Within the many classes offered at Cosumnes River College lies a department dedicated to giving students the opportunity to create and gain knowledge in radio, television and film.

The RTVF department offers in depth courses to prepare students if they choose to continue in the field and make a career out of it. It’s important to acknowledge how much CRC offers to students attending.

“It’s invaluable hands on experience in here,” said RTVF adjunct professor Terry Finnegan. “Where ideally at the end of the semester you could walk into a television or radio newsroom and function.”

RTVF 330 and 350 are basic and intermediate classes that teach students how to make and produce films. In the intermediate class, students are even separated into groups to create a short film.

Another course, RTVF 331, is  beginning television production that stems into other majors within the department. Although students can continue learning television production through a series of workshop courses, the knowledge gained from taking the class can help with broadcasting.

The courses have a “hands-on” approach so students can actually learn with equipment unlike universities.

“We as a school let you start using equipment pretty much right away which is why I chose to come here,” said RTVF professor Lauren Wagner. “If I had gone to a CSU straight away then it would have been my junior year before I was able to take classes and before I could use equipment.”

The options of learning more about screenwriting, film history, radio and even the aesthetics of a film are available.

Having such a diverse set of courses available gives a unique experience to students who may only have a slight interest in the field. Without having the option of working with equipment, it might make it difficult to decide whether it is the right path for them.

“I have greatly enjoyed working with the other like minded students and the amazing professors in the department.” said 20 year-old RTVF major, Austin Morris. “I have learned so much and met so many wonderful people.”

The television studio located in the library will be in the works of being renovated with new equipment to become modern and more efficient.This renovation is to be completed before the spring classes to resume television production classes.

“I think as a faculty, not to brag,” said Finnegan regarding the uniqueness of the department. “We’ve got a lot of experience here. I think that is the strength of junior college and that you have folks from real world situations coming to teach.”