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Degree Requirements

Coursework Requirements – 18 Units Total

Required Courses
Requirement Course Units
Core Courses (9) RTVF 561 – Screenwriting Workshop (Year One + Year Two) 2
RTVF 562 – Playwriting Workshop (Year One + Year Two) 2
RTVF 563 – Television Writing Workshop (Year One + Year Two) 2
RTVF 564 – Full-length Project I (Year Two Only) 1
RTVF 565 – Full-length Project II (Year Two Only) 1
RTVF 566 – Full-length Project III (Year Two Only) 1
Production Courses (300-level or higher) (1) From RTVF or Theatre with approval of the Director of the MFA. 1
Theory/History/Culture Courses (300-level or higher) (1) From Screen Cultures/RTVF, Performance Studies, Art Theory and Practice, Theatre, or other departments with approval of MFA program director. 1

Topics in Media Writing Courses AND Electives (6-8)

RTVF 360 Topics in Media Writing — these courses vary in subject. Some sample courses include:

  • Writing Horror/Fantasy/Supernatural
  • Writing the Dramatic Pilot
  • Writing the Comedy Screenplay
  • Writing the Sci-Fi Script
  • Writing the Anti-Hero
  • Writing the Fact-Based Drama
  • LGBTQIA for Theater, TV, and/or Web
  • Improv for Writers
  • Pitching the TV Series
  • Writing and Performing Stand-Up
  • Writing Video Games
  • Writing Complex Women
  • Writing the Musical

Non-writing electives from Production, Screen Cultures, Performance Studies, Art Theory and Practice, Theatre or other departments with approval of the Director of the MFA. Some sample courses include:

  • AF AM ST: Grad Topics in Af Am Studies: Toni Morrison
  • ANTHRO: Topics in Anthropology: Political Ecology
  • COMP LIT: Theories of Literature: Recounting the Plague: In and Around Literature
  • ENGLISH: Writers' Studies in Literature: Art & Practice of Public Writing
  • GNDR ST: Topics: Gender/Sexuality Study: Queer Theory
  • HISTORY: Topics in US History: The US Empire
  • PERF ST: Topics in Performance Studies: Autobiographical Performance
  • RTVF: Topics in Post-Production: Color Correction
  • RTVF: Adv Seminar in Film & Video: Race, Performance & Media
  • RTVF: Symposium: Issues in RTVF: Religion, Film, Existentialism
  • THEATRE: Studies in Am Theatre & Drama: Rebuilding Theatre in Chicago
  • THEATRE: Theatre Practice: Devising
6-8
Professional Experience Practicum/Capstone Professional Experience Practicum/Capstone course 1

Other MFA Degree Requirements

MFA students will be allowed to take a maximum of 20 credits.

Criteria for Satisfactory Academic Progress

You must maintain a B average. If your average is not a B or higher by the end of the first year, you may be asked to leave the program.

First Year Review

The academic and professional progress of all first year MFAs will be reviewed in early June by the director of the program in consultation with writing faculty. If weaknesses are identified, a formal interview with that student will be conducted by the director and writing faculty to determine an appropriate course of action. Subsequent to that interview, at the discretion of the director, the grade for the spring core 500 level writing seminar may be used to determine whether that student will be allowed to continue in the program with a grade of C+ or below resulting in possible removal.

Final Portfolio Review/Defense

In consultation with the Director of the Program, you will choose a committee of two faculty members (both part of the Graduate School faculty) to review your final portfolio (at least 3 substantial scripts created within the context of courses) and to judge your final defense of that portfolio.