Department of Radio, Television and Film (RTF)

Mission, Goals, and Objectives

The Radio, Television, and Film Department faculty and Dean developed its initial mission and goals with the founding of the Department in 1975 when its moniker was the Telecommunications Department. Over the years these goals and objectives underwent frequent revisions to align them with the Department’s curriculum. The last major revision of the Department’s curriculum was in 2013 which resulted in the addition of several courses in digital filmmaking, documentary and postproduction (see Appendix). The mission of the RTF Department is to educate professionals to a high level of excellence in the production and critical studies of radio, television, film and new media.

The Radio, Television and Film program at Texas Southern University engages students in the production and critical studies of radio, television, film and new media. We offer our students a balanced curriculum that provides integrated study and training in the art and business of the electronic media. The Bachelor of Arts program in Radio, Television and Film combines 60 credit hours of a broad general education with 61 credit hours of required, related and free electives that each student can shape toward their individual educational goals within the major.

The Production emphasis blends practical, hands-on learning with a firm grounding in the aesthetics, history and craft of media production. The Media Studies emphasis blends practical research and writing skills with the study of the history, evolution and business practices of the electronic media.

With programs that combine a strong liberal arts framework with the latest media technology, our students are taught to think critically as they explore countless opportunities to express themselves creatively and prepare for professional careers as the next generation of communication leaders.

Students in the Department of Radio, Television and Film engage, learn and achieve. Texas Southern University students’ productions have won over 10 local, regional, and national awards.

Our students have access to a rich variety of resources including:

Award-winning faculty who are industry experts, working professionals, and accomplished scholars, including local and regional award winners, documentary and feature filmmakers, radio personalities, writers, editors, and producers.
State-of-the-art television, film and radio facilities including KTSU2, the School of Communication’s multimedia student run digital and streaming operation and radio station, KTSU 90.9 FM.
Unparalleled real-world experience on and off-campus, including hundreds of internship opportunities within 30 miles of Houston, the 4th largest city in the U.S.
Selecting a specialty is not required for students seeking a degree in Radio, Television, and Film. In consultation with academic advisors, students may select a combination of radio, television, and film courses (RTF electives only) that are available in the current inventory of courses. Degree plans with and without a minor are available for students interested in radio, television, and film. The Department currently requires six course (21 credit hours) to complete a minor.