School of Film, Television, and Media Arts
Writing for Film and TelevisionMFA
Program starts in the fall. Review deadlines.
Learn about writing for for film, television, and other media, or develop your writing skills further. Emerson College’s low-residency Writing for Film and Television MFA program will prepare you to become a writer who knows how to connect with audiences.
At a Glance
- Build a portfolio of professional-caliber writing including original feature, and pilot screenplays..
- Participate in six-day residencies in both Boston and Los Angeles.
- Courses are taught by faculty who have written and continue to write for popular TV shows and films.
- The program is completed in two years.
- No GRE required to apply.
Become a Professional Screenwriter
In Emerson’s low-residency Writing for Film and Television MFA program, you’ll develop the craft, discipline, and creative confidence to write for film, television, emerging, and other media, while building a professional portfolio of original work. The program combines the flexibility of online learning with immersive in-person residencies, creating a collaborative environment in which you’ll sharpen your writing skills and learn from experienced writers, filmmakers, and industry professionals.
Each semester begins with a six-day residency on Emerson’s Boston or Los Angeles campus, where you’ll participate in workshops, screenings, master classes, staged readings, and conversations with working artists. The remainder of the semester takes place online through a combination of asynchronous coursework and live workshops, allowing you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Throughout the program, you’ll produce short screenplays, feature-length scripts, television spec scripts, and original pilots, as well as develop critical and analytical perspectives on storytelling and media.
As you move through the program, you’ll expand both the scope and ambition of your work, receiving mentorship from faculty who are active filmmakers, producers, screenwriters, and scholars. Each project becomes an opportunity to experiment, revise, and strengthen your creative vision while also building lasting relationships with peers and industry professionals. By graduation, you’ll leave with a professional-caliber portfolio, experience pitching and discussing your work, and a network of collaborators across the entertainment industry.
Once you’re enrolled in a graduate program at Emerson College, you’re automatically part of Emerson Edge, a network of peers, alumni, faculty, and staff to ensure you’re getting what you need out of your graduate program. Some of the benefits you’ll get from Emerson Edge:
- Career Development Center: Work with a team who can take your skills and interests and find the best path toward a creative and fulfilling career.
- Emerge Alumni Network: Join a community of over 50,000 Emerson alumni who can mentor you, share career advice, and help you make connections in your industry.
- Graduate Career Action Plan: Develop your resume, cover letter, and portfolio with a team dedicated to credential-building, and also gain access to exclusive job listings.
Writing for Film and Television students are immersed in creative communities, from the classroom to the writer’s room. Through residencies in Boston and Los Angeles, you’ll participate in workshops, script readings, screenings, pitch sessions, and writing exercises led by industry professionals. You can also join the Association of Screenwriting Students, an organization that is open to all graduate students who have a passion for screenwriting. Along the way, you’ll build a portfolio of original scripts; develop lasting creative partnerships; and get the experience needed to pursue careers across film, television, emerging, and other media.
Learn from Professional Screenwriters
Faculty in the Writing for Film and Television MFA are seasoned screenwriters, having developed stories for television shows like Grey’s Anatomy and films like Life of Pi.
Enroll Today
Applicants must register for an account with the School of Film, Television, and Media Arts. From there, you can log in and upload the required application materials. No GRE is required to apply.
Learn more about applying to Emerson on the Application Process page.