MFA in Screenwriting Frequently Asked Questions

The MFA in Screenwriting is a two-year, intensive graduate program designed to help you master the craft of writing for film and television. The program emphasizes cinematic storytelling, dramatic structure, character development, dialogue, and adaptation — giving you the tools to write for feature films, short films, network/cable/streaming television dramas and comedies, and original series. Through a curriculum spanning multiple genres and formats, you’ll learn to tell stories effectively on the screen, blending creativity with a strong understanding of industry-standard writing practices.

One defining feature of BU’s MFA is its bi-coastal structure: you spend the first three semesters studying and writing in Boston — benefiting from a close-knit cohort atmosphere and intensive workshops — then spend your fourth semester in Los Angeles as part of an internship program, gaining hands-on, professional industry experience in the heart of the entertainment business.

The faculty includes experienced, working screenwriters and industry professionals who provide personalized feedback, mentorship, and guidance. This ensures that your training is not just academic, but tightly linked to real-world industry standards and opportunities.

Also, by the end of the program you will have written a substantial body of work — multiple scripts across film and TV formats — giving you a strong portfolio to show to industry leaders.

The MFA program spans four semesters of full-time study (typically two academic years). The first three semesters are based in Boston on BU’s Charles River campus; the fourth (final) semester takes place in Los Angeles, where students participate in internships in the film and television industry.

To earn the MFA in Screenwriting, students must complete a minimum of 60 credits (some sources note a 64-credit plan depending on course load).

Over the course of the program, you are required to write a diverse set of scripts: at minimum two feature-length screenplays, two short films, a spec for an existing hour-long TV drama, a spec for an existing half-hour comedy, and an original pilot for a television series (with series bible).

Courses cover a broad spectrum of formats and skills. In film: short film scripts, feature screenwriting workshops, “Script to Film” analysis. In television: episodic drama, sitcoms, pilot writing (both comedy and drama), writing existing-show specs, as well as series-bible creation. There are also courses in genre theory, adaptation, script analysis, and dramatic writing fundamentals like structure, character, dialogue and cinematic storytelling.

Additionally, during the Los Angeles semester you’ll take industry-oriented courses (e.g. “Careers in Hollywood,” rewrite workshops) and complete an internship. That experience helps you understand the business side of the industry — development, pitching, script revision, collaboration, and networking.

No. The program doesn’t require previous screenwriting experience. What matters most is your talent, creativity, and commitment to storytelling. Applicants are evaluated based on their writing sample, creative potential, and passion for film/TV writing.

Applicants need to submit a current résumé or CV, a writing sample (often a short analysis or creative writing sample), and in many cases answer online writing or video questions (through a platform like Kira Talent). Admissions may also request letters of recommendation — ideally from people familiar with your creative work (not peers or family).

Beyond formal materials, the admissions committee looks for promise, originality, and a clear sense of why you want to pursue screenwriting — a drive to tell stories and the discipline to write and revise.

With an MFA in Screenwriting from BU, you are prepared for a range of creative careers: screenwriter for film or television, showrunner, story editor, script supervisor, development executive, story analyst, producer, or copywriter. Some graduates also pursue academia or teaching, or work in related fields such as digital media, content development, or script consulting.

Because you’ll graduate with a robust portfolio (multiple film and TV scripts), you’ll be well-positioned to pitch your work, apply for writing jobs, or seek representation. The internship and LA connections also help you network with industry professionals — which is often crucial in film/TV.

Yes. The fourth term in Los Angeles is explicitly designed to immerse you in the industry: you may intern with development companies, film/TV studios, production houses, talent agencies, or writing staffs. This not only gives you practical experience, but also helps you build relationships with established professionals.

Moreover, the program’s small, cohort-based classes and access to faculty who are active industry writers provide mentorship, creative feedback, and guidance — a supportive environment for growth.

BU’s Screenwriting MFA offers an ideal mix of creative training, structured output, and real-world industry exposure. The requirement to complete a wide variety of scripts — shorts, features, TV specs, original pilots — ensures you build a diverse and professional-grade portfolio. The bi-coastal model (Boston studios + L.A. internship) gives you both academic grounding and industry immersion.

Small class sizes and access to experienced, working screenwriters as faculty allows a highly personalized, workshop-based learning environment where your voice is heard and developed. And through the program’s connections and alumni network, you’ll have opportunities for internships, representation, and entry into the entertainment industry.

For someone like you — with interest in media, storytelling, production, and possibly leveraging PR/communication background into entertainment — this program could offer a direct path into screenwriting, content creation, and storytelling in film/TV.