Writing for the Screen and Stage Minor
Dana Coen, Director
Patricia Parker, Chair
Sarah Dempsey, Director of Undergraduate Studies
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.
Department Programs
Majors
Minor
Graduate Programs
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 of 12 hours of C or better in the minor (some minors require more)
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.
| 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.
| 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 | 3 |
| 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. |
| 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:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Junior (or Sophomore) Year Fall Semester | ||
| COMM/DRAM 131 | Writing for the Screen and Stage | 3 |
| DRAM 120 | Play Analysis H | 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 |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
The following courses are recommended but are not required to complete the minor:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 334 | Writing the One-Hour TV Drama | 3 |
| COMM 335 | Film Story Analysis | 3 |
| COMM 535 | Introduction to Screen Adaptation | 3 |
| DRAM 135 | Acting for Nonmajors | 3 |
| COMM 390 | Special Topics in Communication Study (Writing the Full-Length Play) | 3 |
| COMM 390 | Special Topics in Communication Study (Visual Storytelling) | 3 |
See the program pages in Communication, Dramatic Art, and English and Comparative Literature for special opportunities.
