4+1 B.A./M.A. in Television Studies

(Also known as “the Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Radio, Television, & Film/Master of Arts in Television Studies Dual Degree Program”— or “the BA/MA Program”).

The 4+1 program allows students to complete both a Bachelor’s degree in Radio, Television, & Film and a Master of Arts in Television Studies in five years instead of the usual six years or longer.
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The first step in knowing whether this program is right for you is to visit the RTF Department website for an introduction to the Curriculum of the undergraduate degree in Radio, Television, & Film, the Program Guide for the 4+1 and the MA in Television Studies, which includes the array of courses offered.

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Advantages of the Program

If you know that you want to obtain an MA in Television Studies at least by March in the spring semester of your junior year, and if you qualify, then there are two main advantages of this program:

• The first advantage is the time saved. Students in the 4+1 program finish their masters a year earlier than students earning separate MA and BA degrees. The 4+1 program takes less time, because students have to take fewer classes. Instead of 150 credit hours to earn both a BA and an MA, students only have 138 credit hours total for both degrees.
• The second advantage is cost. Since students in the 4+1 program begin taking their graduate level classes in their senior year, they pay the undergraduate tuition rate, which is at least 37% less than the graduate tuition rate. (In their +1 or fifth year, students pay the regular graduate tuition rate.) Students also save money by taking 12 fewer credits overall

Progression Through the 4+1 Program

Once you are in the 4+1 program, the process for completing both degrees works like this: 

• Majors complete their regular undergraduate course work through their junior year. 
• In their senior year, students finish their undergraduate requirements while completing 12 hours of graduate course work, picking classes that can “replace” or double up undergraduate required classes. The Graduate Coordinator will advise you how best to do this.
• Then, during the +1 year, which is the year after they are seniors, students complete the remaining 21 hours of their graduate work. (A full time load is required.)
• Upon completion of the requirements for the program, you will be awarded your Bachelor’s degree in Radio, Television, & Film and your Master’s degree in Television Studies at the same time.

Additional details follow, but please note that the 4+1 program takes planning, organization, time management, as well as excellent writing skills. Students need to work with the Graduate Coordinator to plan a program of student that is most advantageous.

Requirements for Application to the 4+1 Program

To apply and qualify for the 4+1 program, students must have a 3.0 (including both required courses and related electives). They must also have completed 

• 90 credits of course work overall by the end of their junior year
• Successful completion of at least 3 studies courses offered by the department
• A GPA of 3.0

Senior Privilege

Undergraduates of any major who meet the requirements may take our graduate classes for undergraduate credit through Senior Privilege. 

For more information please contact Program Co-ordinator, Prof Kim Akass: akass@rowan.edu

*The following course sequence is just an example and may be subject to change due to the availability of staff. 

Senior Year 

Fall                                                                                                                                       Upper-level RTF course

1. RTF 10511 Research Methods in Television Studies (MA Core)*
2. Free Elective
3. RTF Internship/Free Elective                                        
4. RTF 10512 Television Genre and History (Core)*

1. Free Elective

Spring 

1. Upper-level RTF course
2. RTF 03475 Portfolio Seminar (1 credit)
3. MA Free Elective (i.e. Identity on Television)
4. Free Elective
5. Free Elective

+1 Year 

Fall**                          

1. Master’s Project: 1
2. MA Free Elective
3. MA Free Elective

Spring**      

1. MA Free Elective
2. Master’s Project: 2**                                                           

*    To be offered as Electives for u/graduate Seniors

** RTF 10522 Master’s Project (Core) 6 sh - must be taken over Fall and Spring semesters (3 hours each).

Core courses

Students completing the 30 credit-hour Master of Arts in Television Studies will complete four required courses (totaling 12 credit-hours):

RTF 10511 Research Methods in Television Studies (3 credits)          

RTF 10512 Television Genre and History (3 credits) 

RTF 10522 Master's Project (6 credits)

Electives: 18 hours of elective courses must be taken in order to graduate.

RTF 10513 The Global Television Industry (3 credits)                    

RTF 10514 Identity on Television (3 credits)  

RTF 10515 Rhetoric of Reality TV (3 credits)         

RTF 10516 Television Auteurs (3 credits)                     

RTF 10518 The Evolution of Quality Television (3 credits)  

RTF 10519 Women and Television (3 credits)  

RTF 10520 The Writer’s Room (3 credits)  

RTF 10522 Script to Screen (3 credits)  

RTF 10523 Graduate Screenwriting (3 credits)  

RTF 10527 Graduate Episodic TV 1 (3 credits) 

RTF 10528 Graduate Episodic TV 2 (3 credits) 

RTF 10529 Developing the Documentary Series (online/hybrid) (3 credits) 

* Not all courses will be available every semester

To graduate from the 4+1 Undergraduate/Graduate Dual Degree in Television Studies students must complete 30 study hours with no more than two "C" grades or below. 

All MA students must take 12 credits of core courses and 18 hours of electives.