A decade ago, Missouri State’s screenwriting programs were small but filled with enthusiastic students — who often requested more classes than were offered. With the collaboration of his colleagues and academic leaders, Richard Amberg, professor in the department of communication, media, journalism and film (CMJF), created new screenwriting classes and refined the course progression. They introduced classes like “Selling Your Idea: The Art of the Pitch” and “The Business of the Business,” which underscored the program’s focus on teaching concrete skills for the professional world.

Building the Foundation

Together, Amberg and his colleagues created this scaffolding, and they saw it pay off in increased enrollment and student success. As undergraduates progressed through the curriculum, they started racking up wins in awards competitions, and the screenwriting program gained national recognition. Increasingly, students expressed interest in graduate-level studies, where they could further advance their skills.

The department promoted its graduate certificate in screenwriting, and Amberg worked with Dr. Jerry Masterson, director of graduate interdisciplinary programs and partnerships, to build up the screenwriting and producing option of the Master of Professional Studies (MPS). Before long, students who’d begun as undergrads were graduating with MPS degrees. Many went on to the film festival circuit or moved to the West Coast and worked for organizations like Warner Bros. and the ABC Network.

Thinking Bigger

With this foundation of success, the department considered creating its own master’s degree in screenwriting. When they approached Dr. Shawn Wahl, dean of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, he encouraged them to think bigger. “He asked if we could create a terminal degree in screenwriting, a Master of Fine Arts (MFA),” Amberg says.

Dr. Julie Masterson, dean of the Graduate College, worked with Amberg to conduct market research and explore the feasibility of an MFA program. Vonda Yarberry, head of the art and design department, shared insight into her department’s MFA curriculum. Even though art, as a discipline, differs from writing, Amberg says CMJF gained a great deal from learning how art faculty implemented features, like portfolio classes, that allowed for rigor and flexibility.

Refining the Idea

Earning approval for the MFA program involved several, intersecting processes — at the college, university and state levels. “I didn’t come from academia, so a lot of that was new to me,” Amberg says. “But as a writer, you often have to get up to speed on subjects that are outside your personal experience — that’s the job.”  And, he notes, the producing aspect of filmmaking is a continuous learning experience. “There are financial directives, union requirements, location restrictions and liability considerations, and they might vary from project to project,” he says. “You may not know why they’re important, but there’s a reason. Just do whatever’s required to get your project over the finish line.”

It helped to have a colleague like Jack Dimond, senior instructor in CMJF, who contributed expertise in the university’s curricular processes. “With his attention to detail and patience, he was a true MVP,” Amberg says.

In 2020, Missouri State rolled out a terminal, 60-hour MFA in Dramatic Writing. “When a process has many steps, you can think of them as hurdles, or you can think of them as refineries,” Amberg says. “Every time we got feedback on our plan, it helped us identify weak points and unnecessary elements. Ultimately, it calibrated the program for the students we want to serve.”

Professional Focus

Throughout the process, CMJF made sure its MFA curriculum retained the professional focus that had built the screenwriting program’s reputation. “It’s important to keep our graduate students focused on professional standards and opportunities as they prepare to showcase their work in a competitive industry,” says Cristina Pippa, assistant professor in CMJF and director of the MFA program.

The screenwriting faculty are working writers who provide personal insight into the realities of today’s market. “We’re teaching strong craft, and we also emphasize professional skills, like managing deadlines and how to give and receive notes,” Amberg says. “And we try to demystify things that are challenging for new writers, like finding [agency] representation and working with producers.”

They regularly bring in guest speakers so that students can learn from a wide range of perspectives. Since 2020, Pippa has organized a speaker series with writers whose credits include The Daily Show, The Bear, Man on the Moon, True Detective and more. “It’s crucial for our students to hear about craft and career from a variety of voices that resonate with them,” she says. “Our guests reflect our programmatic focus on revision and developing a wide range of content. Most importantly, they truly inspire our writers!”

Leveraging Strengths

Amberg attributes part of the program’s success to the way it leverages unique strengths. “In the Midwest, we don’t have the same professional networking opportunities that you’d see in industry towns on the coasts,” he says. “That’s okay — we’re a good fit for a scrappier kind of writer. We’ve got strong acting and film production programs here, and we’re in a place where filming is affordable. You can assemble a good team and make something that can become your calling card in the industry.”

All MFA students are required to produce their own work, as a film or live performance, at least once. This challenges writers to consider their scripts’ budgetary requirements and producing pitfalls — and how easily their ideas translate from page to screen. As Pippa puts it, “We’re readying students for the road ahead so that we can all see their work staged, screened and streamed.”

Big Outcomes

Missouri State’s screenwriting program has gone from “a group of popular classes into a solid undergraduate and graduate course progression,” Amberg says. “People who want careers as creative professionals can get the foundation they need.”

The approach is working. In 2022, the first year that the Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts ranked film and media programs, Missouri State landed at No. 1 in the scriptwriting category. In 2023 and 2024, Missouri State continued to hold the top spot.

The recognition is meaningful, but Amberg says his favorite outcome is seeing former students find work and fulfillment in the industry. “Now, I take my teenager to [film] screenings and Q&As that feature alums — people my kid remembers meeting back when they were students,” he says. “That’s pretty cool.”