Cal State Apply Window: October 1 - November 30

To apply for undergraduate admission to SDSU, you need to apply online at CalState Apply.

At the time of the application, select your Pre-Major as “Television, Film, and New Media (Production Emphasis 667304).”

For deadlines for the upcoming term(s), please refer to the university’s Office of Admissions website and How and When to Apply page.

Steps for Admission to the Television, Film, and New Media Program:

The emphasis in production is designated as an impacted program. The School of Theatre, Television, and Film limits enrollment in order to maintain the recognized quality of our programs and to ensure reasonable affordability in terms of student finances and time spent from admission to graduation. Entrance into the major is competitive. Only students with outstanding academic records and demonstrated creativity in related fields are encouraged to petition.

Upon initial admission to the TFM Program, students are designated as “pre-majors”.

To move from pre-major to major status, and be admitted into the Television, Film, and New Media Major, with emphasis in Production, students must meet the following criteria:

PREPARATION for the major: Lower Division courses (15 units):

• TFM 160, Theatre 100 must be completed with a grade of B or higher
• TFM 110, Theatre 120 must be completed with a grade C or higher
• and 3 units from ART 157, 258, 259, MUSIC 151, Theatre 115 or 130
• These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC)
  

SUBMISSION of the TFM Petition Portfolio to be evaluated by the TFM screening committee.
Students are allowed to submit the Petition Portfolio when they have met the following minimum criteria:

• Complete TFM 160 and THEA 100 with a grade of B or higher.** These classes must be completed with grades on file prior to submitting your portfolio.
• Complete a minimum of 15 college semester units.
• Have a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.00 or higher.
• Submit the program REQUEST TO APPLY form.

** Grades of “Credit” or “Pass” are accepted for preparation courses (and all transferable college equivalents) completed during semesters impacted by the coronavirus pandemic (Spring, Summer or Fall 2020 terms and in Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall 2021 terms).

When do I submit my Petition Portfolio?

Petition Portfolios are evaluated during two submission periods:

• Spring Submission Deadline: 2nd Monday in April, before 3:30 p.m., to be admitted in the following Fall semester.
• Fall Submission Deadline: 2nd Monday in October, before 3:30 p.m., to be admitted in the following Spring semester.
• All deadlines in San Diego Time.

The period/deadline and procedures for submission of the Petition Portfolio depend upon your admission status at SDSU.

For Freshman Applicants: You do not submit a Petition Portfolio as part of the application process for admission to SDSU. Follow the steps “For Sophomores, Juniors, and second-semester Freshmen”.

For Transfer Applicants: Transfer students admitted to the pre-major in Television, Film, and New Media with an emphasis in Production are required to submit a petition portfolio the second Monday in April (due by 3:30pm, San Diego Time). Follow the ”Steps for Admission: Transfer Applicants”.

You may not submit a portfolio if you have been denied admission to SDSU.

You may petition once more after your transfer if your first portfolio is denied.

For Sophomores, Juniors and second-semester Freshmen: If you have completed all minimum criteria (TFM 160, THEA 100, with grade requirements on file, minimum cumulative GPA, and completion of 15 college semester units), you may submit petition portfolios in either submission period (Spring or Fall).

To stay on track with a four-year graduation plan, it is advised you submit your portfolio during your Sophomore year.

The earliest you can submit your portfolio is during your second semester as a Freshman (after the completion of the minimum criteria).

What is included in the Petition Portfolio?

See “TFM Petition Portfolio Requirements” for the list and descriptions of the required portfolio elements.

How many times can I petition?

SDSU students are permitted to petition for the TFM major TWICE. If your petition has been denied, please see your TFM Major adviser, Stuart Voytilla (svoytilla@sdsu.edu). Together you will go over the committee’s feedback to address ways to strengthen your petition for a second submission.

Incomplete petition portfolios will not be reviewed nor will they count as a petitioning attempt.

How do I submit my Petition Portfolio?

For Transfer Applicants: Follow the “Steps for Admission: Transfer Applicants” below.

For Sophomores, Juniors, second-semester Freshmen: If you meet the minimum criteria for the petition portfolio and you’re preparing to submit your portfolio, you need to first submit a REQUEST TO APPLY form.

The TTF School Coordinator will process your REQUEST TO APPLY form within three (3) business days and email you an invitation to access your individual application/petition folder on our Google Drive.

You will place all of your application materials in your individual petition folder. It is important to note that once the deadline for submitting your materials has passed, you will no longer have access to your folder.

Visit the TFM Petition Portfolio Guidelines FAQ, for the latest information and resources including step-by-step guidance on submitting your petition portfolio.

Steps for Admission: Transfer Students

Admission into the TFM major with emphasis in Production as a Transfer Applicant is a two-step process:

Submit the REQUEST TO APPLY form.

• Apply to SDSU in October or November for admission into the following Fall Semester. Complete all initial and supplemental application requests from SDSU’s Office of Admissions. Visit the step-by-step breakdown: https://admissions.sdsu.edu/transfers/apply/steps_to_apply-fall
• After you receive your notice of admission in early Spring, you’ll submit your Petition Portfolio online as follows:

Submit the REQUEST TO APPLY form.

The TTF School Coordinator will process your REQUEST TO APPLY form within three (3) business days and email you an invitation to access your individual application/petition folder on our Google Drive.

You will place all of your application materials in your individual petition folder. It is important to note that once the deadline for submitting your materials has passed, you will no longer have access to your folder.

The deadline for submitting your TFM petition portfolio is the second Monday of April (3:30 pm, San Diego Time).

This portfolio is not supplemental material for the university; it is only for the School of Theatre, Television, and Film.

To submit the petition portfolio, Transfer Applicants must show completion (with minimum B grades) of two of the preparation for the major courses (or their articulated equivalents at a community college):

• TFM 160 - Cinema as Art
• THEA 100 - Art of Theatre

These two classes (or their equivalents) need to be completed with grades recorded before you can submit your petition portfolio. To verify whether your California community college courses are articulated equivalents, please visit the following resources:

• ASSIST: https://assist.org/
• Transfer Admission Planner (TAP): https://sunspot.sdsu.edu/pubred/!tap.disp

The other preparation courses could also be taken at a local community college before you apply:

• TFM 110 - Writing for Television and Film (requires grade of C or higher)
• THEA 120 - Heritage of Storytelling (requires grade of C or higher)

And 3 units (one course) chosen from:

• THEA 115 - Acting for Non-majors
• THEA 130 - Acting I
• ART 157 - Introduction to Art
• ART 258 - Introduction to Art History I
• ART 259 - Introduction to Art History II
• MUSIC 151 - Introduction to Music

If you haven’t completed the other preparation courses before your admission to SDSU, you would need to complete the courses during your fall semester at SDSU.

Visit the TFM Petition Portfolio Guidelines FAQ, for the latest information and resources including step-by-step guidance on submitting your petition portfolio.

Questions?

For additional assistance, contact the TFM Academic Advisor:

Stuart Voytilla
619-594-1375
svoytilla@sdsu.edu
DA 204

The following material is required for the successful submission of the TFM Petition Portfolio:

1. A personal statement: Target 2-3 double-spaced pages (750 words) maximum. Include your career goals, interests, talents, achievements, and any work experience in the field of TV, film, or new media. Write about what makes you stand out, what your passion is, what you hope to accomplish. Give it a personal voice; write well and persuasively. (Upload this document in your petition folder as a PDF file)
2. Story Treatment for a 1-3 minute production (fiction or nonfiction). This written treatment showcases your power of descriptive writing and should demonstrate feasible visual storytelling with little or no dialog. (Upload this document in your petition folder as a PDF file)
3. Visual Creative Material. Two contrasting works (recommended), combined total time ten minutes maximum. Filmed productions must follow current COVID safety production protocol. You can submit longer work as supplemental links, but you should provide 10 minutes maximum as the “Visual Creative Material” (reel) to showcase your creative potential. One piece should showcase storytelling skills.
4. Supplemental Material: applicants are encouraged to supplement their application with other media representing your creative potential (scripts, photography, designs, storyboards, painting, sculpture, multimedia, audio storytelling, etc.). Remember, you are applying for consideration in an advanced film/media production program.
5. TFM 160-Cinema as Art and THEA 100-Art of Theatre with grade of B or higher. Courses need to be completed with grades on file prior to submitting the portfolio. These courses may be satisfied by taking them at SDSU, or approved course equivalents at another college. Grades of “Credit” or “Pass” are accepted for preparation courses (and all transferable college equivalents) completed during semesters impacted by the coronavirus pandemic (Spring, Summer or Fall 2020 terms and in Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall 2021 terms).
6. Complete minimum 15 college semester units.
   
7. Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0. 3.4 is considered competitive for the program.
   
8. Include transcript(s) (unofficial is fine) from all colleges attended, to confirm your GPA, and completion of required coursework/grades (TFM 160, THEA 100, or equivalent). Current SDSU students may use their Degree Audit Report or their Unofficial Transcript, both accessed through WebPortal. (Upload in your petition folder as a PDF file)
   
9. Recommended: A “Read Me First” document (PDF file) is recommended to provide a list of all of the items included in our portfolio. Use the “Read Me First” document to provide the links to your creative materials (films/videos) with specifications of your creative contribution/credits as well as a summary of the safe protocol you followed for recent COVID-impacted productions.
   

Digital submission is required.

After all petitioning materials have been reviewed you will receive a letter of acceptance or denial via email and direct mail.

Visit the TFM Petition Portfolio Guidelines FAQ, for the latest information and resources including step-by-step guidance on submitting your petition portfolio.

Questions?

For additional assistance, contact the TFM Academic Advisor.

- TFM 160 - Cinema as Art, 3 units
- THEA 100 - The Art of Theatre, 3 units
- TFM 110 - Writing for Television and Film, 3 units
- THEA 120 - Heritage of Storytelling, 3 units
- THEA 115 - Acting for Non-majors, 3 units
- THEA 130 - Acting I, 3 units
- ART 157 - Introduction to Art, 3 units
- ART 258 - Introduction to Art History I, 3 units
- ART 259 - Introduction to Art History II, 3 units
- MUSIC 151 - Introduction to Music, 3 units
- TFM 314 - Video and Film Production, 3 units
- TFM 310 - Film, Television, and New Media Criticism, 3 units
- TFM 364 - A or B History of Film Classics, 3 units
- TFM Elective - From List A or B (Production or Critical Studies), 3 units
- TFM 361 - Studio Production, 3 units
- TFM 330 - Cultural Aspects of Media, 3 units
- TFM 510 - Script Writing for Television and Film, 3 units
- TFM Elective - From List A (Production), 3 units
- TFM 362 - Intermediate Filmmaking, 3 units
- TFM 540 - Documentary Production, 3 units
- TFM Elective - From List B (Critical Studies), , 3 units
- TFM 560 - Advanced Film, 3 units
- TFM 401 - Business Aspects of Television and Film Production, 3 units
- TFM Elective - From List A or B (Production or Critical Studies), 3 units
- TFM 321 - Sound Design for Video & Film, 3 units
- TFM 322 - Cinematography for Television and Film, 3 units
- TFM 327 - Film and Video Editing, 3 units
- TFM 350 - Staging and Art for Television and Film, 3 units
- TFM 465 - Compositing, 3 units
- TFM 490 - Internship, 3 units
- TFM 499 - Special Study, 3 units
- TFM 522 - Advanced Film and Television Cinematography, 3 units
- TFM 550 - Art Direction for Television and Film, 3 units
- TFM 551 - Production Design for Television and Film, 3 units
- TFM 559 - Digital Design for Film & Stage, 3 units
- TFM 561 - Advanced Television, 3 units
- TFM 590 - Directing for Film and Television, 3 units
- THEA 359 - Directing I, 3 units
- TFM 363 - International Cinema, 3 units
- TFM 364 - A or B History of Film Classics, 3 units
- TFM 430 - History of Prime Time Television, 3 units
- TFM 470 - Critical Studies of Gender/Sexuality/Media, 3 units
- TFM 563 - Documentary: History and Theory, 3 units
- TFM 571 - Selected Topics in Director Studies, 3 units
- TFM 573 - Selected Topics in History of Film, TV, and Media, 3 units
- TFM 530 - Selected Topics in Genre Studies for Television and Film, 3 units

For additional curriculum details, please consult the following:
Undergraduate Catalog