Degree Requirements
Our degree requirements consist of core courses; production, writing, and history courses; a captstone project; reviews; and a portfolio defense.
Curriculum Basics
At Northwestern, you'll learn the art and craft of dramatic writing—not any single "house style" but a broad range of tools that will allow you to realize the best version of your own unique voice and talent:
- Learn about the experience of being a professional writer—including practice pitching, taking meetings, writing query letters, and understanding contracts.
- Choose from a range of writing topics courses such as developing character, developing the pilot, writing the horror film, experimental adaptation, interactive narrative, and "Broken Plays for Broken Times."
- Meet artists and executives from TV, stage, film, and new media.
- Take required production and theory courses to give you a better sense of the relationship between writing and production and the broader history and context of media and live performance.
- Ultimately, you'll build a significant professional portfolio – a screenplay, play, TV episode, and full-length thesis project that will serve as the foundation of your post-MFA life as an emerging professional writer.
Questions?
Please contact us at write@northwestern.edu or (847) 467-1157.
Internships and Professional Experiences
Our professional experience support includes dedicated career office staff, internship search guidance, professional materials and proposal support.
Portfolio, Tools, and Network
Your professional portfolio will include written and digital (film, video) work, practical knowledge of production concepts and equipment, an understanding of the entertainment industry landscape, and a network of new colleagues.
Production Opportunities
Our cohort take part in workshops and staged readings in our new downtown performance space, along with access to state-of-the-art production resources.