Broadcast Technology Text FAQs

<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Broadcast Technology Text FAQs

Broadcast Technology Department - FAQs
Houston Comunity College

FAQs

What does the goal of the Broadcast Technology Program?
The program prepares students entry-level jobs in the Video, Television and Radio production industries. Students may earn one of two Level I Certificates, a Level II Certificate, and Associates of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree.

What kinds of jobs can students get once they graduate?
A.A.S. degree students can expect to be qualified for entry-level jobs in camera operation, master control, audio recording and mixing, editing, lighting, script and news writing, and various other video and audio production jobs. In the Houston area, these jobs can be found at television and radio stations, independent production and post-production facilities, major sports teams like the Texans, the Astros, and the Rockets, large area businesses with production facilities like oil companies and churches, and independent contractors. Students can also start their own production businesses making videos for weddings, special events, training, and documentation.

How much do these jobs pay?
It is very hard to determine just how much a student will earn upon graduation, but the average starting pay in television is about $24,000 a year in the Houston area and in radio it’s about $18,000. Students can earn a lot more with several years of experience. The top paying jobs in the industry include production personnel at major facilities and in major cities, managerial jobs, and sales. Independent producers also have excellent odds of making good money if they work consistently and persistently.

Where is the Broadcast Technology program located?
The program’s administration office is located in Stafford, Texas and is a part of Southwest College. The majority of the courses are taught at the Stafford Campuses which include classrooms and the Stafford METV television studio located at The Scarcella Building at 10141 Cash Road and our Nonlinear Editing Lab located across the street at 9910 Cash Road. Once a year, the program also teaches a course at the HCC-TV studios in downtown Houston.

What kinds of classes do students take?
Students earning the highest degree in the program, the two-year Associates of Applied Science degree in Broadcast Technology, will take an introductory Radio/Television/Internet course, 3 television field and studio video production courses, 2 audio production courses, 2 writing courses in script and news, an elective graphics course, and internship, and 6 general education courses.

What facilities and equipment do students use in learning?
The Broadcast Technology program strives to keep up with industry standards on all equipment and facilities in order to assure that our graduating students are qualified for employment in a dynamic technologically-advanced industry. The program utilizes two HCCS television studios (HCC-TV studios in downtown Houston and Stafford METV studios in Stafford) and a nonlinear editing lab for instruction. The program also utilizes professional grade DVCam cameras and decks as well as professional lighting and sound equipment. The lab was built in 2003 with the latest technology of Macintosh computers with some of the video industry’s leading software programs that include Final Cut Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and Premiere, DVD Studio Pro, and Bias Deck and Peek. Software is upgraded whenever new versions are introduced and field tested.