The new Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Radio-TV-Film (RTVF) consists primarily of the current TV-Film concentration in the Department of Communications, which has grown consistently through the years to about 450 declared majors.*

In essence, the faculty, students, courses and resources of this concentration constitute the bulk of the new program. Secondarily, new faculty, students, courses and resources will be developed as the program grows.

By initiating a new degree, the students gain some curricular and operational flexibility they do not have under the current structure within the Department of Communications. The number of required units is being increased, bringing this program more in line with similar programs, thereby making our students more competitive in the industry. Rather than taking courses related to the major in other departments as collaterals, as is the case in Communications, 
students can elect some of these courses in other departments as part of their major.

A new department and degree also increase the visibility of the RTVF program on campus, making it more attractive to students and employers alike.
The College of Communications is committed to the success of this new program. Concurrently with this proposal, plans are being drawn for maximum use of the college's new space and facilities in the College Park building. These plans include accommodating radio, television and film to the greatest degree possible. Cal State Fullerton is strategically located just a few miles from the hub of the entertainment production industry: Los Angeles.

The proposed BA in RTVF takes advantage of this proximity in preparing students for meaningful employment in the industry. With this new program, it is also expected the industry will increasingly turn to Cal State Fullerton for qualified employees. It is also planned over the next years that some of the courses that serve this degree will be proposed for additional inclusion in the university's new Entertainment Studies program. The timing of that initiative, plus the growth of the TV-Film concentration in Communications, plus the growing needs of southern California's entertainment industry, plus Fullerton's strategic location, all serve as evidence for the expected success of this proposed degree. The time is right for the initiation of this new program.

In keeping with the mission of California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), where "leaming is preeminent," the Bachelor of Ails degree (BA) in Radio-TV-Film (RTVF) offers a comprehensive and active learning environment to prepare students for meaningful and rewarding careers in radio, television and film. Additionally, the program prepares students for graduate study in the broader areas of media and communication. The faculty and staff emphasize current theory, practice, research and creative activities, challenging students to engage in intellectual inquiry to expand their knowledge while laying a solid foundation to continue as critical life-long learners and content creators in our media-savvy society. CSUF is located in the technologically rich and culturally vibrant Los Angeles basin, so the BA in RTVF aspires to facilitate student learning with an emphasis on contributing ethically, intellectually and economically to the media industry.

The admission requirements for the BA in RTVF are the same as those for the university at large. No additional requirements must be met to declare a major in RTVF. The standards for continuation in the program, as well as for probationary status, are also the same as those for the university at large. The RTVF major requires 48 units of courses. These include 12 required "core" units (introduction, production, writing, internship), 24 elective units within the RTVF Department, plus 12 more elective units EITHER within RTVF OR from an approved list of courses in other departments. This collaboration with other departments is one of the unique features of the program. The following information will provide a fuller understanding of this new endeavor
DEPARTMENT GOALS
The goals of the Department of Radio-TV-Film, which are derived from the university's goals, are to: ensure the preeminence of learning by providing a curriculum that integrates both conceptual and experiential learning; provide high quality programs that meet the evolving needs of our students, community and region by facilitating students' learning so they compete successfully for substantive careers in radio, television and film; enhance scholarly and creative activity by seeking funding for, and coordinating, faculty, staff and student work for publication, exhibition, conference presentation, competition entry, and so forth; make collaboration integral to our activities by encouraging faculty, staff and students to take worthwhile advantage of the many services and departmental offerings on campus; create an environment where all students have the opportunity to succeed by offering thorough orientation and regular advising; by encouraging co-curricular participation; and by maintaining equipment and facilities that are as current as the budget allows; increase external support by working with advancement, foundation, development and grant/contract personnel concerning corporate and individual sponsorship and other opportunities; expand connections and partnerships within our region by encouraging internships and community-based service learning; by pro-actively maintaining relations with alumni and media practitioners; and by recruiting students in area high schools and community colleges; strengthen institutional effectiveness, collegial governance and our sense of community by recruiting and retaining highly qualified, diverse faculty, staff and students; by encouraging participation in governance opportunities; and by working with other faculty, staff and students on ad hoc tasks.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The mark of a Radio-TV-Film graduate may be described in terms of learning outcomes. A student who eams the Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio-TV-Film: knows the foundational concepts of the history of the film and electronic media industry and how that history shapes the present and future of the industry; understands the function and operation of film and electronic media in society; can apply fundamental production concepts to aural and visual productions; can apply fundamental story concepts to scriptwriting; consumes film and electronic media critically; comprehends the role and scope of research in film and electronic media; creates at least one significant work, or portfolio piece, prior to graduation (e.g., script, production, thesis); experiences a meaningful internship, resulting in exposure to the real workings of the radio, television, and/or film industry.