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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What GE courses are recommended for TBJ majors?
A: Students whose focus is narrative television are encouraged to enhance their knowledge of drama and literature by taking the Narrative and Dramatic Literature cluster of courses. Students emphasizing broadcast journalism or documentary production can benefit by taking courses from the Media, Culture and Society cluster.

Q: How do I get admitted to the Television and Broadcast Journalism major?
A: Apply to Chapman University. Fill out the Dodge College Supplemental Application, indicating your choice of major as Television and Broadcast Journalism.

Q: I’m interested in both film and television. Can I major in film but minor in television?
A: No, although all film production majors are welcome to take as many TV courses as they like as electives, and TBJ majors are also welcome to take as many film production courses as electives as they like.

Q: Can I start out as a Television/Broadcast Journalism major then switch to Film Production?
A: No. Film Production has its own separate admissions process.

Q: I’m not sure if I’m interested in Broadcast Journalism, Documentary Production, or Narrative Television. Do I have to decide which I prefer right away?
A: No. There is a common core of courses all TBJ students must take. Start with those, and your GE requirements, then you can decide whether to focus on narrative television, documentary production or broadcast journalism later in your program.

Q: What type of internships are available to TBJ students?
A: Internships are a vital part of our program. Students in recent years have interned at American Idol, Fox News, local news stations, ABC prime time current programs, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and dozens of other production companies, networks and news organizations.

Q: Is it hard to get a job in television or TV news after graduating?
A: Broadcasting and entertainment are competitive fields, but Dodge College has a strong record of helping students move from the classroom to the professional world. Check out our alumni page to see where our recent graduates are working now.

Q: What should I be doing today to prepare to be a Television/Broadcast Journalism major?
A: Watch television – both news and narrative – with a critical eye. Check out different kinds of TV news sources, local, national, broadcast and cable.

Q: Will I need to have my own camera equipment or editing software?
A: No. Dodge College makes state-of-the-art camera and digital editing equipment and software available to all students on day one.

Q: Will students have the opportunity to work on professional television crews as well as student-produced programs?
A: Yes. Dodge College students have a variety of opportunities to work in crew positions on a variety of news, talk and information programs broadcast on stations like KOCE and KDOC, “must carry” stations that reach 17 million homes in the greater Southern California market. Many of these opportunities are paid.

Q: Are there student-produced programs I can work on?
A: Yes. Nightcap, a late-night talk and variety show, has produced over 100 episodes over the past ten years and is still going strong. There is also Chapman News at 5. And in January of 2009 our students shot a student created one-hour prime-time pilot entitled Kate So Far.

Q: Are there opportunities to work in the new field of online television or webisodes?
A: Yes. Chapman’s groundbreaking Byte-Sized Television courses give students the chance to create and produce episodes of their own made-for-the-Internet television show.