Associate of Fine Art in Playwriting

This is a intensive program that provides students with the opportunity to spend two years focusing on their creative writing skills while generating a portfolio of work to assist them in moving forward with their writing careers and getting into future degree programs and building their playwriting resumes through performance.

The Associate of Fine Art Degree in Playwriting curriculum provides a diverse set of classes designed to help students comprehend the nuances of dramaturgy on numerous levels. The General Education and related instruction requirements provide a broad foundation in the liberal arts which support the theatre content and facilitate transfer into a baccalaureate program, while meeting the accreditation standards for general education and related instruction in associate level degrees.

AFA Degree

    Complete General Education and Instruction Requirements
    30 credits

  • ENGL 111 Methods of Written Communication (3)
  • ENGL 211 Expository Writing with Literature (3)
  • COMM 111 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3)
  • Math/Quantitative skills (100 level or above) (3)
  • PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology (3)
  • PSY 153 Human Relations (3)
    Courses in Humanities, Natural Science, or Social Science (See Note) (12)
  • Note: Students intending to transfer into baccalaureate degree programs are strongly recommended to consult with an advisor and select courses that will fulfill baccalaureate general education requirements.

    Complete Major Specialty Requirements
    33 credits

  • THR 111 Introduction to Theatre (3)
  • THR 121 Acting I (3)
  • THR V135 Introduction to Playwriting (3)
  • THR 190 B Introduction to Directing/Producing (3)
  • THR 190 C, D, or E Theatre Conference Seminar
  • (twice at 2 credits each) (4)
  • THR 195 Practicum-Performance OR
  • THR 295 Practicum-Technical (2)
  • THR 222 Contemporary Theatre (3)
  • THR * Masterworks of the American Theatre (3)
  • THR 215 The Art of the Short Play (3)
  • THR *Advanced Playwriting (3)
  • THR *Full-length Playwriting (3)

    • A total of 63 credits is required for the degree.

Course Descriptions for New Courses for This Program

Introduction to Theatre
Survey of theatre with focus on artists who contribute to theatrical production viewed within the context of historical styles and development

Acting I
An introduction to basic acting techniques, with stress on creativity, concentration, relaxation, and physical and vocal awareness.

Introduction to Playwriting
This course covers many basic playwriting skills including objectives and negotiations, character journey, creating distinctive and believable characters, writing strong exposition, and the business of playwriting.

Introduction to Directing/Producing
Culminating in an evening of student directed one-act plays, this course covers the basics of directing, including interpersonal interactions, blocking, and script analysis, and elements of producing such as publicity, legalities, and conflict resolution.

Contemporary Theatre
Students read fifteen to twenty plays written within the last fifteen years, analyzing them for content, themes, and theatricality.

American Masterworks of Theatre
Students read classic scripts by American master playwrights such as Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, and others, discussing why these plays and writers rose to national attention and exploring their themes and theatricality.

The Art of the Short Play
Designed to help participants understand the specific needs for short plays in terms of structure, story, and character development. Participants would also learn about how to get their short plays produced, and there would be an end production of work generated in class.

Advanced Playwriting
Covering a wide range of writing exercises, techniques, and styles, this class would broaden students’ perspectives on methods of approaching the craft of playwriting, providing them with tools beyond those presented in Intro to Playwriting.

Full-Length Playwriting
Students would generate a full-length play over the course of the semester. Studies would include structure, how to generate plot and character development, and marketing.