UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2023-2024

Program: B.A., Cinema and Television Arts

Film Production Option

Program Description

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 portfolio is approved, the student’s major would be designated as “CTVA/Film Production.” Should a student’s portfolio not be approved, the student may remain a CTVA major, but 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. Students intending to enter the Film Production option must pass CTVA 250 with a grade of “B-” or better. Deadline dates and portfolio format requirements can be found on the Department of Cinema and Television Arts website.

Program Requirements

All lower and upper division courses taken toward completion of the CTVA major must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. In addition, students intending to continue in the Film Production option must pass CTVA 250 with a grade of “B-” or better.

Note: CTVA/Film Production-Provisional majors who want to enter the upper division Film Production option curriculum must successfully complete all lower division requirements and submit a portfolio for review. Upon the approval of a portfolio by the CTVA faculty and the successful completion of the lower division requirements, a student may continue with upper division Film Production courses as a CTVA/Film Production major.

1. Lower Division Common Core (12 units)

CTVA 100 Introduction to Mass Communication Arts (3)
CTVA 210 Television-Film Aesthetics (3)
CTVA 220 Foundations of Media Writing (3)

Select one of the following production courses (3 units):

CTVA 240 Fundamentals of Video Production (3)
CTVA 250 Fundamentals of Film Production (3)
CTVA 260 Introduction to Digital Filmmaking (3)

2. Upper Division Common Core (12 units)

History

Select one of the following courses (3 units):

CTVA 305 History of Television (3)
CTVA 310 History of American Cinema (3)

Criticism

Students must take the following course (3 units): 

CTVA 319 Criticism in Cinema and Television Arts (3)

Entertainment Management

Select one of the following courses (3 units): 

CTVA 351 Anatomy of Film Producing (3)
CTVA 480 Electronic Media Management (3)
CTVA 482 Network Program Development (3)
CTVA 487 Social Controls and Regulation of Electronic Media (3)

Professional Preparation

Select one of the following courses (3 units):

CTVA 329A/B or CTVA 329C Program Production (3)
CTVA 494A/B Internship (1/2)

3. Film Production Option Curriculum (22 units)

Lower Division Film Option Requirement (3 units)

ART 250 Photography I (3)

Upper Division Film Option Requirements (19 units)

A. Students must take all of the following courses (13 units):

CTVA 329A Program Production (1)
CTVA 350 Film Directing (3)
CTVA 355 Intermediate Film Production (3)
CTVA 452A Senior Film Project I (2)
CTVA 452B Senior Film Project II (1)
CTVA 453 Advanced Film Postproduction (3)

B. Skill Area (6 units)

Choose one of the following course sequences matching your skill area:
Editing Skill Area (6 units)

CTVA 352 Nonlinear Digital Editing (3)
CTVA 356 Advanced Film Editing (3)

Sound Skill Area (6 units)

CTVA 358 Advanced Film Sound (3)
CTVA 359 Postproduction Sound Design for Film and Electronic Media (3)

Cinematography Skill Area (6 units)

CTVA 357 Advanced Cinematography (3)
Upper Division Elective (3)—With advisor permission, select 3 additional CTVA upper division units.

Producing Skill Area (6 units)

CTVA 455 Principles of Production Management (3)
Upper Division Elective (3)—With advisor permission, select 3 additional CTVA upper division units.

4. General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement.

6 units are satisfied by the following courses in the major: CTVA 210 satisfies C1 Arts; and CTVA 100 satisfies E Lifelong Learning and fulfills the Information Competence requirement.

Total Units in the Major/Option: 46

General Education Units: 42

Additional Units: 32

Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120

Contact

Department of Cinema and Television Arts
Chair: Jared Rappaport
Manzanita Hall (MZ) 195
(818) 677-3192
CTVADept@csun.edu

Program Learning Outcomes

Students receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Television Arts will be able to:

  1. Identify and critically analyze the fundamental components and aesthetics of audiovisual storytelling.
  2. Develop and write scripts for fiction and nonfiction audiovisual productions.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of historical, cultural, critical, theoretical and emergent aspects of media arts.
  4. Demonstrate the skills necessary to manage entertainment business structures and to produce, research and/or present an entertainment industry or other media project.
  5. Demonstrate the skills, knowledge and problem-solving abilities that are pertinent in a professional setting.