Deepen your understanding of this specialized genre with an online Master’s in English and Creative Writing with a Screenwriting concentration at SNHU. The visual art has taken hold in society - this is an advanced exploration of the world of film and video, from shorts and episodic serials to feature-length blockbusters and documentaries.
The MA in English and Creative Writing with a Screenwriting concentration is based on a comprehensive study of the visual medium of film, with a special focus on story structure, character development and creative writing. You will explore all of the forms that screenwriting takes -- feature-length and short films, television episode and mini-series, commercial, news broadcasting and Internet-based video.
At the culmination of the program, you will have developed your own screenplay, one that takes you deep into subjects that matter to you and explores the necessary skills related to the video medium. This may the beginning of a feature-length film, a documentary, shorts, television pilots or any of the myriad types of screenplays.
Master’s in English and Creative Writing Skills
"My films are made on paper," Alfred Hitchcock famously remarked. The art of visual storytelling begins with the story; without the script, the film does not exist. Stories can be told in various formats, but for a visual presentation it is essential for the aspiring screenwriter to understand how the elements of plot, scene and character need to be translated into a working script.
While an understanding and analysis of literature (whatever the genre) is at the core of this MA degree, the screenwriting concentration places a special emphasis on visual storytelling. Designed by experienced and distinguished faculty, the cohesive program will give you a powerful understanding of how story, character, theme, action, visuals and dialogue intertwine to create a visual moment in time. Collaboration is encouraged, and direct interaction with faculty and peers encourages creativity and pushes the imagination to new heights.
Creative Writing Careers
The visual medium of film has never been larger and audiences have never been more engaged. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the arts, entertainment and recreation industry is expected to grow by 19 percent by 2020.
From scripts for news anchors to commercials, blockbuster movies, independent films and shorts, and television, the success of the visual actions rests on the backbones of scripts. Whether you pursue an independent career and develop scripts on your own or write for specific projects, including rewriting and editing, the future is wide open for talented screenwriters.
Applicants for the MA in English & Creative Writing programs are to submit the following:
A Statement of Purpose: Essay between 200 to 500 words on why you are pursuing an MA in English & Creative Writing.
A creative writing sample of approximately 5 – 10 pages, double spaced.
- Writing must be entirely in the same genre – it can be fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or screenwriting.
- Genre can be independent of the genre that you choose for your concentration.
- Research papers are not acceptable.
Screenwriting Concentrations
ENG 523 Screenwriting Fundamentals
ENG 547 Screenwriting Thesis Writing
ENG 557 Screenwriting Thesis Completion