About the Program
Professional writers increasingly work across multiple modes of expression. In SUNY Purchase’s BA program in Playwriting and Screenwriting, students learn to write for both the stage and screen through coursework that ranges from introductory to advanced levels. After completing the foundational courses, students may continue studying both disciplines or focus exclusively on one.
The curriculum helps students develop a sophisticated artistic perspective and a deeper understanding of the creative and technical processes involved in making theatre and film. At Purchase, students take a professional approach to their work, collaborating with talented film and theatre majors, actors, theatre designers, musicians, visual artists, and dancers within a world-renowned artistic community few other schools can match.
The college’s proximity to New York City offers another distinct advantage. Students learn from industry professionals, have access to the city’s extraordinary cultural and artistic offerings, and can use theatre, film, and television production facilities for their studies and internships. Purchase’s affordability is also an important factor, providing the financial flexibility needed to pursue a career as a dramatic writer.
The program includes required and elective courses in playwriting and screenwriting, theatre and film history, writing for television, new media, and documentaries, and directing for both stage and screen. Because playwriting and screenwriting are performance-based arts, students are encouraged to share their work with an audience whenever possible.
During their final year, students work with a faculty mentor to develop a substantial senior project: a full-length play, feature-length screenplay, teleplay, or documentary script. Other courses help students build a portfolio of writing samples, including both page-based work and short screen projects.
The BA program also provides a strong foundation in the liberal arts. Students are required to complete a minor in a field unrelated to theatre or film, while still having ample opportunity to explore other interests, including study abroad programs. These experiences broaden students’ perspectives and enrich their development as dramatic writers.
The program also offers minors in playwriting and screenwriting, both of which are open to students in all disciplines.
Note for Transfer Students
Students interested in transferring from another school into this BA program and earning the degree in four semesters (entering as a junior) should be aware that they must have already taken:
- introductory screenwriting
- introductory playwriting
- at least one semester of either theatre or cinema history (recommended)
Junior transfers must register for PSW 2000 and 2010 in their first semester.