The Bachelor of Arts with a major in screenwriting arts requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 42 s.h. of work for the major. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core. They must earn a minimum of 30 s.h. for the major at the University of Iowa, with at least 15 s.h. in cinematic arts courses (prefix CINE) taken at the University of Iowa.

The major in screenwriting arts draws on the long and historic creative writing tradition at the University of Iowa by expanding undergraduate offerings to include a program in screenwriting. Students are instructed on practical skills and knowledge needed to become successful members of the screenwriting industry, but they also learn about the history and theories related to screenwriting, encouraging writing and the production of cinema to rise to the level of art.

Students may earn a minor in cinema. They must complete at least 12 s.h. in courses offered by the Department of Cinematic Arts that are not required for the screenwriting arts major. A maximum of 3 s.h. for both the cinematic arts minor and the screenwriting major may be double counted. A maximum of 56 s.h. may be taken in Department of Cinematic Arts courses (prefix CINE).

Screenwriting arts students may earn a cinema major if the requirements for each major are met and no more than 7 s.h. are double counted between majors. A maximum of 56 s.h. may be taken in Department of Cinematic Arts courses (prefix CINE).

Listed below are the general categories of coursework required to earn the degree; for more specific information on courses, curriculum, and requirements of the Bachelor of Arts in American studies, visit the UI General Catalog.