| School | State |
|---|---|
| Full Sail University | Florida |
Did you know that the U.S. is home to around 134,300 broadcast and sound engineering technicians? Did you also know that employment growth is expected to average around 8% for the 2016-2026 decade, which equates to roughly 10,700 additional jobs in the next seven years? If you’ve ever dreamed of working in audio production in the film industry, games, advertising or other areas, now is the best time to break into the business. To get started, you’ll need passion, talent, and a degree from an accredited school with a solid reputation.
Besides accreditation by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the best schools with audio production degrees will:
- Have a solid reputation for producing audio production professionals who are successful in their respective careers
- Offer a comprehensive curriculum that covers the most in-demand areas of audio production
- Provide opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the industry through experiential learning experiences such as internships, externships, and job simulations
- Have faculty who are active in the film, radio, television, games, and more
- Have an active career center with a notable placement rate
Some of the best schools with audio production degrees are also located in or near major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Chicago. While location is important, students also place a high value on flexibility and convenience.
We’ve identified below one of the “Best” schools for aspiring audio production professionals. The school offers two flexible online options designed for students seeking a 4-year degree or those looking to enhance an existing degree. Continue reading to learn about Full Sail University’s Online Audio Production Program.
Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Established in 1979 as Full Sail Productions, Full Sail University offers arts, entertainment, media and technology programs to 15,000 students across 210 acres of campus space, including 110+ studios and labs. Around 93 program options lead to an associate's, bachelor’s, or master's degree. Among these programs is a BS in Audio Production that takes 29 months to complete, online, and a five-month online certificate.
Per the school, the Audio Production program is designed to provide students “with the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to conduct business as an independent audio creator. Areas of study range from pop culture and music business fundamentals to production and postproduction techniques – in addition to foundational material like college mathematics and professional writing.”
Sample courses for the program include:
- Advanced Audio Editing Techniques
- Advanced Mixing Techniques
- Audio Arts in the Entertainment and Media Industries
- Audio Postproduction
- Audio Workstations
- Contemporary Production Techniques
- Creative Presentation
- Fundamentals of Music
- Fundamentals of Music Business
- Game and Audio Production Techniques
- History of Recorded Music
- Listening Skills for Audio Professionals
- Musical Structure and Analysis
- Sound Design for Games
- Vocal Techniques
Students will also complete seven “Project and Portfolio” courses worth three credits each including Project and Portfolio I: Audio Arts, and Project and Portfolio II-VII: Audio Production.
These unique Project and Portfolio courses combine “hands-on learning experiences with summative and formative portfolio assessments.” The courses are taken in addition to an internship, which can be pursued after the student has successfully completed 50% of the required credit hours for the BS program.
Full Sail University is Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and licensed by the Commission for Independent Education (CIE), Florida Department of Education. The ACCSC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
Sources
“Broadcast and Sound Engineering Technicians.” Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, 02 Aug. 2018. Web. 04 Feb. 2019.
“Sound Engineering Technicians.” Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, 30 Mar. 2018. Web. 04 Feb. 2019.