MFA in Screenwriting

Why study screenwriting?

Ideas are everywhere. Finished scripts are rare. That’s why the MFA in Screenwriting is built around writing—not just discussing the craft. You’ll draft, workshop, revise, and finish stories across film and television while building the discipline, versatility, and body of work that define professional screenwriters.

Every unforgettable film or television series begins with one thing: a great script. Screenwriters create the characters, dialogue, and story structure that bring those stories to life. Because powerful storytelling thrives on diverse life experiences, our cohort welcomes writers from all academic and professional backgrounds – whether you’ve already been studying writing or discovered your voice through another path.

You’ll learn to write across both film and television, collaborate with directors and producers, and graduate with a portfolio that showcases your distinctive voice and creative range.

What makes BU’s MFA in Screenwriting different

• Graduate with seven completed scripts: Seven completed scripts are our baseline, not the ceiling. You’ll finish two feature-length screenplays, two short screenplays, an existing hour-long TV drama spec, an existing half-hour TV sitcom script, and an original TV pilot complete with an episodic series bible.
• Learn from writers who are still writing: BU’s screenwriting mentors have written for FOX, Disney Channel, and The WB, and have served as development consultants for New Line Cinema and MTM Enterprises. Because they’re actively writing and pitching in today’s market, they bring current industry insight into every workshop and introduce students to the professional relationships that help launch careers.
• The Los Angeles semester: Your final semester is spent entirely at BU in LA. You’ll complete a professional internship at an entertainment company while taking an advanced rewriting workshop to polish the scripts you developed during your first three semesters. For many students, this is where classroom learning becomes a professional career. MFA students routinely intern at industry titans like Netflix, Universal Studios, and top-tier management agencies.
• Teaching assistantships: Gain classroom experience while mastering your craft. Graduate students can secure teaching assistantships to teach introductory undergraduate screenwriting courses, preparing alumni for adjunct and full-time university faculty tracks.
• Industry experiences beyond the classroom: Immerse yourself in film culture through Cinemathèque—COM’s ongoing series of private screenings and masterclasses with working directors and showrunners. Additionally, BU’s Krasker Film and Video Resource Center provides access to rare 16mm prints and archival collections.

National rankings

BU COM is consistently recognized among North America’s leading film schools, including rankings from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Wrap.

What can you do with an MFA in Screenwriting?

Our graduates build careers across film, television, streaming, games, and digital media, as writers, story editors, development executives, creative producers, educators, and more.

Alumni employers

• Netflix
• Gersh
• NetEase Games
• Hot Sauce Productions
• Barnstorm VFX
• Central Casting
• Sri and Co.
• Busch Entertainment Company
• Ubisoft Entertainment
• Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards

Common career paths

• Creative careers: Screenwriter, Television Showrunner, Script Supervisor, Story Editor, Creative Producer
• Industry + development careers: Development Executive, Talent Relations Coordinator, Copywriter, Story Analyst, Content Editor
• Teaching careers: College Instructor, University Lecturer

How the program works

You won’t leave BU with one screenplay. You’ll graduate as a writer with a professional portfolio, industry experience, and the ability to write across both film and television.

Boston: semesters 1-3

Spend your first three semesters in Boston developing your voice, refining your craft, and finishing one script after another. Our cohort sizes are intentionally small, ensuring close peer collaboration and faculty mentorship rather than getting lost in a massive lecture track.

Courses include:

• Writing the Original Pilot
• Writing the Half-Hour Sitcom
• Writing the Episodic Drama
• Writing the Short Film
• Script into Film
• Three feature screenwriting workshops

Los Angeles: semester 4

Your final semester moves to BU in LA, where you’ll complete an industry internship, take an advanced rewrite class to finalize your portfolio scripts, and build relationships with BU’s LA-based alumni network. Details on cost, curriculum, and housing are on the Study Abroad website.

Seven scripts. One professional portfolio.

Screenwriting isn’t about waiting for inspiration. It’s about building a professional writing practice. And professional writers don’t wait for inspiration; they build the habits that turn inspiration into finished work.

You’ll write. Then rewrite. Then rewrite again—because that’s how great scripts are made.

By graduation, you’ll have written at least seven scripts across film and television, enough to discover not just what kind of stories you want to tell, but what kind of writer you want to become.

Through workshops, peer critiques, and faculty mentorship, you’ll learn to write across multiple formats—the adaptability today’s working screenwriters need.

• Two feature-length screenplays
• Two short screenplays
• An existing hour-long TV drama spec script
• An existing half-hour TV comedy spec script
• An original TV pilot and comprehensive series bible

Take a Page from BU COM Alumni

You’ll join a community of accomplished writers whose work spans film, television, streaming, and independent cinema.

• Tianyu Du (COM’24): Winner of the prestigious Directors Guild of America (DGA) Student Award for her short film Bob, crediting COM’s screenwriting faculty for providing the instruction and support to push her narrative limits. Read More
• Rob Turbovsky (COM’08): Writer and Co-Executive Producer on the Emmy-nominated Hulu series Only Murders in the Building. Rob honed his comedic storytelling timing right here at BU while performing stand-up in the local Boston scene. Read More
• Nesta Huda (COM’22): Wrote, directed, and produced the acclaimed short film Taboo, focusing on cultural mental health narratives. For Nesta, “Media is such a huge agent of change.” Read More

https://youtu.be/2cyaPblKftk

The faculty

Students don’t just want to entertain—they want to write and make films with social purpose. Our job is to help students develop their voice while giving them the tools, discipline, and feedback to keep making every script stronger.

Debbie Danielpour, Associate Professor and Director, Cinematheque; published fiction writer and 20+ year veteran in the classroom, whose seventh motion picture screenplay is currently in development

BU’s screenwriting faculty are working writers and experienced teachers who bring both current industry knowledge and deep investment in your development. They’ve written for major networks, consulted for production companies, and continue to work professionally while mentoring the next generation of screenwriters.

Two historic coasts: Boston + LA

Boston: As a top-10 U.S. media market with a thriving arts community, Boston is where you’ll find your voice as a writer. Spend three semesters developing your craft, workshopping original scripts, and building a portfolio alongside faculty and fellow storytellers.

Los Angeles: Your fourth semester takes you to the entertainment capital of the world. Intern with entertainment companies, learn from working writers, and connect with BU’s extensive Hollywood alumni network. For many students, the Los Angeles semester is where years of writing become a professional career—turning scripts, internships, and industry introductions into lasting relationships.

Program details at a glance

• Degree: Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Screenwriting
• Length: 4 semesters
• Credits: 60
• Format: On campus (Boston) + Los Angeles internship semester
• Portfolio: Minimum of 7 completed scripts
• GRE: Not required
• Teaching assistantships: Available
• Scholarships: Merit scholarships available – no separate application required
• Double Terrier: Scholarship available for current BU students and alumni

Frequently asked questions about the MFA in Screenwriting at BU

Do I need prior screenwriting experience to apply?

No. Strong narrative writing ability, distinctive creative voice, and an absolute commitment to the craft are what matter most. Prior screenwriting experience is helpful but not required; our curriculum builds your screenwriting skills systematically from Semester 1.

Do I need to choose between writing for film or television?

No. The curriculum is intentionally balanced to make you comfortable writing across both film and television. You will write features, episodic scripts, short films, and original pilots so that you graduate with the flexibility today’s film and television industry demands.

Is the LA semester required?

Yes. Your fourth semester is fully based in Los Angeles through the BU Study Abroad infrastructure. This term is an essential component of the degree, combining an industry internship with professional networking and an advanced rewriting workshop.

What types of companies host BU screenwriting interns in LA?

Students secure internships across major studios, independent networks, production companies, and talent agencies, including Netflix, Universal Studios, and various specialized management firms throughout Hollywood.

How do teaching assistantships work?

MFA candidates can apply for competitive graduate assistantships to teach introductory undergraduate screenwriting courses at COM. This provides a paid teaching experience while building formal classroom teaching experience.

How does this program differ from the MFA in Film & Television Studies?

The MFA in Film and Television Studies is a critical studies program — you’ll analyze, contextualize, and write about film and television at a scholarly level. In the MFA in Screenwriting program, you’ll write scripts, develop a portfolio, and spend a semester working in LA. Different goals, different outcomes.

Also worth exploring

Learn more about our other graduate programs in communication and media, including:

• MS in Television: For students focused on the executive, creative, and business infrastructure of television—developing, line-producing, budgeting, and selling ideas directly to networks and streaming platforms.
• MFA in Film and Television Studies: For students who want to develop an advanced critical and theoretical eye for film, television, and online media—and understand their macro cultural and political impact.