Scriptwriting (BA)

This program offered by School of Communications/Communications and Journalism Department and is available online via asynchronous modality and at the St. Louis main campus.

Program Description

The major in Scriptwriting provides students with a structured approach to understanding the craft of writing scripts for film, television and other electronic media. By analyzing scripts and producing their own creative work, students learn character development, plot, structure, suspense and tension, as well as the conventions of various genres.

Learning Outcomes

Successful graduates of this program will be able to:

• Use appropriate industry standard for format.
• Employ the elements of storytelling for visual media (action, image, dialogue).
• Demonstrate effective structural strategies.
• Present engaging characters.
• Combine suspense, tension and other techniques to affect an audience's emotional response.

Degree Requirements

For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.

• 45 required credit hours
• Applicable University Global Citizenship Program hours
• Electives

Required Courses

• MDST 1010 Media Foundations (3 hours)
• EPMD 1000 Introduction to Media Production (3 hours)
• MDST 1050 Media Writing (3 hours)
• MDST 2200 Ethics in the Media (3 hours)
• SCPT 2900 Scriptwriting (3 hours)
• MDST 2800 Media, Diversity and Society (3 hours)
• ENGL 2170 Creative Writing: Playwriting (3 hours)
• SCPT 3110 Script Analysis (3 hours)
• SCPT 3400 Television Scriptwriting (3 hours)
• SCPT 3500 Writing Screenplays for Film (3 hours)
• MDST 3300 Media Law, Ethics & Policy (3 hours)
• SCPT 4400 Advanced Television Scriptwriting: Genres (3 hours)
• SCPT 4500 Advanced Scriptwriting (3 hours)
• SCPT 4620 Senior Overview* (3 hours)
• SCPT 4700 Professional Development in Scriptwriting (3 hours)

*Capstone course

Portfolio Review Course Requirements

• EPMD 1000 Introduction to Media Production (3 hours)
• MDST 1010 Media Foundations (3 hours)
• MDST 1050 Media Writing (3 hours)
• SCPT 2900 Scriptwriting (3 hours)
• SCPT 3500 Writing Screenplays for Film (3 hours)
  or SCPT 3400 Television Scriptwriting (3 hours)