Student editing footage

The Television Program: Undergraduate

The Television Program recognizes that the creative and intellectual center of all television production is to be found in the person of the producer. The producer is not simply responsible for the budgeting and costing of a project. Often, the producer conceives, writes, and sometimes even directs it. The television producer has a creative role unique in the media, and it is around this role that the television course of study has been shaped.

Students in the Television Program are encouraged to include courses from the Film Program, as well as courses from other departments of the College and of the University at large.

Read the complete undergraduate course descriptions in the COM bulletin.

Required Courses
  • FT 303 Introduction to TV Industry and Emerging Media (May be taken second semester freshman year)
  • FT 310 Storytelling for Film and TV (may be taken sophomore year, requirement for Study Abroad applicants)
  • FT 353 Video Production (may be taken sophomore year)
  • FT 325 Producing I (Junior status required)
6 Additional Courses Listed Below:
Critical/Aesthetic
  • FT 510 Television Aesthetics
  • FT 543 Television Comedy
  • FT 560 The Documentary
  • FT 561 Television Drama
The Television Industry
  • FT 515 International Television
  • FT 517 Television Management (prereq: FT 303)
  • FT 523 Understanding Marketing and Sales
  • JO 534 Broadcast News for Non-Majors
Production
  • FT 351 Film Production I
  • FT 402 Video Production II (Prereq: FT 351 or FT 353)
  • FT 403 Film Production II (Prereq: FT 351)
  • FT 428 Interactive/Broadband TV
  • FT 465 Video Production III (Prereq: FT 402 or FT 403)
  • FT 502 Sound Design for Film and Television (Prereq: FT 353)
  • FT 504 Video Post Production I (Prereq: FT 351 or FT 353)
  • FT 505 Hothouse Productions (Prereq: FT 325 and FT 353)
  • FT 507 Television Studio Production (Prereq: FT 353)
  • FT 525 Producing II (Prereq: FT 325)
  • FT 527 Lighting (Prereq: 353)
Writing
  • FT 512 Writing Episodic Drama (Prereq: FT 310 or FT 314)
  • FT 514 Advanced Writing for Television (Prereq: FT 411 or FT 512 or FT 522)
  • FT 522 Writing Situation Comedies (Prereq: FT 310 or FT 314)
  • FT 310 Screenwriting I
  • FT 411 Screenwriting II (Prereq: FT 310)
  • FT 408 Television, Culture, and Society
  • FT 545 Television and Childhood
Other
  • FT 456 Acting for Directors and Writers
  • FT 491/492 Directed Study (With permission of advisor and instructor. Not to exceed eight credits.)
  • FT 493/494 Internship I and II (With permission of advisor and instructor. Not to exceed four credits abroad, four credits LA program, four credits elsewhere.)
  • FT 526 Directing the Theatrical and TV Film (Prereq: FT 456 or CFA DR 123)
  • FT 552 Special Topic (Check with Film and TV office for current description)
  • FT 553 Special Topic (Check with Film and TV office for current description)
  • FT 554 Special Topic (Check with Film and TV office for current description)
  • FT 573/574 butv10 I and II (Not to exceed four credits)
Study Abroad
  • CM 350 Mass Media in Australia
  • CM 415 Mass Media in Ireland
  • FT 316 Impact of Film and Television in Modern Britain
  • FT 318 British Television Studies
  • FT 352 Film Style Video Production
  • FT 493/494 Internship I and II (With permission of advisor and instructor. Not to exceed four credits abroad, four credits LA program, four credits elsewhere.)
Los Angeles Program
  • FT 566 A1 Special Topic: The Business of Hollywood
  • FT 566 B1 Special Topic: Careers in Hollywood
  • FT 566 C1 Special Topic: Script Analysis
  • FT 493/494 Internship I and II (With permission of advisor and instructor. Not to exceed four credits abroad, four credits LA program, four credits elsewhere.)
Additionally:
  • 3 CAS courses in the same subject area (300-level or higher)
  • 3 electives (taken at any College, School, or department of the University)

Note: Freshmen and sophomores may take only one FT course per semester and none in the first semester of freshman year.

BUTV I & II may be used as free electives, but not for the six required courses, not to exceed 4 credits. Total of BUTV, Directed Study, and Internship not to exceed 12 credits.