Screenwriting Minor

The minor in screenwriting is a two-year interdisciplinary program housed in the Department of Communication that offers undergraduates from all departments the unique opportunity to focus specifically on the craft of dramatic writing. The minor is designed for students considering writing careers in theater, film, and television.

In addition to the program requirements listed below, students must:

• take at least nine hours of their minor "core" requirements at UNC–Chapel Hill
• earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the minor core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for minor or specific courses.

For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.

There are two tracks in the Screenwriting Minor: the selective track (by application) and the open track (no application required).

Selective Track

The selective track is a by-application minor with a cohort structure. Accepted students take 3-4 courses with their cohort during a single academic year. To participate, a student must be on campus for two consecutive semesters. 

Candidates for the selective minor must be first-year, sophomore, or junior students with a 2.4 grade point average or better. Before applying to the selective track, students are required to take the starter course, COMM 330 Introduction to Writing for Film and Television. (In rare cases, a student may be permitted to take COMM 330 as a co-req in their first semester in the selective minor, with permission of the Director.)

An application, due on March 1 of each year, is required for acceptance; please visit the Screenwriting Minor's website to review this process. Continued participation in the minor is based on the student’s work and the recommendation of the program’s instructors.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Requirements
COMM 330	Introduction to Writing for Film and Television	3
COMM 335	Film Story Analysis 1	3
COMM 433	Intermediate Screenwriting 1	3
COMM 537	Master Screenwriting 2	3
COMM 600	Screenwriting: The Re-Write 3	4
Total Hours		16

¹

Fall of first year in the minor. 

²

Spring of first year in the minor.

³

Fall of second year in the minor. Or any approved screenwriting elective (any semester). 

Open Track

The open track version of the minor has no application. Students complete two required courses and three electives.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Requirements
COMM 330	Introduction to Writing for Film and Television	3
COMM 335	Film Story Analysis	3
Three electives from the following options: 1		9
COMM 337	Visual Storytelling for Screenwriters
COMM 334	Writing the One-Hour TV Drama
COMM 331	Writing the Short Film
COMM 537	Master Screenwriting
DRAM 120	Play Analysis H, F
DRAM 135	Acting for Nonmajors
DRAM 231	Playwriting I
ENGL 259	Improvisational Comedy Games for Writers
ENGL 308	Gram-O-Rama: Grammar in Performance
Total Hours		15

H	Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

F

FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute.

¹

At least two courses from the Department of Communication. One course may come from another department. 

Department Programs

Majors

• Communication Studies Major, B.A.

Minor

• Screenwriting Minor

Graduate Programs

• Ph.D. in Communication Studies

Courses

• Communication Studies (COMM)