L.A. Is Not the Only Option for TV Production Degree Programs

February 3rd, 2010

Last night’s premiere of “Lost” was  a bittersweet event for fans of the ABC series. Yes, there was plenty of excitement in the air as the show FINALLY returned after a long hiatus, but knowing that this is the final season for the show has got to hurt a bit for those whose Tuesday nights revolve around intriguing characters and crazy plot twists.

So what will “Lost” fans do once the show ends? One can only hope that another show that is half as mind-bendingly addictive takes its place. Sure, there’s plenty of stuff to watch already, but there are some shows out there that are the equivalent of eating an entire pint of ice cream by yourself—good at first, but then you feel really, really bad about yourself later on (cough “Jersey Shore” cough).

For those college-bounders who are waving their hands in the air saying, “Yes! I know what people want to watch!” then perhaps you’ve applied to or are planning on applying to schools with a television production degree program. But if you’re thinking that the only way to make it in the biz is to pack up your stuff and head to Hollywood, think again. There are plenty of options in television production outside of La La Land.

Remember, every state and major city or region has at least one television station to produce the local news. So no matter what state you go to for college, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to hone your skills behind the camera. Consider some of these schools:

Brooklyn College. This school, which offers a major in TV and Radio Production, is part of the esteemed City University of New York (CUNY) system. This means public school tuition for a top-notch education that can really make you go places in the industry. Plus, Manhattan, which is home to major TV networks, is just a subway ride away.

Emerson College. USC and UCLA have met their match with this school situated on the corner of the Boston Common. Rumor had it that the school’s state-of-the-art Visual and Media Arts department has seen some Hollywood bigwigs coming in for a visit to see how it should be done.

Arizona State University. The Film and Media Studies department in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is a good way to learn TV techniques to be used in the Grand Canyon State and beyond.

University of Central Florida. At this third largest university in the country, chances are you’ll have good company in the radio and television undergraduate program. If you’re a baseball fan, spring training in Florida might be a good chance to learn a few techniques out of the classroom.

Michigan State University. Michigan is known for its colleges and universities, so Michigan State University would be a great place for just about any major. But it just so happens to have a pretty large Communication Arts and Sciences department that has several programs in media studies.

Why stop at five? Because there are so many schools, both large and small, that offer programs in television production. Be sure to consider all of your options when choosing the place where you’ll major in television—LA is awesome, but certainly not the only way to go.

Stay tuned to this blog for more info coming soon about television and media programs.

–Barbara Bellesi

Entry Filed under: Careers,College Majors,Schools