Summer 2024: June 17 – July 26
Our summer Screenwriting and Film Studies M.F.A. and M.A. programs offer an experience unlike anything on the East Coast. We’ll challenge your expectations and help you prepare for a career in writing for film, television, and digital media. Small classes with personalized instruction drive growth in our students and foster deep, long term relationships. You’ll work with program directors with many years of experience, along with professors who have worked in the industry, and learn directly from experienced professionals with a long and impressive list of credentials.
Students work with some of the most important names in new play development. The Playwright’s Lab has garnered dozens of national awards and commendations from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival–including the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion, considered one of the highest honors in educational theatre. But our greatest achievement is the way in which our program offers a collaborative and creative community, where people who came looking for a graduate school found an artistic home.
Our Faculty
Our faculty consists of professors from world renowned film schools including UCLA, NYU, and the University of Texas at Austin. Other instructors include professional film and television writers and some of the most innovative creators of digital media on the scene today.
Courses
A master’s in this program prepares you for a rigorous academic and critical study of film. The degree may be completed in three to five summers.
What to Expect
Come prepared to work. You’ll develop, pitch, and write your film, television and digital media projects. During our six-week program, students immerse themselves in a professional, collaborative environment. They work with, and learn from, industry professionals with decades of experience in the film and television industry.
Come be a part of a one-of-a-kind program. At Hollins, you’ll build relationships that will not only enrich you, but also prepare you for your future.
Costs
Tuition
Summer 2025 tuition: $900 per credit hour, or $7,200 for the normal load of two (2) four-credit courses.
Student scholarships and loans are available. To apply, first complete the FAFSA form annually.
Fees
- New student nonrefundable deposit: $400
- Returning student deposit: $200
- Technology fee: $165/summer
- Housing: $1,400
- Health services: $50
At Hollins, I developed the most important component of my film career, which is storytelling. It allowed me a deep understanding of character creation, conflict, story structure, and script writing that I couldn’t have learned through film production. I was lucky to be surrounded with people who are passionate about story and film who continue to be part of my go-to network today.
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Screenwriting & Film FAQ
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How long does a degree take?
Low residency doesn’t mean it takes a long time to complete your degree. For the Screenwriting & Film M.F.A., students are required to complete 40 credits (10 courses) and an 8- credit thesis to complete the degree. The Screenwriting & Film M.A. requires a total of 32 credits in course work and an 8-credit thesis for a total of 40 credits.
The plan for completing the M.F.A. would look something like this: Your first summer you’ll take two courses (Film 505: Intro to Screenwriting and Film 510: Film Analysis). Most students take an independent study between their first and second summers. During your second summer, you are able to take three courses. Then, if you like, another independent study between summers two and three. In your last summer, you take three more courses. Once done with those ten courses, students start their 8-credit thesis project, which usually takes six months. A student can complete the degree in three to four years.
Screenwriting & Film Studies M.A. & M.F.A.
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How can I check out the campus and program before deciding?
We offer personal tours of our picturesque campus and surrounding area. The graduate studies office is available to answer any questions and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you. We have alums in cities around the nation who are more than willing to take you to coffee to give you a first-hand account of their experiences in our program. Contact hugrad@hollins.edu for more information.
Screenwriting & Film M.A. & M.F.A.
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What’s a low residency program mean?
Our program meets for six weeks every summer on the Hollins University campus in picturesque Roanoke, Virginia. Students live in campus housing (dorms). Each class meets twice a week for six weeks. One evening each week is dedicated to a presentation by current or visiting faculty and each weekend we feature screenings and presentations from industry guests. The learning experience doesn’t end once the six weeks in summer are over. Throughout the year we offer online learning opportunities from one-time online lectures to semester-long online courses.
Screenwriting & Film Studies M.A. & M.F.A.
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What should I expect to experience my first summer in Roanoke?
Your first summer in our program is used to create a strong foundation in the craft that will serve you well as you move forward on your creative journey. You take two courses: Film 505: Intro to Screenwriting and Film 510: Intro to Film Studies. With this 1-2 combo, we challenge you to be creative, and analytical. In Film 505 you’ll work in a collaborative workshop environment to develop and write a feature length screenplay. In Film 510, you will be taught the foundations of critical film appreciation. Even though the content and requirements of these two courses are very different, the goal is the same: to identify and appreciate the creative patterns that are part of all cinematic storytelling endeavors.
Screenwriting & Film Studies M.A. & M.F.A.
