Cinema and Television Arts

Advisement is highly recommended for CTVA majors prior to each semester’s course registration period. Sophomores in their third semester and incoming transfers must receive advisement from the CTVA undergraduate advisor. Students are encouraged to email the CTVA advisor 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.

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

Television, Film, Emerging Media

Those involved in television, film or emerging 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; television editing; film editing; and other production and postproduction technical functions. Positions are available in commercial film studios; independent production companies, 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.

Screenwriting

Screenwriters create scripts for motion pictures, television or emerging 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 emerging 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.

Emerging Media

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

Entertainment Media Management

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, and arranging for distribution and exhibition.

Media Theory and Criticism

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 in areas such as marketing, audience and ratings research; media buying; programming, evolving media and technology strategy assessment; and expansion planning.

Requirements for Admission to the Major

Declaring the CTVA 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, Emerging Media Production, Screenwriting or Television Production-Provisional. 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 listed above and by 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 and the Television Production option—Narrative Pathway that applies to incoming freshmen and transfer students (Film Production—Provisional designation until such time as a portfolio is submitted and approved) or (TV Production—Provisional Narrative Pathway designation until such time as a portfolio is submitted and approved) also applies to students submitting Change of Major requests.

Film Production Requirements

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. Once a student’s portfolio is approved by the Film Production portfolio process, 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. 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.

Television Production Requirements

The Television Production—Provisional designation is for students who want to continue into the Television Production option—Narrative Pathway. In order to qualify for the Television Production Narrative Pathway, a student must submit a portfolio and have that portfolio approved by the Television Production faculty. Once a student’s portfolio is approved by the Television Production Narrative Pathway portfolio process, the student’s major will be designated as CTVA/Television Production Narrative Pathway. 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. Students intending to continue in the Television Production Narrative Pathway option must pass all lower division CTVA requirements and CTVA 240 with the grade of “C” or better. Until these requirements are fulfilled, students who intend to pursue the Television Production option—Narrative Pathway will remain designated as CTVA/Television Production—Provisional majors. Deadlines and dates and portfolio format requirements can be found on the Department of Cinema and Television Arts 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).