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Fine Arts - Screenwriting logo
California State University Northridge logo
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Tuition USD 7,866 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; USD 7,866 (Tuition (Year)) — National students
Degree Master
Duration 24 months
Delivery On-campus
Location United States
Language English

Program Overview

The Fine Arts - Screenwriting at California State University Northridge is a Master programme in Arts & Design over 24 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.

Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of arts & design. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.

Graduates of the Fine Arts - Screenwriting programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United States and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.

Key Program Features

  1. Duration: 24 months
  2. Language of instruction: English
  3. Study mode: On-campus
  4. English requirement: IELTS 6.5
  5. Tuition: USD 7,866 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; USD 7,866 (Tuition (Year)) — National students
  6. Location: Los Angeles, United States, United States

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Fine Arts - Screenwriting programme are prepared for diverse careers in arts & design:

  1. Creative Director
  2. Graphic / UX Designer
  3. Art Director
  4. Curator
  5. Visual Artist
  6. Media Producer

Program Curriculum

Course Structure

  1. Writing Screenplay Comedy
  2. Theory and History of Cinema and Electronic Media
  3. Contemporary Film Analysis
  4. Screenplay Scene Writing
  5. Seminar in Screenwriting
  6. Writing Episodic Television
  7. TV Production
  8. Film Practicum: The Business of Film and TV
  9. Writing the Feature-Length Screenplay
  10. Thesis Project Screenplay

Admission Requirements

Academic Requirements

You need the following GPA score:

Required score: 3

Applicants for graduate programs must have the equivalent of a bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree with a minimum GPA equivalent to 3 on a US 4.0 grading scale. Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of or better on a 4.0 scale. No exam grade should be lower than 4.5 (European grade scale) or D (American grade scale).

Your GPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated using the grades that you received in each course, and is determined by the points assigned to each grade (e.g. for the US grading scale from A-F).

  • A bachelor\xc2\x92s degree from an accredited college or university, and a proven record of success in courses focused on narrative or dramatic writing (with at least one or two such courses taken and a \xc2\x93B\xc2\x94 average or better achieved in them).
  • Students lacking a sufficient academic or professional background in film or television may be expected to expand their knowledge of those fields through enrollment in courses assigned by the graduate advisor before admission into the program.
  • A 3.0 grade point average or higher in all undergraduate courses completed, including lower division and community college classes, and a 3.0 grade point average or higher in all cinema and/or television arts courses taken.
  • Candidates with outstanding professional records may seek, with substantial justification, an exception to these admission requirements.
  • Completion of general university requirements for classified graduate status, which means satisfying the CSU Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) in one of three ways: by earning an undergraduate degree at a California State University since 1982, or by taking and passing the CSU Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam with a score of 8 or higher, or by taking the GRE-A exam and earning a score of 3 or higher (if, with substantial justification, a student is admitted to the program with an undergraduate GPA slightly below 3.0, taking the Graduate Record Exam is required for full classification); additionally, international applicants must take and pass the TOEFL exam with a score of 80 or higher.
  • Submission of three letters of recommendation, including at least two from professors/instructors under whom the applicant has previously studied, a 500-word statement of purpose, a r\xc3\xa9sum\xc3\xa9, and all other completed forms and material as required by the CTVA department, including an original screenplay or stage play work sample.
  • Applications to\xc2\xa0both\xc2\xa0California State University, Northridge and to the CTVA department are required. (See\xc2\xa0both\xc2\xa0the CTVA department graduate webpage and the California State University Mentor\xc2\xa0website for further information.)

    • English Proficiency: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

    Tuition & Financial Information

    Tuition Fee

    USD 7,866 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; USD 7,866 (Tuition (Year)) — National students

    Tuition fees: USD 7,866 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; USD 7,866 (Tuition (Year)) — National students

    IELTS requirement: 6.5

    Financial Aid & Scholarships

    Contact California State University Northridge directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.

    About California State University Northridge

    California State University Northridge logo

    California State University Northridge

    United States

    California State University, Northridge, is a public university in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. With a total enrollment of 36,960 students, it has the...

    University Profile
    Application Information
    • Start Date Fall 2025
    • Language English
    • Duration 24 months
    Apply Now
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