This is an archive of the 2019-2020 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, Please visit catalog.csun.edu.

This is an archive of the 2019-2020 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, please visit catalog.csun.edu.

UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2019-2020

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Cinema and Television Arts (CTVA) is to instill in students the knowledge, expertise and creative skills that will help them achieve their goals in the fields of television, film and new media. CTVA curriculum promotes the creative, analytical and conceptual thinking that will enrich their lives. The department is affiliated with the University Film and Video Association, the Broadcast Education Association and the National Association of Broadcasters. It administers the CSUN Cinematheque and the Gallery of Film Poster Art, both housed in Manzanita Hall, which also includes the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Wing.

The Cinema and Television Arts major provides students with academic and professional training for careers in the entertainment industry and related fields. The program is strongly committed to a balance between theoretical and practical education.

About the Department

The undergraduate CTVA major prepares students in academic and creative aspects of the media disciplines through study in one of six options: Entertainment Media Management, Film Production, Media Theory and Criticism, Multimedia Production, Screenwriting and Television Production. The department also offers a Master of Fine Arts program in Screenwriting.

Academic Advisement

Advisement is mandatory for CTVA majors prior to each semester’s course registration period. Only after receiving advisement will a student receive departmental permission to register for classes online. Sophomores in their third semester and incoming transfers must receive advisement from the CTVA undergraduate advisor. Students are encouraged to email for an appointment and to include their student ID numbers in the message. All other CTVA majors must receive advisement from CTVA faculty. Most of the options hold scheduled, mass advisement sessions, but students may also seek individual advisement meetings with faculty in their options. Please see the Department of Cinema and Television Arts website for further information.

The Department of Cinema and Television Arts encourages students to investigate opportunities for overseas study. Certain courses taken at CSU International Program Study Centers in foreign countries may be used to fulfill some of the requirements for degree options offered by the department.

Careers

Some specific career choices for graduates of the Department of Cinema and Television Arts include the following:

Those involved in television, film or new media production create, supervise or assist in the entire range of activities related to developing and executing projects. Creative occupations in this area include the selection of stories, talent and materials; art, set and lighting design; directing; cinematography and camera operation; audio recording and mixing; live television switching or editing; film editing; and other production and postproduction technical functions. Positions are available in commercial film studios, independent production companies, and houses and studios; postproduction facilities; broadcast stations and networks; cable operations; video game companies; government agencies; hospitals; business corporations; educational institutions; and other organizations with audiovisual and multimedia facilities.

Screenwriters create scripts for motion pictures, television or new media productions (including video games, VR/AR, webisodes and other web content); for commercials; for promotional and public service announcements; for continuity material used to introduce and connect various segments of musical, variety, reality and sports programs; and for film, video and new media productions for corporate or nonprofit clients. They may work directly for a studio, station or network; work on a freelance basis; or may be under contract to independent production companies.

Multimedia specialists are involved in the research, design, production and execution of interactive projects for websites, video games, virtual reality, streaming media, webisodes, and mobile services and applications.

Entertainment media management positions support virtually all forms of digital media: streamed, downloaded, broadcast, cable, satellite and online networks. The Entertainment Media Management option focuses on programming, research, operations, development and sales. The opportunities most open to recent graduates include audience research, media research, entertainment program development and international distribution of electronic content.

Management, production and writing careers also can lead to studio and independent producing of any entertainment or noncommercial media product. This includes development and fundraising, securing broadcast and film rights for a project, hiring of talent for the project, overseeing writing and production, arranging for distribution and exhibition.

Media Theory and Criticism option graduates find positions as teachers, critics and researchers. Students often go on to graduate school to prepare for teaching careers or advanced research positions. These include marketing and audience research, ratings, media buying, assessing programming strategies, and evolving media and technology strategies and expansion plans.

Requirements for Admission to the Major

All incoming freshmen and transfer students from other institutions may declare themselves as CTVA majors by selecting one of the following six option tracks: Entertainment Media Management, Film Production—Provisional, Media Theory and Criticism, Multimedia Production, Screenwriting or Television Production. The Film Production—Provisional designation is for students who want to continue into the Film Production option. 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 (see below).

Once a student’s portfolio is approved, the student’s major will be designated as CTVA/Film Production. Should a student’s portfolio not be approved, the student may remain a CTVA major, but he or she would need to select another option. The student may resubmit a portfolio for approval once, in a succeeding semester, if denied on the first attempt.

CSUN students who want to change from another major into CTVA must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and may apply for admission into the CTVA major by selecting one of the six option tracks (see above) and submitting to Admissions and Records a Change of Major form signed by the department chair. The electronic change-of-major process is not available to CSUN students who want to change from another major into CTVA. Contact the department for current processes on changing majors. The same restriction to the Film Production option that applies to incoming freshmen and transfer students (Film Production—Provisional designation until such time as a portfolio is submitted and approved) also applies to students submitting Change of Major requests.

Students intending to continue in the Screenwriting option must pass CTVA 220 with a grade of “B-” or better.

Students intending to continue in the Film Production option must pass CTVA 250 with a grade of “B-” or better and must submit a portfolio for review and approval by the CTVA faculty. Until these requirements are fulfilled, students who intend to pursue the Film Production option will remain designated as CTVA/Film Production—Provisional majors. Deadline dates and portfolio format requirements can be found on the department’s website and in the department office.

 

Grade Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree

All lower and upper division courses taken toward completion of the CTVA major must be completed with a grade of “C” or better (except as noted above).

Contact

Department of Cinema and Television Arts
Chair: Thelma Vickroy
Manzanita Hall (MZ) 195
(818) 677-3192

CTVA Advisor: ctva411@csun.edu