Academic Catalog

Music Technology

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

English Proficiency
Select one of the following:
ENGL 1ACOMPOSITION & READING5
ENGL 1AHHONORS COMPOSITION & READING5
ESLL 26ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING5
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

Core Courses
MTEC 50AINTRODUCTION TO MUSIC TECHNOLOGY4
MTEC 51ASTUDIO RECORDING I4
or MTEC 60A PRODUCING IN THE HOME STUDIO I
MTEC 52AMIXING & MASTERING I4
MTEC 55AINTRODUCTION TO GAME AUDIO4
MTEC 57ASOUND DESIGN FOR FILM & VIDEO4
MTEC 62ACOMPOSING & PRODUCING ELECTRONIC MUSIC I4
MTEC 70APRO TOOLS 101-AVID CERTIFICATION4
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 Units40
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
MTEC 55AINTRODUCTION TO GAME AUDIO4
MTEC 55BADVANCED SOUND DESIGN FOR GAMES4
MTEC 55CMUSIC COMPOSITION FOR GAMES4
MDIA 13VIDEO GAMES & POPULAR CULTURE4
or HUMN 13 VIDEO GAMES & POPULAR CULTURE
Total Units16

Certificate of Achievement in Game Audio II

  • Units: 24
MTEC 55AINTRODUCTION TO GAME AUDIO4
MTEC 55BADVANCED SOUND DESIGN FOR GAMES4
MTEC 55CMUSIC COMPOSITION FOR GAMES4
MTEC 57ASOUND DESIGN FOR FILM & VIDEO4
MTEC 70APRO TOOLS 101-AVID CERTIFICATION4
or MTEC 72B PRODUCING MUSIC WITH ABLETON LIVE
or MTEC 72C PRODUCING MUSIC WITH LOGIC PRO
MDIA 13VIDEO GAMES & POPULAR CULTURE4
or HUMN 13 VIDEO GAMES & POPULAR CULTURE
Total Units24

Certificate of Achievement in Pro Tools 

  • Units: 24
MTEC 50AINTRODUCTION TO MUSIC TECHNOLOGY4
MTEC 52AMIXING & MASTERING I4
or MTEC 53A AUDIO PLUG-INS & SIGNAL PROCESSING
MTEC 70APRO TOOLS 101-AVID CERTIFICATION4
MTEC 70BPRO TOOLS 110-AVID CERTIFICATION4
MTEC 70CPRO TOOLS 201-AVID CERTIFICATION4
MTEC 70DPRO TOOLS 210M-AVID CERTIFICATION4
or MTEC 70E PRO TOOLS 210P-AVID CERTIFICATION
Total Units24

Certificate of Achievement in Audio Post Production

  • Units: 16
MTEC 57ASOUND DESIGN FOR FILM & VIDEO4
MTEC 57BSURROUND SOUND PRODUCTION4
MTEC 57CMUSIC COMPOSITION FOR FILM & TV4
MDIA 30DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING I4
Total Units16

Certificate of Achievement in Electronic Music

  • Units: 16
MTEC 62ACOMPOSING & PRODUCING ELECTRONIC MUSIC I4
MTEC 62BCOMPOSING & PRODUCING ELECTRONIC MUSIC II4
MTEC 62CCOMPOSING & PRODUCING ELECTRONIC MUSIC III4
MTEC 70APRO TOOLS 101-AVID CERTIFICATION4
or MTEC 72B PRODUCING MUSIC WITH ABLETON LIVE
or MTEC 72C PRODUCING MUSIC WITH LOGIC PRO
Total Units16

Certificate of Achievement in Songwriting

  • Units: 16
MTEC 88ASONGWRITING I4
MTEC 88BSONGWRITING II4
MTEC 88CSONGWRITING III4
MUS 10MUSIC FUNDAMENTALS4
or MTEC 54A MUSIC THEORY FOR AUDIO PRODUCERS
Total Units16

Music Business Certificate of Proficiency 

  • Units: 16 [Non-Transcriptable]
MTEC 54AMUSIC THEORY FOR AUDIO PRODUCERS4
MTEC 80AMUSIC BUSINESS4
MTEC 82ACAREERS IN MUSIC TECHNOLOGY4
MTEC 88ASONGWRITING I4
Total Units16

Pro Tools Certificate of Proficiency 

  • Units: 16 [Non-Transcriptable]
MTEC 70APRO TOOLS 101-AVID CERTIFICATION4
MTEC 70BPRO TOOLS 110-AVID CERTIFICATION4
MTEC 70CPRO TOOLS 201-AVID CERTIFICATION4
MTEC 70DPRO TOOLS 210M-AVID CERTIFICATION4
or MTEC 70E PRO TOOLS 210P-AVID CERTIFICATION
Total Units16