» Recommended Classes for First-Year Writing for Film & Television Majors

Here are the classes that we recommend you take during your first year as a Writing for Film & Television major at Chapman. 

For your first semester, we recommend taking 12-15 credits (most classes are 3 credits; those with labs are 4). You must be enrolled in 12 credits to be considered a full-time status student. The recommended courses below will put you at 15 credits per semester (fall and spring). 

Introductory Math Requirement

First year students must either waive or complete Math 100/L (Learning and Studying Mathematics for Understanding I, with a required lab component) in their first semester. For more information, visit our Math Placement webpage. 

General Education Classes 

You can choose a General Education (GE) class from any GE category – it’s your choice. In general, the following GE areas are recommended to begin/complete during your first year:

  • GE Language Study (strongly recommended)
  • GE Written Inquiry
  • GE Quantitative Inquiry

You can learn more about general education on our General Education: How it Works page.

You may be able to fulfill some of your GE requirements with classes from your major:

FTV 140 Fullfills AI 

Fall Semester

SW 127 - Writing for Film & TV I
Credits: 3

FTV 130 - Introduction to Visual Storytelling  
Credits: 3

Note: FTV 140L is the "lab" component course that must be taken with the FTV140 lecture. 

SW 155 - Short Film Analysis 
Credits: 3

FFC 100C - Story
Credits: 3

Note: All first-year students at Chapman have to take First Year Foundations (FFC 100) in their first year of enrollment. As a Writing for Film & Television major, you must select an FFC 100C option from Dodge- this is titled STORY. It is recommended you enroll in this class in the first semester as a larger number of course sections and topics are available in the Fall semester.

GE Class 
Credits: 3

Spring Semester

SW 128 - Writing for Film & TV II
Credits: 3

FTV 140 - Introduction to Film & Media Aesthetics, Lecture & Laboratory 
Credits: 3

Note: You will be notified before the spring semester which section of FTV 130 you should enroll in. 

TWP 246 - History of Television
Credits: 3

Any GE class/minor exploration
Credits: 3

Any GE class/minor exploration
Credits: 3