UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2023-2024

Programs

B.A., Art

The Department of Art and Design offers a curriculum designed for students wishing a liberal arts education in art and design. Emerging artists have numerous opportunities available to them for expressing their creativity and obtaining employment after graduation. Students may explore several areas of art making and choose the field that best fits their interests …

B.A., Cinema and Television Arts

Entertainment Media Management Option

The Entertainment Media Management option includes the operational and management aspects of independent, studio and network media, including business structures, personnel, budgets, advertising, sales, research and regulation of the entertainment media industries. A minor also is offered in this option.

B.A., Cinema and Television Arts

Film Production Option

The Film Production option includes the conceptualization, production, directing, editing and distribution of cinema projects. In order to qualify for the Film Production option, a student must earn the appropriate grades in the designated prerequisite courses for Film Production, submit a portfolio and have that portfolio approved by the Film Production Faculty. Once a student’s …

B.A., Cinema and Television Arts

Media Theory and Criticism Option

History, theory and critical analysis of the culture of film and electronic media, providing a background for all professional training, with specific preparation for careers in teaching or research.

B.A., Cinema and Television Arts

Emerging Media Production Option

The Emerging Media Production option includes the preproduction, production and distribution of digital material for emerging interactive media. Students acquire effective skills to develop, design and create interactive or immersive media in augmented reality, virtual reality and emerging formats.

B.A., Cinema and Television Arts

Screenwriting Option

The Screenwriting option includes the conceptualization, structuring and writing of scripts for film, television and new media.

B.A., Cinema and Television Arts

Television Production Option

The Television Production option includes the development, preproduction, production and postproduction techniques for narrative or documentary television formats—encompassing producing, directing and all other creative aspects of studio and field production.

B.A., Communication Studies

The Department of Communication Studies offers a strong curriculum that embraces a range of traditions in the discipline. Humanistic, aesthetic and social scientific methods are used to examine communication processes and patterns in a variety of contexts and the promises and challenges people experience when they use language and other symbolic systems to work with …

B.A., Journalism

Public Relations Option

The Public Relations option teaches theory, but it also focuses on how to apply learning to “real world” situations, involving corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and the entertainment industry. Students learn about crisis and strategic communications, audience analysis and social and emerging media as they develop public relations and marketing strategies and plans for clients …

B.A., Journalism

Broadcast Option

The Broadcast option provides students with training comparable to an entry-level professional position in news and digital media by teaching them to write, edit, report, produce and anchor for campus-based news operations covering the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles and beyond. Operations include television and digital newscasts, such as Matador News, On Point (multimedia …

B.A., Journalism

Journalism prioritizes practical knowledge, experiential learning and media literacy. In this area of interest, students apply the skills they attain in their courses to their positions as journalists in digital and bilingual news operations at The Sundial and El Nuevo Sol, respectively, as well as the Pop-Up Newsroom, SCENE Magazine, and other mediums.

B.A., Music

Music Education Option

The Bachelor of Arts in Music option in Music Education is designed to prepare students with the skills and knowledge to successfully teach music in K-12 schools (entrance audition required). Students receive a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree that focuses on music education. Completion of this curriculum satisfies the pre-professional academic requirements for the Single …

B.A., Music

Music Therapy Option

The Bachelor of Arts in Music option in Music Therapy is designed to prepare students for careers in the therapeutic applications of music (entrance audition required). Capstone experience: internship. Completion of the program qualifies students to take the national examination needed to become a Board-Certified Music Therapist. The Music Therapy program is an evidence-based curriculum that …

B.A., Music

Music Industry Studies Option

The Bachelor of Arts in Music option in Music Industry Studies (MIS) prepares students for executive and administrative careers in the music industry (entrance audition required). This option offers a blend of the art of music and the discipline of business. Students not only participate in traditional music courses, such as individual applied music lessons …

B.A., Music

Breadth Studies Option

The Bachelor of Arts in Music option in Breadth Studies is a flexible program with minimum performance requirements that allows students to combine studies in music with other fields of interest (entrance audition required). Students must audition at the same level as other B.A. programs and have a clear career goal that cannot be met …

B.A., Theatre

The B.A. degree program is designed to enrich the student’s aesthetic and intellectual needs in the areas of theatrical production, theatre history, literature and criticism, and to provide pre-professional training. As a lab for the formal training in the classroom, undergraduate students are required to participate in department-sponsored production activities each semester. Theatre CSUN functions …

B.M., Music

Jazz Studies Option

The Bachelor of Music option in Jazz Studies includes courses in improvisation, theory, history and composition, with an emphasis in performance (entrance audition required). Capstone experience: one-hour recital. The Jazz Studies option offers a wide range of ensembles, including the Jazz “A” Big Band, Studio Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Big Band, Latin Jazz Ensemble, Vocal …

B.M., Music

Composition/Commercial and Media Writing Option

This Bachelor of Music option is divided into two concentrations: Composition and Commercial and Media Writing (both require an entrance audition). Capstone experience: 45-minute recital. Composition The concentration in Composition is designed for students interested in studying contemporary art music styles and techniques, while writing chamber, symphonic or experimental electronic music. The program is particularly useful for students …

B.M., Music

Vocal Arts Option

The Bachelor of Music option in Vocal Arts offers classical vocal students a full range of opportunities to develop their singing voices through individual lessons, choral ensemble, opera, oratorio and art song recital (entrance audition required). Capstone experience: one-hour recital. In addition, students take classes in French, German, English and Italian diction, as well as …

B.M., Music

Keyboard Option

The Bachelor of Music option in Keyboard prepares students for a variety of professional activities in piano performance and piano pedagogy (entrance audition required). Capstone experience: one-hour recital. During their studies at CSUN, piano majors are given an opportunity to develop their skills in solo performance, as well as within chamber music and piano ensemble …

B.M., Music

Percussion Option

The Bachelor of Music option in Percussion (entrance audition required) is designed for those who want to be professional performers or university-level teachers (following the appropriate graduate degree). Capstone experience: one-hour recital. This option is focused in the area of classical music but usually includes study in other areas (jazz vibes, hand percussion, etc.). Students …

B.M., Music

Winds Option

The Bachelor of Music option in Winds encompasses the classical study of woodwind and brass instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba (entrance audition required). Capstone experience: one-hour recital. The Bachelor of Music option in Winds is a degree program intended for students planning careers as performers, private studio teachers …

B.M., Music

Strings Option

The Bachelor of Music option in Strings is divided into two concentrations: Orchestral Strings and Classical Guitar (both require an entrance audition). Capstone experience: one-hour recital. Orchestral Strings The Orchestral Strings emphasis is intended for students planning careers as performers, university teachers or private studio teachers. It is also designed to prepare students to pursue advanced study …

Minor in Art

The Standard Art minor complements many majors, including Cinema and Television Arts (Multimedia Production), Family and Consumer Sciences (Apparel Design and Merchandising, Interior Design), and Chicana and Chicano Studies. It provides a foundation in art history and two- and three-dimensional art and encourages exploration in a variety of media, including animation, ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking …

Minor in Art Education

The Art Education minor provides solid preparation in the subject matter of Art for: (1) undergraduate students who are considering or planning to enter the Multiple Subject credential program, creating a pathway for those students to add a Supplementary Authorization in Art; Track I is open to all students except Art majors; (2) undergraduate art …

Minor in Art History

The Art History minor complements many majors, including Anthropology, Asian Studies, Chicana and Chicano Studies, and Sociology. In addition to providing a practical foundation in two- and three-dimensional art, the minor requires 15 to 18 upper division units of art history courses.

Minor in Communication Studies

The ability to construct, receive and analyze communication is critical for all aspects of human interaction; thus, a minor in Communication Studies provides students with theoretical, analytical and practical approaches to participate effectively in the workplace, in relationships, and in society.

Minor in Entertainment Media Management

This 18-unit minor provides a focused study of issues encountered in entertainment media management. Advisement Academic advisement is required. The advisor’s signature will be required prior to registration each semester. Students must observe all CTVA advisement dates and check with an advisor on a regular basis. Prerequisites Note that many of the courses in the …

Minor in Journalism

The Journalism minor is designed to enhance career options for students in a wide variety of disciplines, such as political science, sociology, English, languages, ethnic studies, history, anthropology, and gender and women’s studies. Minors complete lower and upper division core requirements as well as upper division electives. They also are allowed to follow an area of …

Minor in Musical Theatre

Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication Minor in Musical Theatre The minor in Musical Theatre is an integrated studies minor in Music and Theatre offered through the College of Arts, Media and Communication. The program offers the opportunity to study basic musicianship skills, applied voice, acting and stage movement. Students will study musical …

Minor in Photography/Video

The Photography/Video minor allows students to expand their knowledge in and thoroughly explore technology-dependent, art-based fields of study. Analog and digital applications in a variety of photography and video/digital courses prepare the non-Art major for art- and media-related employment and/or graduate study upon completion of a bachelor’s degree.

Minor in Spanish-Language Journalism

The interdisciplinary minor in Spanish-Language Journalism prepares students to report on Spanish-speaking and Latino communities, and to report on those communities for Spanish-language and English-language media. The minor helps students to better understand both Spanish-language and Latino media and Spanish-language and Latino communities. Contact the advisor, José Luis Benavides, at (818) 677-7242.

Minor in Theatre: Acting/Directing

Students who desire to acquire a minor in Theatre may select from the following four minor emphases: Theatre History/Literature Theatre Acting/Directing Theatre Design and Production Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication Minor in Musical Theatre Production Participation: Some Theatre minors are required to complete two upper division department production participations. Completed assignments should …

Minor in Theatre: Design and Production

Students who desire to acquire a minor in Theatre may select from the following four minor emphases: Theatre History/Literature Theatre Acting/Directing Theatre Design and Production Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication Minor in Musical Theatre Production Participation Some Theatre minors are required to complete two upper division department production participations. Completed assignments should …

Minor in Theatre: History/Literature

Students who desire to acquire a minor in Theatre may select from the following four minor emphases: Theatre History/Literature Theatre Acting/Directing Theatre Design/Technology Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication Minor in Musical Theatre

M.A., Art

Visual Arts Option

The 30-unit M.A. in Art option in Visual Arts emphasizes the experience and value of visual thinking and creative problem solving in art, as well as recognizing the concurrent importance of critical thinking, experimentation, innovation and perception. Graduate students must understand the history and traditions of art and their cultural, political and social relevance. They …

M.A., Art

Art Education Option

Notice: Admission to the Art Education option is suspended while the department reconsiders and revises the curriculum. We teach our students to experience and value visual thinking and creative problem solving in art, as well as to recognize the concurrent importance of perception, experimentation, innovation and critical thinking. Our students must understand the history and traditions …

M.A., Communication Studies

The Master of Arts in Communication Studies provides advanced study of human communication in its various and diverse forms, contexts and processes. The program prepares students to pursue academic and professional career paths such as a Ph.D. in the field, community college instruction or a career in the communication industry. The M.A. in Communication Studies …

M.A., Mass Communication

The graduate program in Mass Communication allows for development of individual professional skills to produce digital media content, and it also focuses on evaluation of media performance, using analytic and research techniques that culminate in a Thesis, Graduate Project or Comprehensive Examination. Additional information regarding classification standing is available under Graduate Programs.

M.A., Music Industry Administration

The Master of Arts degree in Music Industry Administration is an interdisciplinary professional program for students desiring an advanced degree in Music Industry Studies or Music Business. The mission of the program is to prepare students for professional growth by integrating up-to-date knowledge of the music industry’s varied facets with the students’ own career-related experiences. …

M.A., Theatre Arts

Notice: The M.A. in Theatre Arts has been suspended as of Spring 2019. The M.A. degree program is designed to enrich the student’s aesthetic and intellectual needs in the areas of theatrical production, theatre history, literature and criticism, as well as to provide pre-professional training.

M.F.A., Art

Visual Arts Option

The 60-unit M.F.A. in Art option in Visual Arts emphasizes the experience and value of visual thinking and creative problem solving in art, as well as recognizing the concurrent importance of critical thinking, experimentation, innovation and perception. Graduate students must understand the history and traditions of art and their cultural, political and social relevance. They …

M.F.A., Screenwriting

The California State University, Northridge Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting degree is for students who seek a rigorous, professionally oriented education in writing for film and television. The Department of Cinema and Television Arts prepares highly skilled and motivated individuals for careers in the entertainment industry and for careers as artist-teachers in college and …

M.M., Music

Collaborative Piano Performance Option

The Master of Music option in Collaborative Piano Performance provides structured training and performance experience for pianists who want to pursue careers as collaborative artists. Applied study is a balanced exposure to both the vocal (art songs and opera arias) and instrumental (duo sonatas and concerti) collaborative repertoire.

M.M., Music

Performance Option

The Master of Music option in Performance offers the opportunity to study the art of classical instrumental and vocal performance at the graduate level. Students in instrumental and vocal performance continue their studies in Music History and Theory and take classes specific to their area such as Pedagogy, Literature, Chamber Music, Ensemble, Advanced Conducting, Opera …

M.M., Music

Conducting Option

The Master of Music option in Conducting allows students to pursue advanced studies in orchestral conducting, band/wind ensemble conducting, or choral conducting.

M.M., Music

Composition Option

The Master of Music option in Composition offers a full range of opportunities to study the art of music composition at the graduate level. The option is designed for students interested in pursuing advanced studies in contemporary music styles and techniques, as well as composers interested in pursuing a teaching career in higher education.

Music Therapy Certificate

The postbaccalaureate certificate in Music Therapy is specifically designed for those who have already acquired a degree in music and who now want to enter the field of music therapy. The coursework is designed to enable the student to be prepared for a six-month internship leading to sitting for the national Board Certification Exam for …