Writing for the Screen and Stage Minor

The minor in writing for the screen and stage 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.

Requirements 

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.

Candidates must be first-year or sophomore students with a 2.4 grade point average or better to begin the minor and must have taken one of the following prerequisite courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Prerequisite (select one):
COMM 330	Introduction to Writing for Film and Television 1	3
DRAM 231	Playwriting I 2	3
ENGL 130	Introduction to Fiction Writing 3	3
ENGL 132H	First-Year Honors: Introduction to Fiction Writing 4	3

¹

Preference given to communication studies majors.

²

Requires permission from the department.

³

Open to all students.

⁴

Restricted to honor students.

The prerequisite may be waived with the approval of the director of the minor.

An application is required for acceptance; please visit the Writing for Screen and Stage Minor's Web site 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 1
COMM/DRAM 131	Writing for the Screen and Stage 2	3
COMM 430	History of American Screenwriting	3
COMM 433	Intermediate Screenwriting 2	3
COMM 537	Master Screenwriting 2	3
DRAM 120	Play Analysis H, F	3
Total Hours		15

¹

Students must achieve a C grade or better in core requirements.

²

COMM 131/DRAM 131, COMM 433, and COMM 537 must be taken in consecutive semesters beginning with the first semester of the minor.

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans can be used as a guide to identify the courses required to complete the major and other requirements needed for degree completion within the expected eight semesters. The actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Students should meet with their academic advisor to create a degree plan that is specific and unique to their interests. The sample plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UNC–Chapel Hill in the fall term. Some courses may not be offered every term.

The following sequence of courses is recommended:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Junior (or Sophomore) Year Fall Semester
COMM/DRAM 131	Writing for the Screen and Stage	3
DRAM 120	Play Analysis H, F	3
Junior (or Sophomore) Year Spring Semester
COMM 430	History of American Screenwriting	3
COMM 433	Intermediate Screenwriting	3
Senior (or Junior) Year Fall Semester
COMM 537	Master Screenwriting	3

The following courses are recommended but are not required to complete the minor:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
COMM 334	Writing the One-Hour TV Drama	3
COMM 335	Film Story Analysis	3
COMM 337	Visual Storytelling for Screenwriters	3
COMM 390	Special Topics in Communication Study (Writing the Full-Length Play)	3
COMM 535	Introduction to Screen Adaptation	3
COMM 600	Screenwriting: The Re-Write	3
DRAM 135	Acting for Nonmajors	3

See the program pages in Communication, Dramatic Art, and English and Comparative Literature for special opportunities.

Department Programs

Majors

• Communication Studies Major, B.A.

Minor

• Writing for the Screen and Stage Minor

Graduate Programs

• Ph.D. in Communication Studies