | Undergraduate Internship | 3 |
EXPOS-UA 5 | Writing the Essay: Art and the World | 4 |
ASPP-UT 2 | The World Through Art Writing The Essay | 4 |
CORE-UA 400 | Texts & Ideas: | 4 |
CORE-UA 500 | Cultures & Contexts: Topics | 4 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 20 |
1 | 23 |
Total Credits | 128 |
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have:
- A basic understanding of the diverse history and craft of the three mediums of theater, film and episodic television.
- The ability to analyze diverse dramatic texts across the three mediums of theater, film and episodic television.
- A basic understanding of and experience in production in at least one of the three mediums of theater, film and episodic television.
- Completed an original, technically proficient full-length Capstone work in one of the three mediums of theater, film or episodic television.
- Completed a broad liberal arts education.
Policies
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