California State University - Northridge

I had an average/mediocre experience at CSUN. I had a hybrid schedule, which was much better than attending fully in person. I honestly preferred taking online classes. Especially asynchronous. I was able to focus better and work at my own pace, without others slowing me down. The academics were a bit all over the place. Ratemyprofessor really helped in making sure I was choosing good professors. The main problem I encountered no matter what the sheer size of how many students was enrolled in classes... Read More at the same time. The system in place was terrible. I always had to pick my classes late and by the time it got to me, everything good was already taken. This meant I had to settle for below par teaching. Guidance counselors didn't help at all. Especially since I realized I would need a Master's degree if I wanted to do anything in my major. I do not want to get my Master's degree. It was a bit of a waste. I really enjoyed my on campus job however. It was my favorite part about school. I worked in an office and I work in an office now. It definitely helped me get a feel for what the corporate world looks like. Overall, my experience was okay. Nothing amazing, but not extremely horrible.

Within my department, my professors and other university staff went above and beyond to make sure that students succeed while in their classes and after graduation. CSUN's art department faculty are well connected to the industry and are very experienced in their fields. For my program in communication design (graphic design), the university had its own design agency so that students can gain real life experience before entering the workforce after graduation; I was one of those students. They prepare... Read More you pretty well for work life to the best of their ability.

The classes were challenging but fair, and most professors genuinely cared and were approachable outside of class. I appreciated the diversity on campus. It exposed me to people with different backgrounds and perspectives, which broadened how I see the world. There were also plenty of resources, clubs, and events that made it easy to get involved and feel connected. Like any college, it wasn’t perfect, but overall, it gave me a solid foundation academically and personally, and I’m grateful for the... Read More experience and the friendships I made along the way

Cal State Northridge's Radio and Television program offers an exceptional experience for students eager to dive into the world of media. The program provides a comprehensive curriculum that blends both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for the competitive landscape of broadcasting.

One of the standout features of the program is its hands-on approach. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including a fully equipped television studio and... Read More radio station, which allow them to gain real-world experience. This opportunity to work with professional equipment is invaluable for aspiring producers, directors, and on-air talent.

The faculty members are another highlight; they come with a wealth of industry experience and are genuinely invested in their students' success. Many professors have worked in various sectors of the media, providing insights that go beyond textbooks.

Moreover, the program emphasizes collaboration and creativity. Group projects encourage students to work together, which not only enhances their technical skills but also fosters teamwork and communication—important assets in any media-related job.

Networking opportunities abound, with guest speakers from the industry and partnerships with local media outlets. These connections can be crucial for internships and job placements after graduation.

In summary, Cal State Northridge’s Radio and Television program is an excellent choice for anyone passionate about pursuing a career in media. With its blend of academic rigor, practical experience, and industry connections, students are well-equipped to launch successful careers in the broadcasting field. Highly recommended for anyone looking to make their mark in radio and television!

I got both my Bachelors & Masters Degree at CSU Northridge on 2011 & 2013 respectively. What I really like about CSU Northridge is CSU Northridge developed so many of those PhD Prep Programs such as the National Science Foundation's Preparing Undergraduate in Mentoring towards PhD (PUMP) Program at the Math Department & the National Institutes of Health's Minority Access in Research Careers (MARC) & Research Initiative in Scientific Enhancement (RISE) Programs at the Biology/Chemistry-Biochemistry/Psychology/Kinesiology... Read More Departments. These PhD Prep Programs CSU Northridge is well-known for, helped covered most CSU Northridge's undergraduate & master students' tuition. They also provide excellent experience training for the students (since most of these CSU Northridge students will probably go to PhD Programs, Medical School or get a good job after completion at CSU Northridge). Certain Faculties & Classes are tough, BUT at least not toxic compared to other universities I heard. I heard other universities OUTSIDE CSU Northridge do have issues of workplace harassment problem; but NOT CSU Northridge. In fact, most CSU Northridge Faculties abide by the Ethical Rules & treated their students in a professional manner to the best of their ability. Most faculties at CSU Northridge do demonstrate as excellent role models for the students. Some of the faculties at CSU Northridge do even inspire students to be good society's role models as well. Even the most tough CSU Northridge professors where's it difficult to get an A in his/her class, despite the class is tough, but you as a student do feel a good learning experience. Most faculty at CSU Northridge are even caring too. If they witness a student in distress, they do take compassionate action to ensure the distressed student is alright; they do not need to let the University Dean get involved to handle any potential toxic situations. In fact, should there be a toxic situation arise at CSU Northridge, most faculty seems to got it under control in "extinguishing the fire" & thus, the university Dean does not have to really get involved. Fighting morale of most CSU Northridge students are high. When I graduated at CSU Northridge for both my bachelors & masters degree, my morale was high too! Overall, my experience at CSU Northridge was a very GREAT experience! I feel proud to be a CSU Northridge Matador! So proud that as an Alumni, I am willingly participating in their Alumni Association to give back to CSU Northridge my token of appreciation (i.e. charity donations) to ensure next generation CSU Northridge students will experience a good experience much like how I have during my time at that university. Great job CSU Northridge & GO MATADORS!!!

This review is specifically for Electrical Engineering students. It is the most unorganized most miserable department on campus. No one is assigned an advisor, no one helps students with what classes they need to take. You're on your own and need to guess what you need to take. I once sent 19 emails to get a response and get a form signed from the chair. They cancel classes every semester and some classes are only offered in one section even though there are 50+ people that try to crash. There are... Read More FAR better colleges out there. This place is only good for last resort.

Hi, If you apply for the online program and you are not close to the school--forget about it. It says it is a distance learning program but they don't have relationships with organizations where I live (which they should have disclosed from the start) and 4 days prior to the semester, I have no field placement (this is mandatory). I also told them I work full time, M-F, roughly 8am-4pm, and they have no field placement for me after 4.5 months of them "searching." I was only sent to two interviews.... Read More If you are looking for a flexible online program where you can still work or if you have a family, this is NOT for you. I withdrew. Dr. Brown was on a call where the faculty said to me, "we don't know what to do for your situation." It is literally their job to find a placement for me and they "don't know what to do." Incompetence. Please look elsewhere--even other CSUs are less barriered and you can still work.

I was accepted to the CSUN MFA program in 2018 and took part in it for a full year; however, I recently decided not to go back and complete the program's second year... for a number of reasons. 1) LACK OF NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. This was my main peeve with the program. Networking opportunities were non-existent, unfortunately. I asked a few of the professors and the head of the program about this aspect of the MFA many times - as it is crucial to a career in screenwriting - and I was never given... Read More a solid answer. I happen to know a few people/execs in the industry as well, who asked me to reach out to CSUN on their behalf because they had internship/job opportunities that they wanted to share with the school. When I gave them the dept. head's contact info, two of them told me they reached out to him and never received a response whatsoever. I followed up with the dept. head and he simply said, "Oh, yes, I do remember seeing that name... Please have them email me again." But by that time, the opportunities were long gone. This is key because not only are you required to find an internship and take an internship course during your last semester of the MFA, but it's also a very important part of the job and working in Hollywood. I know the UCLA and USC have amazing opportunities in this regard; but, alas, I applied to each of those schools and couldn't get in. 2) STRICTLY PEDAGOGIC. The program is much more tailored to those who want to teach screenwriting at the college level than it does for those who actually want to be screenwriters. I say this not only because of my previous reason - lack of networking - but also because I spoke to one of the profs who's been there since the inception of the program who told me as much outright. Additionally, there was a lot of repetition in many of the lessons we learned. 3) VERY STRUCTURE-BASED COURSEWORK. I'm all for studying structure and form, but I also think that people entering a screenwriting Master's program should have a fairly good handle on that before joining. One of the professors who taught two of our courses over the first year taught his very-specific, step-by-step breakdown of how to break a story using his unique concept. It was very specific and odd, and we spent a LOT of time focusing on only his method, when there are dozens out there, many of which have proven to be great! I actually really liked this prof on a personal level, but I do not like that 2 of the 7 course I paid for dealt entirely with his methods and didn't allow for exploration of the many other forms. 4) LOOSE SYLLABI. Unfortunately, about 2 of the 7 courses that were taught didn't have syllabi at all, or really seem to have much of a purpose. In our teaching for screenwriting course, there were 14 of us. Basically, two of us came in each class and gave a lesson each week, and the prof provided very minimal feedback at the end of each lesson. It was like we weren't being taught anything at all. The lessons were all lead by other students in my peer group, and while some of them were great, I didn't expect to have to pay for and take valuable time (driving and attending) out of my nights to listen to other students speculate on what the best way to do _____ might be. TAKE AWAY: If you don't know anything about screenwriting at all at this point in your life, OR if you're set on teaching screenwriting someday, this might be a good program for you. But if you're looking for industry connections and opportunities, save your money and look elsewhere (unless they revamp the program sometime in the next few years). The best part of the first year of the program, in my opinion, happened to be the two courses we took with adjunct professors who had real-life experience working in writers rooms. They were able to provide excellent feedback and guidance while we were working on our one-hour spec and half-hour original comedy pilots, and I feel that I can take those samples away and actually put them to use. When I joined this program, I'd already studied screenwriting as an undergrad a bit, and worked some in the industry. I'd written a few episodes for an Emmy-nominated show and sold three concepts to a streaming network as well. I got a tip from a working writer that CSUN's film dept had just gotten some kind of $8m influx via donations or something, but that wasn't evident in any part of the program, which was fine. That said, I was really hoping that the CSUN program would provide the networking opportunities and the chances to collaborate with other talented student directors, actors, producers, etc.--and it did not.

California State University is a great school for those who are seeking a good quality education for a lower cost. As I was attending school I was able to get grants to cover my tuition in full since the tuition was so low that was possible. As well as getting federal financial aid, CSUN offers private grants through the university if your grades are high, I believe a 3.5 GPA or higher. When I found out this was provided in my last few years I was amazed because it made it easy for me to pay for... Read More school without having to do anything more than getting good grades. Everyone wants to say that a state school does not offer a quality education like USC or UCLA, but I learned that many teachers also teach at those "higher quality" schools meaning you are getting equal education for a lower cost. I was able to graduate in a timely manner and left learning a lot more than when I graduated from high school.

I absolutely loved my experience as a history major at California State University Northridge. I was a transfer student from a junior college, in order to save money because I paid school out of pocket. I highly recommend if people can, in order to save money, they should go to a junior college first and then to a state school. Although I had dreamed of going to huge school like University of California Santa Barbara or University of California Los Angeles, I was very satisfied with my educational... Read More experience at Northridge. Northridge is a commuter school, but I made a lot of lasting friends. They do have dorms, but most people commute to school from the surrounding areas. So, if youre from the LA area you will feel right at home. My program was relatively small, so I the classroom experience was far more intimate than the lecture hall style. A typical classroom had fifteen to twenty students, which allowed for a lot more one on one attention by the professors. Also, I had very good relationships with my professors who inspired me. They were all very intelligent thoughtful people who inspired me inside and outside of the classroom. I loved the atmosphere my professors created, many of them held discussion style classes. The library is one of the biggest in the California State systems and had many resources. It was recently renovated within the last five years, and the first floor is very modern in comparison to other school libraries. I got involved in a few honors societies while in attendance there. I truly enjoyed being a history major at California Sate University Northridge.

Cal State Northridge is a commuter school. With that in mind, please be prepared to engage with a plethora of colorful individuals. The university offers dozens of activities, clubs and amenities in affords to keep students active on campus. I joined a few clubs which were focused on my major and my heritage. I also joined a sorority on campus and participated in community service projects. While attending CSUN, I double majored in Journalism and in Religious studies. My concentration in the Journalism... Read More department was public relations. There were only two professors that taught in my focus, so the classes are very small and you get to engage with the professor better. I recall one of my classes having only 8 students in it. Both professors were still in their respected fields and CEOs of their own companies which motivated me to possible be my own boss one day. The Religious Studies department was also small, which I enjoyed. As it turned out, the RS department had a large minor enrollment but a third of that number were majors. Overall the campus is pretty friendly, the professors are amazing and the food is good. The staff at the student union are amazing as well and very helpful. Before graduating the school opened the new recreation facility, so, if you have a few moments in between classes or on an off day, I recommend going to take a look at what it has to offer. Enroll in a sports club or a fitness class. You wont regret it.