M.F.A. Screenwriting

Our intensive and comprehensive two-year program will prepare you to break into the entertainment industry. In the first year alone, you'll write one feature film, one spec TV sitcom, and one spec hour-long TV drama. And in the second year, you'll focus on developing a portfolio of material catered to your own ambitions. Do you want to become a TV showrunner? You'll create original pilots! Do you want to write feature-length films? You'll write features!

Our program is diverse and inclusive. No matter your background or identity, you're welcome in our classrooms. And we'll never try to change your unique voice as an artist. Instead, we'll help you hone that voice, so your work can shine.

Program Highlights

• Our class sizes are small – no more than 15 students.
• Our workflow is identical to the process used by Hollywood. On day one, you'll enter the writers' room - you'll conduct table reads of script pages, give feedback to your classmates, and incorporate notes into your own work.
• Our instructors are seasoned industry veterans. They have written films for studios and independent producers; they are television showrunners; and they have served as creative executives at major entertainment companies.
• Our curriculum evolves to meet the changing demands of the industry. We're adding cutting-edge classes on topics such as AI in screenwriting.
  We don't simply promote diversity - we view it as an essential component of the artistic process. We welcome writers of all backgrounds.
• The degree program is designed as a two-year degree program (consisting of 42 units), culminating in two (2) screenwriting thesis projects aimed at the professional film, television, and other media market.
• Application requirements: Bachelor's degree from an accredited university and samples of competent and creative writing, such as original screenplays, teleplays, theatrical plays, or other narrative work. Competitive application process.
• Students also have the option of taking an entertainment industry internship.  Contact the MFA Advisor for more information on procedures to enroll in this optional course. (Note: The process of securing an internship can be quite long. So contact the Advisor at least one semester in advance of the semester in which you want to take the internship.)

Real-World Results

• Our graduates have won screenwriting competitions, sold feature-length screenplays, joined the writers' rooms of TV shows, and worked in development departments at major studios.
• The MFA is a terminal degree. This means you will be credentialed to teach screenwriting at the university level. We even have a course that will help get you ready for your teaching duties.

Value

• Earning a degree is an investment in your future. However, we understand the financial challenges associated with obtaining an MFA. We strive to keep tuition as affordable as possible. We also offer financial aid, as well as opportunities for tuition reduction for out-of-state students. Please contact us for more information.
• We understand that most of our MFA students hold down full-time jobs while pursuing their degree. We cluster our classes into late afternoons and evenings to minimize disruption to your work schedule as much as possible. You'll typically take classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, between 4:00 pm to 9:45 pm.

Application Deadlines

We enroll new students in the Fall semester only. For the Fall 2026 cohort, the deadlines are:

Early = March 1, 2026; Late = June 15, 2026

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of written material (see "How to Apply" for more information on the portfolio). Submitting this material by March 1 will enable our graduate committee to give full consideration to each applicant. Late submissions will be considered, subject to time and space permitting.

Contact

If you have any questions, contact Ben Sztajnkrycer (MFA Advisor) at bsztajnkrycer@fullerton.edu.

Curriculum

The degree program consists of 14 courses of three units each, totaling 42 units. The screenwriting program schedule must be followed in the exact order as written. Click here to access the screenwriting program schedule. All courses are offered by the Department of Cinema and Television Arts and are currently designated as "CTVA" in the catalog and schedule of classes.