PDF version of this chapterProfessional Writing Program
Waite Phillips Hall 404
(213) 740-3252
Email: mpw@usc.edu
FAX: (213) 740-5775
www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/mpw
Director: James J. Ragan, Ph.D.*
Master of Professional Writing
The program is designed for individuals pursuing writing as a career. Fields included are fiction, screenwriting, TV writing, poetry, stageplay and creative non-fiction. Program faculty are successful writers whose experience in writing and knowledge of publishing bring professional expertise to the classroom.The academic curriculum offers seminars and workshops focusing on the development of students' work and on marketing the book, play and filmscript. The degree is specifically intended for writers, preferably those interested in working in more than one genre.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the program is based upon possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum 3.0 GPA. When possible, interviews will be conducted with applicants. Adequate scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations, three letters of recommendation and a work sample of at least 10 pages are required.Degree Requirements
Thirty units of work are required for the MPW degree. MPW 900 Survey of Professional Writing (3 units) is required and normally will be taken during the first year. In addition, 15 units are required in the student's major field (fiction, poetry, non-fiction, or cinema-TV-drama), including one to six units of MPW 994 Professional Writing Project, in which a final project is developed in consultation with the director of the program and an appropriate faculty advisor. The remaining 12 units consist of electives from the writing curriculum. Students are required to submit a proposal describing their individual final projects to the director at least six weeks prior to the beginning of any semester in which they plan to enroll in MPW 994. There are no foreign language or thesis requirements.In addition to the following professional writing courses, students may select units for the major from JOUR 435, JOUR 436 (MPW Program approval required).
Courses of Instruction
Professional Writing Program (MPW)
The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.
460ab Playwright's Workshop (4-4, FaSp) Development of full-length plays from staged readings to a finished, producible work. Class involves the writer with directors, technicians, and actors in shaping plays with an eye toward professional production. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: departmental approval.
900 Survey of Professional Writing (3, FaSpSm) Analysis of genres, characteristics of narration, stylistic editing, and the role of the writer in contemporary society. Required of all MPW majors.
910 The Literary Marketplace (3, FaSp) The writer in the professional world: agents, contracts, copyright, adaptations, manuscript preparation, and editing.
915 Writing Humor: Literary and Dramatic (3, FaSp) Analysis of the specifics of humor -- wit, irony, satire, parody and farce -- through examples taken from various genres; discussion/workshop on incorporating humor in students' work.
920 Principles of Dramatic Structure (3, FaSpSm) Analysis of techniques in preparing scripts for various media; practice in adapting materials from non-dramatic forms.
925ab Advanced Nonfiction Writing (3-3, FaSp) a: The writing of longer nonfiction works: organization of material, subject choice, and interviewing techniques. b: Continuation or completion of work begun in a.
930 Story Conference (3, FaSp) Development of a synopsis idea for stageplay or screenplay via a professional producer/writer story conference approach. Emphasis on character, scene structure, advancement of storylines. Prerequisite: writing sample; departmental approval.
940 Literature and Approaches to Writing the Novel (3, Sp) Discussion and analysis of literary classics and their influences as applicable to the writing of today's novel; development of book-length fiction. Prerequisite: departmental approval; MPW 960ab recommended.
950 Technical Writing (3, FaSp) Preparation of technical material and reports for management; detailed descriptions of processes, equipment, and systems.
960ab Fiction Writing Workshop (3-3, FaSp) Development and analysis of booklength fiction; concentration on narration, characterization, point of view, and clarity of style.
965ab Seminar in Playwriting (4, FaSp) An extensive examination of dramatic forms; classroom analysis and production of material culminating in work demonstrating professional promise.
970 Principles of Poetic Techniques (3, Fa) Beginning analysis of techniques in the writing of poetry as they relate to form and content; concentration on individual student poetry. Contemporary poetry surveyed.
980ab Advanced Poetry Writing (3-3, FaSp) Advanced analysis of modern poetic techniques; concentration on individual student poetry; emphasis on producing publishable literary poetry. Prerequisite: MPW 970 or departmental approval.
985ab Master Class in Drama (3-3, FaSp) a: The development of a short stageplay from idea to stage reading. b: Analysis of full-length stageplays written in workshop. Prerequisite: departmental approval.
990 Directed Research (1-4, FaSpSm) Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the program director. Graded CR/NC.
994 Professional Writing Project (1-6, FaSpSm) Supervised preparation of a full-length manuscript in student's major concentration: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or drama-cinema-television. Credit upon completion of project. Graded IP/CR/NC. Prerequisite: taken last semester of study.
999 Special Topics (3, max 9, FaSpSm) Studies in specific genres, techniques or aspects of the writing craft. Prerequisite: departmental approval.