1. Back
  2. NYU SPS Certificates
  3. Media, Writing, and Communications

Media, Writing, and Communications Certificate in Television and Screenwriting

To earn a certificate, students must declare their candidacy at the start of their program of study. To do so, please use the button above.

The Certificate in Television and Screenwriting provides you with foundations for success in writing for television and film. Gain the skills to translate great ideas into compelling stories, leveraging character-driven narrative and innovative story design to sustain long-term audience engagement. Then, learn how to pitch and sell your work, ensuring that your script stands out in an ever-changing industry landscape.

The Certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete the one required course and five electives, which can be substituted with other Media, Writing, and Communications certificate courses, pending departmental review and approval. This certificate must be completed within three years of taking the first certificate-eligible course.

For advisement, please contact the Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts: (212) 998-7289 or sps.pala.ce@nyu.edu.

Must be completed within

3 years

Declare Certificate Candidacy

Program Curriculum

COURSES THAT GIVE YOU THE SKILLS AND TRAINING YOU NEED TO START YOUR NEW CAREER

Program Curriculum

COURSES THAT PROVIDE FOUNDATIONAL INFORMATION IN THE FIELD WITH OPTIONS TO SPECIALIZE IN AN AREA RELEVANT TO YOUR NEEDS

REQUIRED COURSE

All Courses Required

Selling Your Stories: Representation and the Art of the Pitch for Film and TV Writers

Among aspiring film and TV writers there are many misconceptions and myths about Hollywood and what it means to be a working writer. While the...

2022 Fall
1 section
View

ELECTIVES

Complete 5

Beginning Screenwriting

Learn the basic elements of dramatic writing with an emphasis on theme, dialogue, and characterization.

2022 Fall
1 section
View

Advanced Screenwriting

Develop new screenwriting material or revise a completed script, and discuss your work during private interview sessions with the instructor.

2022 Fall
1 section
View

Screenwriting: An Exercise-Based Approach

This complete course in screenwriting teaches you the tools of the trade and gets you writing from the first day.

2022 Fall
1 section
View

Advanced Television Writing

The collaborative workshop encourages students with prior TV writing or screenwriting experience to write or rewrite a script for television.

Writing and Developing a Series for Television

Learn all you need to fully develop and professionally present your idea for a continuing or limited series for cable, network, or the web.

2022 Fall
1 section
View

Writing Your TV Pilot

Learn tools specific to writing an original pilot, whether a network procedural, a quirky web series, or an edgy comedy for cable or streaming.

Writing Great Characters for Film and TV

Through in-class exercises, lectures, television/movie watching, and writing assignments, learn how to create detailed, compelling characters.

Building a Career as a TV or Film Producer

In this hands-on workshop, explore the numerous facets of a producer’s role by producing a real or hypothetical film or TV project of your own.

2022 Fall
1 section
View

Writing and Directing the Short Film

Learn the fundamentals of screenwriting and preproduction by writing and preparing to direct a five-minute short film.

2022 Fall
1 section
View

General Admission Requirements

For those who have completed some college Completion of 32 credits with at least 2 years work experience OR 60 credits with no work experience required

Learn About Instructors