Three Years in Making
M.F.A. in Screenwriting is First Offered in the California State University
Beginning in fall 2011, graduate students interested in earning a master of fine arts degree in screenwriting will be able to do so — at Cal State Fullerton.
It is the first such degree program offered in the 23-campus California State University system.
“We’re very excited to add this new M.F.A. to our existing programs,” said Jule Selbo, chair and associate professor of radio/TV/film and the director of the new program. “We’ve been planning this program for three years and are ready to accept our first group of students.”
Fifteen students will be accepted into the initial class of the intensive, two-year program.
“The faculty have worked very hard to create this M.F.A. degree,” said Rick Pullen, dean of the College of Communications. “Given the quality and number of experienced screenwriting faculty in the department, this will become a premier program in California.”
Caption: Jule Selbo
“We will concentrate on writing for narrative feature and short films, television dramas and comedies, as well as for interactive media,” said Selbo. “We’re hoping this will appeal to students in other disciplines as well — drama, English, creative writing, the arts and other disciplines. We also want to encourage returning students because their life experiences often translate into great, creative work.”
Selbo, along with associate professors Bob Engels and Ari Posner, will be among the full-time faculty. Because of the university’s close proximity to Hollywood and major television and movie studios, Selbo will be bringing in working screenwriters, producers, directors and other industry professionals to guest lecture or serve as lecturers/visiting faculty members to provide an insider’s point of view.
“Our focus is really on practical, hands-on education,” she said. “Los Angeles and Orange County are home to very creative writers and we want to ensure that our students can compete for and thrive in screenwriting jobs. That’s why this program will be intensive and demanding.”
Classes range from courses on story structure to media literacy to sitcom and drama writing to writing for new media. Final projects for students will include two full-length screenplays and a thesis project.
Interested applicants need to apply and be admitted to the university and then submit an application, along with personal essay, two creative writing samples and three recommendations to the Radio-TV-Film Department by March 1, 2011. For more information, visit the Radio-TV-Film website.
Nov. 1, 2010
