Screenwriting & Playwriting

What is Screenwriting & Playwriting? 

The Drexel Westphal Screenwriting & Playwriting Program guides emerging artists in their pursuit of a career writing for the stage or screen. Our discipline is about writing for production – rather than publication – and the program emphasizes the principles of dramatic writing through a practical hands-on approach to instruction. Our graduates take away the skills, experience, and confidence to gain an edge in a rewarding and competitive field. Avid students acquire the essential skills of dramatic storytelling, then apply those abilities to the creation of scripts that meet professional industry standards. Drexel's pioneering co-op affords practical experience in the field, working alongside professional artists. The Screenwriting & Playwriting Program marks the beginning of the life-long process of developing a writer's eye that sees the world from a different angle and allows writers to tell their own uniquely compelling stories. 

Why Study Screenwriting & Playwriting at Drexel? 

• Students develop their individual styles of expression through exposure to a diverse range of forms and subjects. 

• Class size is limited, insuring individual attention and maximum interaction with faculty. Our writing courses are capped at 12 students. 

• Our deep belief in experiential learning means students begin their writing coursework the first week on campus. 

• Practicing professional writers comprise our entire faculty, teaching with the authority of contemporary industry experience. 

• The Program coursework provides the opportunity for writers to see their work produced on stage and on screen as part of the learning process. 

• Work collaboratively with other creatives throughout the college in Film & Television Production, Theater, Animation & Visual Effects, and Game Design & Production. 

• All students complete a senior project of professional scope to prepare them for the practical and creative challenges they will face in the field. 

• Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, a World Heritage City and a major media center. The city provides our students with a rich array of cultural, cinematic and theatrical offerings. 

What Skills Will You Learn in the Screenwriting & Playwriting Program?

Students in Drexel’s Screenwriting & Playwriting program develop:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills that are essential within the entertainment industry and portable beyond it for a wide range of employment opportunities. 

• A thorough understanding of structure and storytelling for media, including Film, Television, Theater. 

• A facility with visual storytelling. 

• The ability to identify and confidently use their own creative voice. 

• The foundations required to comport themselves professionally in the challenging and competitive entertainment industry. 

• Film & Television production skills. 

• Theater production skills. 

• Historical, conceptual, and creative analytic abilities as applied to all art forms. 

• The soft skills required to collaborate on creative projects, making them valuable members of TV Writers Rooms. 

• Networking skills that support career development in a decentralized business arena. 

Career Opportunities with a Screenwriting & Playwriting Degree

Graduates of the Screenwriting & Playwriting Program have successfully pursued many exciting careers in the entertainment industry, including: 

• Screenwriter 

• Television Writer 

• Playwright 

• Novelist 

• Children’s Book Author 

• Poet 

• Actor 

• Director 

• Producer 

• Creative Producer 

• Development Executive 

• Theater Company Apprentice 

• Video Game Designer 

• Comic Book Editor 

• Comic Book Writer 

• Stand-up Comic 

• Podcaster 

• Journalist 

• Talent Agent 

• Film Distribution Management 

• Animation Character Rigger