OPTION - Television Production
CSUN students wishing to change from another major into CTVA must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and may apply for admission into the CTVA major by submitting to Admissions and Records a Change of Major Form signed by the Department Chair.
After successfully completing all requirements for the Pre-CTVA major listed below, and after completing at least 60 units of college/university-level course work, students should apply for admission into one of the CTVA major options by submitting to Admissions and Records a Change of Major Form signed by the Department Chair.
There are additional requirements for admission into the Film and Screenwriting Options. Students applying for the Film or Screenwriting Option must meet various minimum grade requirements and must submit a portfolio for review and approval by the CTVA faculty; Screenwriting candidates must also pass an entrance exam. Deadline dates, exam dates and portfolio format requirements can be found on the department’s website and in the department office.
Special Course and Grade Requirements for the CTVA Major
All lower and upper division courses taken toward completion of the Pre-CTVA and CTVA requirements must be completed with a grade of C or better. (NOTE--Students intending to enter the Screenwriting Option must pass CTVA 220 with a grade of B- or better. Students intending to enter the Film Option must pass CTVA 250 with a grade of B- or better.)
Pre-CTVA majors will take 12 units of preparatory classes.
- CTVA 100 Introduction to Mass Communication Arts (3)
- CTVA 210 Television-Film Aesthetics (3)
- CTVA 220 Foundations of Media Writing (3)
- CTVA 240 Fundamentals of Video Production (3)
Before admittance to the CTVA major, students must complete all requirements for the Pre-CTVA major listed above. Pre-CTVA major students may not enroll in upper division CTVA courses without the consent of the instructor. Upon completion of the Pre-CTVA major, students must apply at the Department office for admittance to one of CTVA’s seven options. To meet each option’s specific requirements, students must complete all required courses and select additional Upper Division units in consultation with a faculty advisor in that option. Note that advisement is mandatory for all CTVA majors each semester. Each option provides an advisement form, available in the CTVA office, which lists both required and elective courses for the option. To fulfill the Department’s commitment to critical thinking and research skills, each option will require one course such as CTVA 301, 319, 400, or 401.
Students in the Television Production Option will take 33 upper division units as indicated below:
- CTVA 305 History of Broadcasting (3)
- CTVA 340 Advanced Video Audio Production and Editing (3)
- CTVA 341 Single-Camera Video Production and Editing (3)
- CTVA 440 Theory and Techniques of TV Directing (3)
One of the following: Skill Area
- CTVA 342 Digital Cinematography (3)
- CTVA 352 Nonlinear Digital Editing (3)
- CTVA 358 Advanced Film Sound (3)
- CTVA 359 Post Production Sound (3)
One of the following: Critical Reasoning
- CTVA 301 Design of the Media Message (3)
- CTVA 319 Criticism in Cinema and TV (3)
- CTVA 400 Media and Society (3)
- CTVA 416 Documentary Tradition (3)
One of the following: Senior Level Capstone Production
- CTVA 441 Directing the TV Documentary (3)
- CTVA 442 Directing TV Drama/Comedy (3)
- CTVA 443 Magazine Format Video (3)
Two of the following:
- CTVA 327 Writing for Industrial Media (3)
- CTVA 384 Electronic Media Advertising (3)
- CTVA 480 Electronic Media Management (3)
- CTVA 481 Network Practices (3)
- CTVA 482 Network Program Development (3)
- CTVA 475 Audience Analysis (3)
- CTVA 487 Regulation of Electronic Media (3)
Additional Units
- Select 6 additional units in CTVA or an allied field, with the approval of an advisor, as prescribed in the official departmental advisement form for Television Production.
General Education: CTVA 100 can be counted toward GE Lifelong Learning and the major.
Total Units in the Option -- 45
General Education Units -- 48
Additional Units -- 27
Total Units Required for a B.A. Degree -- 120