California State University Northridge (CSUN)
Locations: Northridge, CA
Degrees: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorates
Programs: Economics, Art, Cinema/Television Arts, Animation, Philosophy, Social Work and many others (about 114 total)
Tuition Range: $3,200 - 12,000 per semester
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Located in the San Fernando Valley of southern California, CSU Northridge is a large public university with an enrollment of around 36,000 students. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in many different areas of study, ranging from Art to Engineering. Of particular interest is the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication Arts, which offers an array of degree plans in media and art-related fields, including Art, Music, Cinema & Television Arts, Theatre Arts and more. Art students can concentrate in Graphic Design, Animation, 2-D and 3-D Art, and Video/Digital Art; music students have an optional concentration in Music Industry (which includes Recording and Music production); and the Cinema & Theatre Arts Department offers a bachelor’s degree with numerous film-related concentrations, as well as a master’s degree in Screenwriting.
CSU Northridge is a conventional university, requiring at least a four-year commitment to earn a bachelor’s degree. Tuition starts at around $3200 per semester for undergraduate California residents, with higher rates for graduate degrees. Non-residents will pay an additional $372 per credit.
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Student Reviews
Located in the San Fernando Valley of southern California, CSU Northridge is a large public university with an enrollment of around 36,000 students. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in many different areas of study, ranging from Art to Engineering. Of particular interest is the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication Arts, which [...]
Review by Raj J.
July 19, 2012 2.5I applied and was accepted to California State University Northridge’s Cinema Television Arts program in 2009 under the Editing option. After one semester at CSUN, I dropped out finding the experience far too rigid, business-orientated and monetarily-obsessed.
At CSUN, the school is very set in its ways; if you are selected in the editing option, it’s unlikely you’ll ever touch a camera while you’re there. Since the Film option is quite full, there’s no real opportunity to go and take other film classes in the program that might interest you.
I have yet to find any paying work in the film industry but I keep busy with my own production company as well as with other small companies and schools.
I don’t recommend CSUN unless you are looking for a very ‘business-focused’ film education; learning about permits, budgets, and being a small part of a team that comes together to make a film.
Don’t go to film school unless you have a plan; you may be great with a camera or a wiz at editing but, unfortunately, at the end of the day this business is all about who you know. If you don’t know anyone, you might not get anywhere but you can always pursue your own projects and hope that gets you noticed someday.
Found work after graduation? No
Review by Devin R.
June 6, 2012 4.3I went to Cal State University, Northridge, and I was involved with their film program over there and got a bachelor’s degree in Digital Video Design and Art and graduated in 2004.
I haven’t met all my expectations yet, I feel like I still have a lot more to go, in terms of how I could progress career in the film industry. Since graduation, I’ve found a lot of work in the film industry, a lot of it freelance. It’s a lot harder to get in with the bigger networks and to develop your career. But if you’re hungry for that freelance work, it’s typically there, you just got to look for it on a day-to-day basis. Other than that, I’ve been developing my independent company. Where we do mostly music videos and a lot of product videos as well.
I would recommend film or music school to others. Just for the sake that you’re around other creative individuals that are like-minded, you know. You’re there with cutting-edge technology that’s going to help you and guide you through your career.
Found work after graduation? Yes
Review by Alec H.
January 10, 2012 1I attended Cal State Northridge under the GI bill. I was disappointed as the courses were not designed to make you a working professional. Most of the courses were taught by people out of the industry for decades, and their knowledge was completely irrelevant to the business presently.
I do not recommend this school. What you need to know to be prepared as a film industry pro can be learned out of “film school” much more easily. The equipment and tools for learning can be had in Best Buy (computers, cameras, etc.) and within easily obtained texts. Talent cannot be learned, only polished–and a film school is no place to polish talent.
People who want to learn the “tech/crafts side” of this business should just stick to an “ITT” type of dummy technical school to learn these arts–which BTW do not take “years” but rather short months to learn in an intensive environment.
College course are not designed to produce a “product” they are mostly indoctrination, and structured poorly (inside boxes with talking heads–schools) and waste valuable time (years). A “degree” is not needed or required to work within the film industry. A degree is irrelevant, thus this time wasting structure is insane–especially if you incur debt (student loans) training for jobs that do not exist.
Review by Alec H.
August 31, 2011 2.3I would not recommend this film school to others. What you need to know to be prepared as a film industry pro can be learned out of “film school” much more easily. The equipment and tools for learning can be had in Best Buy (computers, cameras, etc.) and within easily obtained texts. Talent cannot be learned, only polished–and a film school is no place to polish talent.
People who want to learn the “tech/crafts side” of this business should just stick to an “ITT” type of dummy technical school to learn these art–which BTW do not take “years” but rather short months to learn in an intensive environment.
College course are not designed to produce a “product” they are mostly indoctrination, and structured poorly (inside boxes with talking heads–schools) and waste valuable time (years). A “degree” is not needed or required to work within the film industry. A degree is irrelevant, thus this time wasting structure is insane–especially if you incur debt (student loans) training for jobs that do not exist.
The courses were not designed to make you a working professional. Most of the courses were taught by people out of the industry for decades, and their knowledge was completely irrelevant to the business presently. However, despite the lack of preparation and good instruction, I work as a writer
Attended school under the GI bill, though tuition at that time was not the rediculous amount it is today.