Big screen, small screen, YouTube, Netflix, Oculus—there are more ways to tell powerful stories than ever before. Learn the skills you need to bring your ideas to life.
Why Study Cinema and Television Arts?
As a Cinema and Television Arts major, you will learn conceptual thinking and technical skills needed for this booming industry. You will gain the practical know-how required to produce a TV show, film or other mass media storytelling forms. You will develop your creativity in a way that helps you reach your ideal audience.
With a degree in cinema and television arts, you will be ready for an exciting career in media. You can work in TV or film production, writers' rooms, emerging media industries, entertainment media management or as a media critic and researcher. Put your big ideas into action with the pre-professional training this major offers.
Why Study Cinema and Television Arts at CSUN?
Multiple Options
Choose a cinema and television arts option that fits your passion. You can choose to focus on:
- Entertainment media management
- Film production
- Television production
- Media theory and criticism
- Emerging media production
- Screenwriting
Hands-on Experience
Our curriculum is designed to go beyond theory and into the practical application of what you learn in the classroom. Most of our options require either an internship or program production experience to graduate.
State-of-the-art Facilities
Our facilities include film and television sound stages, post-production and mixing suites, a new media lab, and the 130-seat Elaine and Alan Armer Screening Room. The CSUN Cinematheque regularly programs film series and other screenings and events in the Armer.
Entertainment Capital of the World
Studying in Los Angeles means having the entertainment industry right at your fingertips. We are a short drive from film and television studios and offices. Students have been able to take advantage of internship and work opportunities in this bustling city.
What You'll Learn
Your coursework will mostly be determined by the option you choose. However, there are certain foundational skills you'll gain in your first years. Your core classes will include an overview of mass media fields, television and film aesthetics and an introduction on writing for film and other media.
Depending on your concentration, you may also complete basic coursework on the fundamentals of video, film or digital production.
You will also fulfill internship or production credits as part of the practicum requirements for your major.
In this option, you will learn the operational and management aspects of entertainment media. You will understand how business structures, personnel, budgets, advertising, sales, research and regulation work in the entertainment industry.
In your entertainment media core classes, you will learn about:
- Media research methods
- Electronic media management
- Audience analysis
- Social controls and regulation of electronic media
- Strategic media management
You will choose from a variety of classes in cinema and television arts history, criticism and entertainment management to round out your major courses.
In this option, you will learn how to conceptualize, produce, direct, edit and distribute film projects. In addition to gaining a strong technical foundation, you will choose one skill area to focus on: editing, sound, cinematography or producing.
In your film production core classes, you will learn about:
- Photography
- Film directing
- Film production
- Program production
- Film postproduction
Your senior year, you will complete a capstone project where you can apply what you've learned from your classes into a student film.
Finally, you will choose from a variety of classes in cinema and television arts history, criticism and entertainment management to round out your major courses.
In this option, you will learn the history, theory and critical analysis of the culture of film and entertainment media. The training you receive will prepare you for careers in teaching or research.
In your media theory and criticism core classes, you will learn about:
- Media research methods
- History of global cinema
- Advanced theory in cinema and television arts
You will choose from a variety of classes in theory, history, broadcasting and criticism to round out your major courses.
In this option, you will learn how to develop, design and create interactive or immersive media in augmented reality, virtual reality and emerging formats.
In your emerging media production core classes, you will learn about:
- Art, media and visualization
- 3-D computer animation
- New directions in electronic media systems
- Immersive production
- Interactive production
Your senior year, you will complete a capstone project. In collaboration with community partners, you will conceptualize, design and execute transmedia projects.
Finally, you will choose from a variety of classes in cinema and television arts history, criticism and entertainment management to round out your major courses.
In this option, you will learn how to conceptualize, structure and write scripts for film, television and new media.
In your screenwriting core classes, you will learn about:
- Film as literature
- Writing for film and television
- Screenplay adaptation
- Screenwriting
You will choose from a variety of classes in cinema and television arts history, criticism, and entertainment management to round out your major courses.
In this option you will learn the development, preproduction, production and postproduction techniques utilized in television formats. You will choose one pathway to focus on: scripted narrative or documentary.
In your scripted narrative core classes, you will learn about:
- Advanced video production and editing
- Single camera television production
- Multi-camera television production
- Episodic television production
In your documentary core classes, you will learn about:
- Media research methods
- Documentary production
- Single camera television production
- Documentary tradition in film and video
- Directing the TV documentary
In either pathway, you will also take additional courses in cinematography, sound, editing and producing depending on what you want to emphasize.
Finally, you will choose from a variety of classes in cinema and television arts history, criticism and entertainment management to round out your major courses.
Careers & Outcomes
Upon graduating, you will be qualified to find a career in a variety of roles in the entertainment industry. Depending on your concentration, you may find yourself working in a movie studio, TV writers' room, talent agency, virtual reality company, marketing firm, streaming platform and more.
Your own production facility, right on campus.
Our department has its very own resource center, where you can find useful support while you work in the studio and in the field. Rent equipment, download manuals, view tutorials and find other materials for your student projects.