Sound Recording and Music Technology

Combining Music with State-of-the-Art Technology

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Program Duration: 2 Year Program
Degree Type: Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Total Credit Hours: 60

An instructor explains a soundboard to a student.

About This Program

Use the latest technology in creating and recording music. You will learn to use sophisticated equipment, work with professional software, create music for multimedia and film, use a mixing board and learn various microphone techniques, run and record live sessions, and print your own music for publication. The College’s program also offers you internship opportunities at local recording studios, individual computer stations with extensive technology for recording and composing, an introduction to the music industry as a business, and training on the same equipment that music industry professionals use. This program is ideal for anyone who wants to pursue a career in music production and studio recording, musicians who want to be able to record and publish their own music, and music teachers.

Quick Information

Online Learning: 30% or greater
General Contact: Call (215) 751-8414

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Transfer Opportunities

Public university in Pennsylvania offering diverse programs.

Healthcare and science-focused institution in Philadelphia.

A public research university in Glassboro, New Jersey, known for its innovative programs and research opportunities.

Semester 1

Course Number and Name	Prerequisites and Corequisites	Credits	Gen Ed Req.
MUS 100 - Music Reading		3 credits
MUS 101 - Piano I		1 credit	Oral Communication/ Creative Expression**
MUS 115 - Introduction to Music Technology		3 credits	Oral Communication/ Creative Expression**
FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra or higher	FNMT 017 or FNMT 019 completed or FNMT 118 (or higher) placement	3 credits	Quantitative Reasoning
ENGL 101 - English Composition I or ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors)		3 credits	Writing/Research/Info Lit 1
MUS 196B - Brass Ensemble I or MUS 196C - Chamber Music Ensemble I or MUS 196E - Electronic Ensemble I or MUS 196G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble I or MUS 196H - Hip Hop Ensemble I or MUS 196J - Jazz Ensemble I or MUS 196P - Pop & Rock Ensemble I or MUS 196SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble I^* or MUS 196SV - Studio Voice Ensemble I or MUS 196TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble I^*		1 credit	Oral Communication/ Creative Expression**

Semester 2

Course Number and Name	Prerequisites and Corequisites	Credits	Gen Ed Req.
MUS 180 - Music Business		3 credits
MUS 116 - Theory I	MUS 100	4 credits
MUS 215 - Advanced Music Technology and Multimedia	MUS 115	3 credits
MUS 102 - Piano II	MUS 101 with a grade of "C" or better	1 credit
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors)	ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better	3 credits	Writing/Research/Info Lit 2
MUS 197B - Brass Ensemble II or MUS 197C - Chamber Music Ensemble II or MUS 197E - Electronic Ensemble II or MUS 197G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble II or MUS 197H - Hip Hop Ensemble II or MUS 197J - Jazz Ensemble II or MUS 197P - Pop & Rock Ensemble II or MUS 197SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble II^* or MUS 197SV - Studio Voice Ensemble II or MUS 197TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble II^*		1 credit	Oral Communication/ Creative Expression^**

Semester 3

Course Number and Name	Prerequisites and Corequisites	Credits	Gen Ed Req.
MUS 118 - Theory II	MUS 116	4 credits
MUS 220 - ProTools and Ableton Live - Audio Editing and Production	MUS 215	3 credits
MUS 103 - Introduction to Music		3 credits	Cultural Analysis and Interpretation
MUS 280 - Music Entrepreneurship, Licensing and Marketing	MUS 180	3 credits	Technological Competency
MUS 296B - Brass Ensemble III or MUS 296C - Chamber Music Ensemble III or MUS 296E - Electronic Ensemble III or MUS 296G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble III or MUS 296H - Hip Hop Ensemble III or MUS 296J - Jazz Ensemble III or MUS 296P - Pop & Rock Ensemble III or MUS 296SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble III* or MUS 296SV - Studio Voice Ensemble III or MUS 296TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble III*		1 credit	Oral Communication/ Creative Expression^**

Semester 4

Course Number and Name	Prerequisites and Corequisites	Credits	Gen Ed Req.
MUS 260 - Sound Reinforcement and Recording Session	MUS 215	4 credits
MUS 290 - Music Internship	MUS 180, MUS 260 which may be taken concurrently	2 credits
PHYS 125 - Musical Acoustics		3 credits	Scientific Reasoning
ACCT 101 - Financial Accounting		4 credits
ADC 176 / HIST 176 - Philadelphia History: Architecture and Planning or ANTH 112 - Cultural Anthropology or GEOG 103 - Introduction to Human Geography or HIST 101 - United States History: Colonial America through the Revolutionary Era or HIST 102 - United States History: The 19th Century or HIST 103 - United States History: The 20th Century and Beyond or HIST 103H - United States and Pennsylvania History: The 20th Century (Honors) or HIST 103H - United States and Pennsylvania History: The 20th Century (Honors) or HIST 121 - Global History I HIST 122 - Global History II or HIST 142 - Food History or HIST 146 - Latino American History or HIST 150 - History of American Health Care or SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology or SOC 101H - Introduction to Sociology (Honors) or SOC 115 – Gender and Society		3 credits
MUS 297B - Brass Ensemble IV or MUS 297C - Chamber Music Ensemble IV or MUS 297E - Electronic Ensemble IV or MUS 297G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble IV or MUS 297H - Hip Hop Ensemble IV or MUS 297J - Jazz Ensemble IV or MUS 297P - Pop & Rock Ensemble IV or MUS 297SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble IV* or MUS 297SV - Studio Voice Ensemble IV or MUS 297TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble IV*		1 credit	Oral Communication/ Creative Expression^**

Guitarist sings as drummer watches in music studio.

Launch Your Career as a Sound Sound Engineering Technician

$82,009 Median Salary of a Sound Engineering Technician
272 Number of Jobs in the Region
+16% 10-year Job Outlook in the Region for Sound Engineering Technicians

Music Directors and Composers – est. salary $54,751
Sound Engineering Technician – est. salary $82,009*

**EMSI Data, 2022; The greater Philadelphia region; a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Featured Career

Sound Engineering Technician

Operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in sporting arenas, theater productions, recording studios, or movie and video productions.

Starting Pay: $29,627

Closeup of hands working with sound equipment.

Typical Tasks

Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
Prepare for recording sessions by performing activities such as selecting and setting up microphones.
Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds later during the mixing or postproduction stage.

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