Loophole DA, I think you must have USC confused with another program.
As someone who's just finished the first year of the MFA, perhaps I can offer some accurate assessments.
Few Screenwriting Classes:
False.
You're taking at least two, no more than three writing classes every semester. There are also scene seminars and re-writing classes, as well. They're all very intense courses, so they don't want you taking too many at once.
Few Filmmaking Classes Are Available, So Screenwriters Take a Lot of Critical Studies Courses:
False.
It's a two year program. Personally, I'm stretching it out to three in order to focus on my film portfolio under the Writer Director track, because I want nothing to affect my focus on my thesis script this year. All Screenwriting students take 507, which is Production 1, editing, and directing actors. The rest go under electives, and aren't required nor impossible.
As for critical studies, we are required to take 6 credits (two classes). Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, "winds up" taking any more than is required of them.
The School Doesn't Promote Its Students, So They're On Their Own With The Industry:
False.
Just as Production has First Look, USC's writing program has First Pitch and the Script List.
Yes, the writer has to pitch their scripts all alone, like in the real world, but the university packs the industry people in at the First Pitch events so they'll have a chance to pitch to someone who will actually listen. The script list and First Pitch result in sales, meetings, representation, and new gigs every year. The school also trains students on pitching and the industry in general.
Rarely Host Lectures By Top Screenwriters:
False.
It's at this point I must ask you where you're getting your information. The "Conversations with..." series, almost every Friday, provides an intimate discussion period with top screenwriters.
This year included Mark Fergis (Children of Men), Julie Traymor (Across the Universe), Jerry Staahl (CSI, and Permanent Midnight is based on him), the dudes who did 3:10 to Yuma, and those are the ones that spring to mind. You can find the podcasts of them on the writing department's website.
Also, a new series was endowed by the Jackie Oakie foundation this year, call "Master Screenwriters." The first guest was James L. Brooks. It was a five hour event, where he chatted with our department chair (who wrote Top Gun and Dick Tracy, among other films), screened some of his favorite work, and answered a ton of questions.
Also, our events are open to the rest of the cinema school. The majority of the Stark and PR speakers are within class times, and not open to the SCA public.
Some other great advantages of USC's program (beyond the obvious) are the fact that the writing program isn't just about writing a feature screenplay...if that's what you want to do, you are more than welcome to run with it, but you can also focus on television- one hour drama, half-hour comedy, sketch comedy-, animation, video games, or interactive media such as mobisodes or web content.
Also, you get myriad opportunities to collaborate with both producing and production students to see your work produced from script to screen, where several other programs either isolate you from the other disciplines completely, or make you work for them, instead of with them.
