Bachelors In

Screenwriting Degrees

The complete guide on what you’ll learn, job prospects, university programs, and saving time and money.
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Why We Love It

  • $76,710
    Potential Avg. Salary*
  • Growing Demand
    Job Outlook

* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes251121.htm for 25-1121 Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

With a bachelor of arts in screenwriting, you’ll have the education needed to pursue a career as a writer on a television show, a screenwriter for feature films, or a playwright for theater productions.

Screenwriting is a creative and practical degree that covers the artistic aspects of of screenwriting—character development and dialogue—as well as the practical aspects of formatting scripts and marketing them to production companies.

What is a Degree in Screenwriting?

With a bachelor of arts in screenwriting, you’ll focus your studies on the art of writing scripts to be executed by actors and comedians. Screenwriters find employment writing for television shows, feature films, short films, comedy sketches, and theater productions.

You’ll learn how to prepare scripts to meet industry standards for formatting, how to refine your writing skills to create relatable characters and engaging plots, and how to market and sell your scripts to theater groups and production companies.

By studying both the creative and practical aspects of screenwriting, you’ll be well-equipped for a career in the television and motion picture production industries. Screenwriters are behind popular shows, blockbuster movies, and short films and sketches that entertain audiences on a broad scale.

Successful screenwriters may have their ideas picked up by major television networks, theater groups, or movie production studios, and brought to life by both as-yet-unknown and well-known actors and actresses.

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What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Screenwriting?

  • Character Development
  • Visual Storytelling
  • Film Theory
  • Film History
  • Feature Screenwriting
  • Writing Adaptations
  • Television Writing
  • Storytelling Strategies

What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Screenwriting?

Television shows, movies, and plays are some of the most popular forms of modern entertainment, and production companies are always looking for fresh and unique ideas to be delivered by talented screenwriters.

Additionally, the increased popularity of original programming offered by providers like Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube has increased the number of venues where screenwriters can pitch their ideas, which should increase demand for individuals in this profession in the coming decade.

How Long does it take?

A bachelors in Screenwriting will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.

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Best Jobs for Screenwriting Degrees

While actors and actresses are the most well-known individuals behind popular television shows and movies, screenwriters enable actors by providing scripts that engage and entertain audiences.

Screenwriters commonly write scripts for shows in a television series, for major motion pictures and short films, for documentaries, for original theater productions, and for comedy and other sketches.

How to save time and money

Our mission is to help you to avoid paying full price for college. We want your Screenwriting degree to be affordable and accessible. Here’s how you could save:

Create Your Free SmartPlan

There are many ways to make college affordable and accessible.

That’s why we created a helpful tool called SmartPlan.

It’s free, and helps you find potential ways to save and tons of information about each school you’re considering

Think of it as your “college blueprint”, to help you instantly craft a path to your degree:

  • Which Colleges Match Your Needs
  • Ways You Could Save Time & Money
  • Free Courses You Could Take for Credit
  • Valuable Data and Insights on Each College
  • Detailed Steps You Should Take!

See what’s possible for you and generate a free plan within just a few minutes

Create My SmartPlan

Earn a Certificate in Screenwriting

A screenwriting certificate program generally takes one year to complete and is focused solely on a screenwriting curriculum—no general education courses are required.

With a certificate in screenwriting, aspiring screenwriters may be able to begin pitching scripts to production companies earlier in their careers, and the credits may transfer if you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree later.

You Might also be Interested in

Many visitors who look for a degree in Screenwriting are also interested in the following degrees.

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