Music Technology
- Program Description
- Program Learning Outcomes
- Career Opportunities
- Award Type(s)
- Units Required
- Associate Degree Requirements
- Certificate Requirements
- Certificate of Achievement in Music Technology
- Certificate of Achievement in Game Audio I
- Certificate of Achievement in Game Audio II
- Certificate of Achievement in Pro Tools
- Certificate of Achievement in Audio Post Production
- Certificate of Achievement in Electronic Music
- Certificate of Achievement in Songwriting
- Music Business Certificate of Proficiency
- Pro Tools Certificate of Proficiency
Program Description
Foothill College's Music Technology Program (MTEC) offers cutting-edge curriculum, instruction, and hands-on training in the areas of digital media content creation based on real-world industry standards. MTEC is an innovative educational program that integrates art and music with science and technology using a vocational strategy that enables students to realize a competitive advantage in an ever-evolving, digital-centric socioeconomic era. In addition to preparing students to pursue baccalaureate degrees at four-year institutions, the Foothill College MTEC program prepares students for diverse, productive careers in digital media content creation for music, technology, liberal and audio-visual arts, and communications.
At a more granular level, MTEC prepares students for careers in recording arts, music production, electronic music, game audio, audio post for film and video, marketing, concert promotion, online delivery, technical support, entrepreneurship, business administrative positions, and many other digital media based career options. By participating in the MTEC program, students can obtain an Associate in Arts degree and Certificates of Achievement in Music Technology, Pro Tools, Game Audio, Audio Post Production, Electronic Music, and Songwriting. A certificate in Music Business is also offered. Our degree and certificates can conveniently be completed on campus, online, or in any combination.
The Foothill College Music Technology Program is one of the largest in the state of California and provides an entrance to a career in the entertainment and media industry. As an Avid Learning Partner (considering Avid is the standard platform used in the media industry), we offer the highest level of Avid Pro Tools Certification. We also offer training on Wwise and FMOD, the industry standard middleware applications for game audio.
The MTEC curriculum offers students the option to design their course of study to meet their needs. To augment their core courses, students may choose elective courses from music or related fields like media studies, photography, graphic design, and computer science. Because all these fields are very closely related, students can focus on areas that reflect their individual interests and goals. All musical styles and genres are supported and welcomed. Our goal is to give students the opportunity to succeed based on their talent, interest, and hard work. All MTEC courses are transferable to California State Universities and many transfer to the University of California system as well.
MTEC courses are available on campus during the day and evening, as well as online, to fit each student's scheduling needs. MTEC students have access to Foothill's spacious, fully equipped, state-of-the-art recording studio facility, which includes a Dolby Atmos surround sound mixing stage. Students also have the option to complete all coursework online and at home.
Learn more about the program on the Music Technology website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the MTEC program will be able to:
- Demonstrate proficiency with various aspects of digital media content creation, including the use of hardware, software, digital asset management practices, and other areas identified by the program's Board of Advisors.
- Apply concepts from audio engineering, acoustics, sound synthesis, music theory, computer literacy, and team collaboration in practical situations to optimize digital media production workflows.
- Demonstrate proficiency with audio-video equipment, including live content acquisition, microphones, video cameras, sound reinforcement, post-production editing, mixing, mastering, metering, and system troubleshooting.
- Evaluate merits of professional media productions with an understanding of technical and aesthetic considerations appropriate for various genres.
- Distinguish between related career paths associated with the discipline of Music Technology, including digital media content creation, technical support, marketing, entrepreneurship, and business administrative positions.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities in the music and media industry have never been more diverse or plentiful as they are today. Students have the opportunity to enter the industry in a variety of positions. Positions are available to qualified artists and professionals in Music Production, Audio Post-Production, Game Audio, Video Production, Podcasting, and a host of other areas. Due to the phenomenal growth of new technology and the communication available via the internet, opportunities exist literally anywhere the student chooses.
Award Type(s)
- AA = Associate in Arts Degree
- CA = Certificate of Achievement
- CP = Certificate of Proficiency [Non-Transcriptable]
Units Required
- Major: 40
- Certificate(s): 16-40
Associate Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| English Proficiency | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ENGL 1A | COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ENGL 1AH | HONORS COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ESLL 26 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| or equivalent | ||
| Ethnic Studies | ||
| Any course in the ETHN (Ethnic Studies) subject code, currently approved for Area F of CSU GE and Area 7 of IGETC | ||
| Mathematics Proficiency | ||
| College-level math course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra | ||
A minimum of 90 units is required1 to include:
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
- Core courses (32 units)
- Support courses (8 units)
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree or certificates.
Core and Support Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| MTEC 50A | INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC TECHNOLOGY | 4 |
| MTEC 51A | STUDIO RECORDING I | 4 |
| or MTEC 60A | PRODUCING IN THE HOME STUDIO I | |
| MTEC 52A | MIXING & MASTERING I | 4 |
| MTEC 55A | INTRODUCTION TO GAME AUDIO | 4 |
| MTEC 57A | SOUND DESIGN FOR FILM & VIDEO | 4 |
| MTEC 62A | COMPOSING & PRODUCING ELECTRONIC MUSIC I | 4 |
| MTEC 70A | PRO TOOLS 101-AVID CERTIFICATION | 4 |
| or MTEC 72B | PRODUCING MUSIC WITH ABLETON LIVE | |
| or MTEC 72C | PRODUCING MUSIC WITH LOGIC PRO | |
| And one course from the following: | 4 | |
| HISTORY OF MUSIC TECHNOLOGY | ||
| MUSIC & MEDIA: HENDRIX TO HIP-HOP | ||
| HISTORY OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC: ORIGINS-1970 | ||
| HISTORY OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC: 1970-PRESENT | ||
| Support Courses | ||
| Select eight units from the following: | 8 | |
| HISTORY OF MUSIC TECHNOLOGY 1 | ||
| STUDIO RECORDING II | ||
| STUDIO RECORDING III | ||
| MIXING & MASTERING II | ||
| AUDIO PLUG-INS & SIGNAL PROCESSING | ||
| MUSIC THEORY FOR AUDIO PRODUCERS | ||
| ADVANCED SOUND DESIGN FOR GAMES | ||
| MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR GAMES | ||
| SURROUND SOUND PRODUCTION | ||
| MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR FILM & TV | ||
| PRODUCING IN THE HOME STUDIO I 1 | ||
| COMPOSING & PRODUCING ELECTRONIC MUSIC II | ||
| COMPOSING & PRODUCING ELECTRONIC MUSIC III | ||
| PRO TOOLS 101-AVID CERTIFICATION 1 | ||
| PRO TOOLS 110-AVID CERTIFICATION | ||
| PRO TOOLS 201-AVID CERTIFICATION | ||
| PRO TOOLS 210M-AVID CERTIFICATION | ||
| PRO TOOLS 210P-AVID CERTIFICATION | ||
| PRO TOOLS 310M-AVID CERTIFICATION | ||
| PRODUCING MUSIC WITH ABLETON LIVE 1 | ||
| PRODUCING MUSIC WITH LOGIC PRO 1 | ||
| MUSIC BUSINESS | ||
| CAREERS IN MUSIC TECHNOLOGY | ||
| SOUND REINFORCEMENT & EVENT STREAMING | ||
| MUSIC TECHNOLOGY ENSEMBLE | ||
| Total Units | 40 | |
- 1
May be completed only once for credit to satisfy either the core or support course requirements.
Certificate Requirements
Certificate of Achievement in Music Technology
- Units: 40
The certificate of achievement is awarded after completion of the core and support courses. General education courses are not required.
Certificate of Achievement in Game Audio I
- Units: 16
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MTEC 55A | INTRODUCTION TO GAME AUDIO | 4 |
| MTEC 55B | ADVANCED SOUND DESIGN FOR GAMES | 4 |
| MTEC 55C | MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR GAMES | 4 |
| MDIA 13 | VIDEO GAMES & POPULAR CULTURE | 4 |
| or HUMN 13 | VIDEO GAMES & POPULAR CULTURE | |
| Total Units | 16 | |
Certificate of Achievement in Game Audio II
- Units: 24
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MTEC 55A | INTRODUCTION TO GAME AUDIO | 4 |
| MTEC 55B | ADVANCED SOUND DESIGN FOR GAMES | 4 |
| MTEC 55C | MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR GAMES | 4 |
| MTEC 57A | SOUND DESIGN FOR FILM & VIDEO | 4 |
| MTEC 70A | PRO TOOLS 101-AVID CERTIFICATION | 4 |
| or MTEC 72B | PRODUCING MUSIC WITH ABLETON LIVE | |
| or MTEC 72C | PRODUCING MUSIC WITH LOGIC PRO | |
| MDIA 13 | VIDEO GAMES & POPULAR CULTURE | 4 |
| or HUMN 13 | VIDEO GAMES & POPULAR CULTURE | |
| Total Units | 24 | |
Certificate of Achievement in Pro Tools
- Units: 24
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MTEC 50A | INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC TECHNOLOGY | 4 |
| MTEC 52A | MIXING & MASTERING I | 4 |
| or MTEC 53A | AUDIO PLUG-INS & SIGNAL PROCESSING | |
| MTEC 70A | PRO TOOLS 101-AVID CERTIFICATION | 4 |
| MTEC 70B | PRO TOOLS 110-AVID CERTIFICATION | 4 |
| MTEC 70C | PRO TOOLS 201-AVID CERTIFICATION | 4 |
| MTEC 70D | PRO TOOLS 210M-AVID CERTIFICATION | 4 |
| or MTEC 70E | PRO TOOLS 210P-AVID CERTIFICATION | |
| Total Units | 24 | |
Certificate of Achievement in Audio Post Production
- Units: 16
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MTEC 57A | SOUND DESIGN FOR FILM & VIDEO | 4 |
| MTEC 57B | SURROUND SOUND PRODUCTION | 4 |
| MTEC 57C | MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR FILM & TV | 4 |
| MDIA 30 | DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING I | 4 |
| Total Units | 16 | |
Certificate of Achievement in Electronic Music
- Units: 16
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MTEC 62A | COMPOSING & PRODUCING ELECTRONIC MUSIC I | 4 |
| MTEC 62B | COMPOSING & PRODUCING ELECTRONIC MUSIC II | 4 |
| MTEC 62C | COMPOSING & PRODUCING ELECTRONIC MUSIC III | 4 |
| MTEC 70A | PRO TOOLS 101-AVID CERTIFICATION | 4 |
| or MTEC 72B | PRODUCING MUSIC WITH ABLETON LIVE | |
| or MTEC 72C | PRODUCING MUSIC WITH LOGIC PRO | |
| Total Units | 16 | |
Certificate of Achievement in Songwriting
- Units: 16
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MTEC 88A | SONGWRITING I | 4 |
| MTEC 88B | SONGWRITING II | 4 |
| MTEC 88C | SONGWRITING III | 4 |
| MUS 10 | MUSIC FUNDAMENTALS | 4 |
| or MTEC 54A | MUSIC THEORY FOR AUDIO PRODUCERS | |
| Total Units | 16 | |
Music Business Certificate of Proficiency
- Units: 16 [Non-Transcriptable]
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MTEC 54A | MUSIC THEORY FOR AUDIO PRODUCERS | 4 |
| MTEC 80A | MUSIC BUSINESS | 4 |
| MTEC 82A | CAREERS IN MUSIC TECHNOLOGY | 4 |
| MTEC 88A | SONGWRITING I | 4 |
| Total Units | 16 | |
Pro Tools Certificate of Proficiency
- Units: 16 [Non-Transcriptable]
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MTEC 70A | PRO TOOLS 101-AVID CERTIFICATION | 4 |
| MTEC 70B | PRO TOOLS 110-AVID CERTIFICATION | 4 |
| MTEC 70C | PRO TOOLS 201-AVID CERTIFICATION | 4 |
| MTEC 70D | PRO TOOLS 210M-AVID CERTIFICATION | 4 |
| or MTEC 70E | PRO TOOLS 210P-AVID CERTIFICATION | |
| Total Units | 16 | |