Playwriting and Screenwriting

Types of Degrees Playwriting and Screenwriting Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many playwriting & screenwriting graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree	414
Master’s Degree	375
Undergraduate Certificate	37
Graduate Certificate	13
Basic Certificate	11
Associate Degree	1

What Playwriting and Screenwriting Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to playwriting and screenwriting were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Playwriting and Screenwriting Majors

Playwriting and Screenwriting majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Skills for Playwriting and Screenwriting Majors

A major in playwriting and screenwriting prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Abilities for Playwriting and Screenwriting Majors

Playwriting and Screenwriting majors often go into careers where the following abilities are vital:

• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

What Can You Do With a Playwriting and Screenwriting Major?

People with a playwriting and screenwriting degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Art, Drama, and Music Professors	12.0%	$69,960
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers	7.6%	$62,170

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Playwriting and Screenwriting?

Roughly 52% of the graduates are women, and 48% are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of playwriting and screenwriting majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	23
Black or African American	37
Hispanic or Latino	53
White	246
International Students	13
Other Races/Ethnicities	42

Geographic Diversity

Playwriting and Screenwriting appeals to people across the globe. About 3.1% of those with this major are international students.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Playwriting and Screenwriting

Some careers associated with playwriting and screenwriting require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to playwriting and screenwriting have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	6.7%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	5.3%
Some College Courses	2.7%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	0.9%
Bachelor’s Degree	25.2%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	1.8%
Master’s Degree	34.6%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	1.1%
Doctoral Degree	22.1%

Online Playwriting and Screenwriting Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	4	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	0	0
Associate’s Degree	3	0
Bachelor’s Degree	3	2
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	40	4
Post-Master’s	1	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Majors Related to Playwriting and Screenwriting

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to playwriting and screenwriting.

Major	Number of Grads
Theater Arts	10,917
Acting	1,791
Musical Theater	1,247
Theater Design & Technology	1,139
Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft	465
Directing & Theatrical Production	220
Theatre and Dance	111
Comedy Writing and Performance	44
Theatre Literature, History & Criticism	37
Costume Design	31

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Donald Judge under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.