FAQ

What advantages does the Television Arts program at CSUDH have to offer over other college TV degree programs?

First of all, our program is small (no more than 20 students per class) which means that you get a lot more personal attention from your professors and more "hands-on" experience with the facilities and equipment. Speaking of facilities, our studios, labs, and work stations are equipped with "state-of-the-art" professional level equipment (see our Production Facilities Photo Tour), and to allow you to get the most out of your time in the program, these facilities are available to students on a 24 x 7 basis. This gives students the extra time they need to produce a variety of productions to use in their demo reel portfolios for job interviews in the industry.

What practical skills will I learn as a student in the Television Arts program?

You will learn the basics of how to produce professional quality video programs. This includes "above-the-line" experience in producing, writing, directing, casting, and art direction. Since our students do all of their production work themselves, you will also need to learn "below-the-line" skills such as camera operation; lighting; scene composition; audio miking and mixing; video editing using Avid and Final Cut Pro; titling and motion graphics using Photoshop and After Effects; digital compositing using green screen and virtual sets; sound design for television using ADR, foley, sfx, walla-walla, and original music scores; web design; and Blu-ray authoring.

What types of video projects will I be able to produce while in the Television Arts program?

By the time you finish the Television Arts degree program, you will have produced your own: 1) Short Movie Feature filmed on location with professional actors, ADR, foley, sfx, and original music score; 2) Music Video with bonus material including band interviews, behind-the-scenes “making of” documentary, photo gallery, biographies, and liner notes; 3) Documentary Program (with 4-pt lighting interviews, B-Roll video, and 8 channel soundtrack); 4) TV Commercial or Public Service Announcement (PSA) (with professional actors, ADR, foley, sfx, and original music score); and 5) a variety of Client-Based Productions that provide you with real-world experience producing projects for corporate, community, or nonprofit organizations. All of your productions can then be placed on a Blu-ray for your demo reel portfolio to show prospective employers.

What are the requirements for earning a B.A. degree in Television Arts at CSUDH?

The B.A. Degree requires 51 units (approximately 20 courses) taken over a two-year period in five consecutive semesters which includes one summer semester. The TV courses must be taken in a specific sequence, so it is important that you e-mail your academic advisor ASAP at gvinovich@csudh.edu. To find out what your class schedule would be for the next two years, see Roadmaps for DMA majors under the Class Documents section. The program also offers a Certificate in Television Arts which requires 21 units (approximately 7 courses) taken over a one-year period in three consecutive semesters including one summer semester. The Certificate Program is designed for students who already have a B.A. degree and now just need the hands-on production training and project experience in Television Arts.

Are there any special fees for using the production facilities and video equipment at CSUDH?

No, but some DMA courses do charge an additional $15 lab fee to cover the cost of expendables such as batteries, lamps, diffusion gels, and blank media. Students are allowed to checkout our equipment for film shoots off campus and use our production facilities on campus at no extra cost. The only extra costs students incur are for blank media, craft services for feeding their cast and crew while on shoots, and paying for miscellaneous expenses such as fuel for transportation, costumes, props, and make-up.

If I get accepted at CSUDH, will I have any trouble getting into the Television Arts program?

No. Unlike other CSU campuses whose TV/Film programs are "impacted", the Television Arts program is currently open to all students in good standing at CSUDH. In an impacted program, you have to compete with other students in order to be accepted into the major because there is not enough room for all the students who want to major in that program. As such, you may not get accepted into your chosen major if it is impacted; however, if you are accepted at CSUDH, you will be able to get into our Television Arts program as a major.

Will I get the opportunity to work as an intern in the television/film industry while in school?

Yes. In fact, all TV majors are required to serve an internship in the industry so that they will have some real world experience before they graduate. The good news is that many of our interns are offered jobs as a result of their work at these internships. That is why it is best to do your internship during your last semester on campus... because if you are offered a job at your intern site, you will be able to work full time, regardless of the schedule, without having to worry about returning to campus to complete courses for your degree. In other words, you will have completed all your degree requirements by the conclusion of your internship. (see Industry Evaluations of our Student Interns [PDF])

What types of jobs are available in the television/film industry after I graduate with this degree?

About a third of our graduates go into the commercial broadcasting aspect of the industry working as editors, technicians, and production assistants for motion picture studios, cable and TV networks, production companies, post production houses and local TV stations (see TV Alumni [PDF] and TV Graduates in Industry [PDF]). Another third go into the corporate video side doing in-house training films and promotional videos for aerospace, banking, utilities, and retailers such as Boeing, Wells Fargo, and Shell Oil. The other third of our students work in local cable and educational institutions as media producers and directors, web masters, public access coordinators, or local origination producers. Of course, there is always the freelance market for students who wish to try their hand at operating their own production companies.

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