Audio Engineering

The Audio Engineering Program provides students with the opportunity to earn an Associate of Science Degree in Audio Engineering.  Upon completion of the program, students are prepared for careers in sound recording, broadcasting, or a number of other communications industries. During the course of study, students develop technical and communications skills through academic coursework, production skills training, and real-world experience.

This program is a selective program. Students are expected to apply after they have completed the "Prerequisite semester courses" listed on the program tab, typically at the end of their first year of study due to course sequencing. Once admitted to the program, students must complete studio courses, in sequence, within one year. 

Courses in Audio Engineering focus on skills necessary to pursue positions in professional sound engineering. Through hands-on training, specialized classroom study, and research, students receive training in all aspects of the industry. Graduates can explore careers in music, radio, television, cinema, gaming, and theatre.

Prerequisite Semesters
Prerequisite Semester One
ENG 101College Writing I 3
MAT 126Topics In Mathematics 3
MRT 105Introduction To Mass Media 3
MRT 110Fundamentals of Video Production 3
MRT 112Introduction to Audio Production 3
Prerequisite Semester Two
ENG 102College Writing II 3
MRT 122Audio Post-production 3
MRT 106Introduction to Human Communication 3
Behavioral Social Science Elective 2 3
Non-behavioral Social Science Elective 3 3
Year 2
Fall
MRT 211Advanced Audio Production 13
MRT 217Critical Listening for Audio Engineers 13
MGT 110Introduction to Business 3
PHY 103Physics of Light and Sound 4
SPC 113Speech 3
Spring
MRT 224Music Recording and Mixing Techniques 13
MRT 225Live Sound Reinforcement 13
MRT 228Self Promotion and the Business of Media Arts 3
MRT 123Film Studies 3
General Elective 4 3
 Total Credits: 61
1

Students enrolled in AUD must earn a grade of C or better in this course.

2

Behavioral Social Science Electives: See Elective Courses by Abbreviation.

3

Non-behavioral Social Science Electives: See Elective Courses by Abbreviation.

4

General Electives: See General Electives exceptions.

5

Students will apply to the AUD Program at the end of year one.  The following courses are required in year one for program admission; ENG 101, MRT 105, MRT 110, MRT 112, MRT 122, and MAT 126 or higher.  Other AUD courses may be taken, but are not required for program admission.

Program Student Learning Outcomes for AUD

Upon graduation from this program, students shall have demonstrated the ability to:

  • Analyze and describe the component sectors, interrelationships, technology, and the legal and business practices associated with the media arts, and apply this understanding to projections for future developments and opportunities.
  • Explain, analyze, and evaluate the media’s power and role in and on today’s society, and the legal and ethical issues that confront communications professionals.
  • Set up and operate production equipment, and explain working interrelationships of the technical components.
  • Demonstrate oral and written presentation skills unique to the media arts industry.
  • Specify and design media solutions to fulfill identified communications objectives.
  • Work individually and as part of a production team in developing communications projects from initial conception to final completion, while meeting industry-standardized guidelines.
  • Employ media aesthetics to maximize communications effectiveness and create audience interest.
  • Analyze career opportunities and individual strengths, apply effective job search and acquisition skills, and promote their professional skills and services in today’s marketplace.
  • Have a clear command of microphones– choice, placement, technique, and treatment for varying tasks.
  • Awareness of advanced audio signal paths, processing needs, and choice of processing order to acquire desired results.
  • An ability to recognize through listening, the causes of quality in electronically handled sounds, with appreciation for what contributes to professional results and knowledge of remedies for improving what is poor.
  • A proven understanding of technically assisted communication that compels a listener to embrace a message, story or song.
 

Technical Standards1 for AUD

Students entering this program must be able to demonstrate, with or without a reasonable accommodation, the ability to:

  • Communicate and assimilate information either in spoken, printed, signed, or computer voice format.
  • Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
  • Gather, analyze, and draw conclusions from data.
  • Distinguish the movement of meter displays, positions of knobs on equipment, and images through camera lenses and/or small camera screens.
  • Make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers to grasp, move, manipulate, or assemble small objects (e.g. connecting wires, cables, and adjusting small buttons and knobs).
  • Differentiate content, tones, and words in sound recordings.
  • Focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
  • Work collaboratively as a member of a production team.
  • Appropriately use production equipment with regard to care and safety of the equipment, its user/s and nearby people.

Failure to comply with the above technical standards may result in a student being academically unsuccessful in the AUD program.  Further, any action or behavior that disrupts the normal operation of the classroom may be referred to the College’s Code of Conduct process.

According to the College’s Code of Conduct, students may be financially responsible for causing damage or loss to MWCCs production equipment or facilities.  Students borrowing equipment will be responsible for caring for and returning that equipment in good condition.

Industry Standards

Jobs within the various media industries require a wide range of physical and mental capacity for career success.  Students seeking employment within these industries should review the following information carefully when deciding to engage in this course of study.

Tasks

Most jobs in media production require the following:

  • Recording speech, music, or other sound on various types of equipment.

  • Quickly setting up and taking down equipment used in recording, via audio/video/film, in studios or on location, of scripted, produced, or live performances.

  • Loading and unloading equipment that may be in excess of 50 lbs. in/from storage rooms, vans, or production trucks.

  • Quickly choosing most appropriate equipment (e.g. microphones, lenses, lights, stands).

  • Carrying, connecting, tracing, and coiling various cables.

  • Documenting equipment settings, content, and technical notes.

  • Efficiently using specialized electronic equipment during production and post production.

  • Troubleshooting and resolving issues with signal flow and software.

Skills

Careers in the Media Arts typically demand the following skills:

  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made and asking questions for clarification as appropriate.

  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify alternative solutions, conclusions, and approaches to problems.

  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents, production documentation, and equipment manuals.

  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing all necessary information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

  • Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision making.

  • Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

  • Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

  • Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment are needed to complete a job safely and efficiently.

Students with disabilities

MWCC's Audio Engineering program will comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  The mission of the department is to train individuals for technical and/or non technical entry-level positions within various media industries.  Mount Wachusett Community College's ADA Policy outlines accommodations available to students with disabilities.  It is strongly recommended that prior to investing time and monetary resources, a prospective student with a known disability meet with the Coordinator of Disability Services to discuss their potential for success in the Media Arts Industries.

Persons with disabilities in any of the following areas are urged to speak to the Coordinator of Disability Services about these before entering this course of study:

  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at a close range (e.g. reading dial or meter settings on production equipment and camera screens).

  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

  • Written Expression - The ability to communicate and ideas in writing so others can understand (e.g. production documentation).

  • Hearing Sensitivity - The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.

  • Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern (e.g. signal flow, color coding).

  • Selective Attention - The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.

  • Sound Localization - The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.

  • Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

  • Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers to grasp, move, manipulate, or assemble small objects (e.g. connecting wires, cables, and adjusting small buttons and knobs).

  • Time Sharing - The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information.

  • Memorization - The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, and procedures.