B.S. Television, Film, and New Media, Emphasis in Production

The emphasis in production prepares students for professions in television, film and new media. The emphasis also serves those in occupations where extensive knowledge is required of message design for these media and their various distribution systems. This program focuses on skills required for careers as producers, directors, art directors, cinematographers, editors, production assistants, and writers, as well as emerging careers in new media production.

Note that admissions processes have changed as of Fall 2025.

All new undergraduate students whether first year or transfer must complete the required department supplemental application/portfolio to be considered for acceptance into the program. This process is in addition to the admission application (Cal State Apply) to the university.

Current TFM pre-majors and SDSU students only need to complete the portfolio application for acceptance as third-year majors.

First-year applicants

You can apply as a first year student if you are on track to graduate with a high school diploma by spring 2026 OR graduated from high school but have not taken college courses beyond the summer after high school graduation. See First Year Admission Requirements for more information.

Step 1 Apply to SDSU via Cal State Apply (October 1 - December 1):

Apply to SDSU via Cal State Apply. Select the Television, Film, and New Media Production major as your top choice major. As the TFM Production major is highly competitive, we encourage you to include an alternate major such as TFM Critical Studies. Including an alternate major will not affect your chances at your first choice.

Step 2 Submit Department Supplemental Materials  (Deadline: January 10):

Submit supplemental materials via SlideRoom. This includes additional application questions and a creative portfolio. Be sure to select the application for TFM First-Year Applicants. You will need to create a SlideRoom account and pay an additional submission fee.

Transfer applicants

You can apply as a transfer student if you have completed 60 or more transferable semester (or 90 or more quarter) units by the end of the spring 2026 for fall 2026 admission. Review Transfer Admission Requirements for more information.

Step 1: Review Admission and Coursework Requirements

By the time of your admission application, you need to have already completed the equivalents of TFM 160 (Cinema as Art) and THEA 100 (Art of Theatre) at your college with minimum B grades. (Note: B- is not considered passing for department standards.) To verify whether your California community college courses are articulated equivalents, see ASSIST and Transferology.

You are also encouraged to take the equivalents of other preparation courses:

  • 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

These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC). If you haven’t completed the other preparation courses before your admission to SDSU, you would need to complete the courses during your first semester at SDSU.

Step 2 Apply to SDSU via Cal State Apply - (October 1 - December 1):

Apply to SDSU via Cal State Apply. For more information about admissions criteria and instructions, see the SDSU Transfers page. Select the Television, Film, and New Media Production major as your top choice major. As the TFM Production major is highly competitive, we encourage you to include an alternate major such as the TFM Critical Studies major. Including an alternate major will not affect your chances at your first choice.

Step 3 Submit Department Supplemental Materials - (Deadline: January 10):

Submit supplemental materials via SlideRoom. This includes additional application questions and a creative portfolio. Be sure to select the application for TFM Third-Year Applicants. You will need to create a SlideRoom account and pay an additional submission fee.

See the “TFM Portfolio Requirements” below for descriptions of the required portfolio elements. Please see the TFM Production Portfolio FAQs if you have additional questions.

Current SDSU students

For current TFM pre-majors or SDSU students seeking to change to the TFM production major

Step 1: Review Program/Coursework Requirements

Complete required coursework. By the time of your application, you need to have taken at least 15 college semester units and have a cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additionally, you are required to have already completed TFM 160 and THEA 100 with minimum B grades. (Note: B- is not considered passing for department standards.) You are encouraged to have taken or be currently taking other preparation courses:

  • 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

These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC).

Step 2 Submit Department Portfolio Application  (Deadline: September 15 for students joining spring 2026 or January 10 for students joining fall 2026):

Submit an application via SlideRoom. This application includes a creative portfolio. If you are applying to join the spring 2026 cohort, select the “TFM Production Emphasis Petition for Spring 2026” application. If you are applying to join the fall 2026 cohort, select the “TFM Third-Year Applicants” application. You will need to create a SlideRoom account and pay an additional submission fee.

See the “TFM Portfolio Requirements” below for descriptions of the required portfolio elements. Please see the TFM Production Portfolio FAQs if you have additional questions.

Beginning 2025-26: If you are denied for the spring 2026 cohort, and it was your first attempt applying for the production emphasis, you may apply again by January 10, 2026 to join the fall 2026 cohort. However, starting with the fall 2026 application, you only have one chance to submit an application.

Questions?

For additional assistance, contact the TFM Academic Advisor:

Note that admissions processes have changed as of fall 2025. There are different portfolio requirements for First-year applicants and applicants applying for Third-year admission (transfer students and current SDSU students).

First-year applicants

These materials are submitted via SlideRoom. Be sure to select the application for TFM First-Year Applicants. You will need to create a SlideRoom account and pay an additional submission fee.

  1. Video self-introduction (2 minutes max): Tell us about yourself. You may include your career goals, interests, talents, achievements, or anything else that expresses who you are and the kind of filmmaker you want to be.
  2. Video pitch (2 minutes max): Pitch us an original short film idea that you could realistically produce in TFM 314 Film & Video Production with a small crew and minimal budget. You can use slides, voiceover, and/or example clips in your video. 
    • Your pitch must include the following information:
      • Your name
      • Film title
      • Genre
      • The story (beginning, middle, end)
      • Why this story needs to be told now
      • Why this story needs to be told by you
      • One production challenge and how you plan to overcome it
    • Consider the following as you craft your pitch:
      • Who are the characters and what do they want?
      • What happens to them? What is the conflict?
      • Do you have a character arc and satisfying resolution?
      • How will this story be told?
  3. Resume (one page max): Please list out any work experience, creative accomplishments, awards and achievements.
  4. Supplemental questions (choose one of the following):
    • Describe an activity you're involved with other than film (250 words max)
    • Describe a transformational moment in your life (250 words max)
  5. Creative material (choose one of the following):
    • Short film (up to 5 minutes): submit one film that can be documentary, fiction, or experimental that demonstrates your storytelling skills and creative potential. You should be the sole producer, director, writer, DP, or editor.
    • Artistic portfolio (up to 10 items): these can be photographs, drawing, costume/stage designs, or any other visual art form that showcases your artistic voice and your storytelling interests.
    • Short story (up to 1000 words): submit one short story (can be fiction or non-fiction) that demonstrates your creative voice and your storytelling interests.

Transfer students and current SDSU students

These materials are submitted via SlideRoom. Be sure to select the application for TFM Third-Year Applicants. You will need to create a SlideRoom account and pay an additional submission fee.

  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.
  2. Video Pitch (2 minutes max): Pitch us an original short film idea that you could realistically produce in TFM 314 Film & Video Production with a small crew and minimal budget. You can use slides, voiceover, and/or example clips in your video. 
    • Your pitch must include the following information:
      • Your name
      • Film title
      • Genre
      • The story (beginning, middle, end)
      • Why this story needs to be told now
      • Why this story needs to be told by you
      • One production challenge and how you plan to overcome it
    • Consider the following as you craft your pitch:
      • Who are the characters and what do they want?
      • What happens to them? What is the conflict?
      • Do you have a character arc and satisfying resolution?
      • How will this story be told.
  3. Visual Creative Material. Submit two documentary, fiction, or unscripted videos demonstrating your storytelling skills and creative potential. For at least one of these works, you should be the sole producer, director, writer, DP, or editor. Put the best work first. The two works should not add up to more than 10 minutes.
  4. Supplemental Material: applicants may 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. 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.

Questions?

For additional assistance, contact the TFM Academic Advisor.

Lower Division courses: (15 units)

  • 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

And 3 units (one course) chosen from:

  • 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

The Major: 42 Upper division units in the following four-semester sequence:

SEMESTER A

  • 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

SEMESTER B

  • 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

SEMESTER C

  • TFM 362 - Intermediate Filmmaking, 3 units
  • TFM 540 - Documentary Production, 3 units
  • TFM Elective - From List B (Critical Studies), , 3 units

SEMESTER D

  • 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

LIST A Electives: Production (6 units required)

  • 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

LIST B Electives: Critical Studies (6 units required)

  • 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

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement: Pass the Writing Proficiency Assessment (WPA) with a score of 10 or above, or complete RWS 305W with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

This advising checklist does not include your General Education Requirements.

A minor is not required for this major.

For additional curriculum details, please consult the University Catalog

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