Broadcasting & Electronic Media Degree (BCT)

Prepare for careers in the television, radio, recording, multimedia, and cable industries. You’ll acquire both technical and communications skills through academic coursework, production skills training, and on-the-air experience. Equipment and facilities include: two state-of-the-art television studios, four audio studios, DVC-Pro electronic field production equipment, digital video editing suites, and audio workstations. Students can gain valuable experience by producing live and taped programming aired over MWCC's community cable TV channel.

Campus/format: This program can be completed during the day at the Gardner Campus.

Helpful hints: Electives allow BCT students to concentrate in: multi-track audio recording and mixing, interactive media, and streaming video production.

Transfer options: Joint Admissions agreements exist with state colleges and universities including Fitchburg and Worcester State, Mass College of Liberal Arts, and UMASS Amherst. Articulation agreements exist with Charter Oak State College, the New England Institute of Art, and the University of Phoenix. BCT students have also transferred to: Emerson College, Ithaca College, New York University, Syracuse University, University of Iowa, University of Southern California, Fitchburg, Westfield, and Worcester State College. Visit MWCC’s transfer services website: http://transfer.mwcc.edu

Special requirements: Technical standards must be met with or without accommodations.

Career options: Video production, broadcast journalism, on-air performance, audio production, multimedia production, DVD/CD and webpage design, journalism, advertising, sales, and management.

Earning potential: Varies greatly depending on position and geographic location.

Professional Electives: Any BCT course, ART109 Art History I, ART110 Art History II, ART113 Introduction to Studio, ART263 Drawing I, CGD104 Digital Imaging, CGD107Designing Web Graphics, CGD110 Animation, CGD240 Creative Web Design, ENG239 Creative Writing I, ENG240 Creative Writing II, ENG241 Journalism I: News Reporting & Writing, ENG242 Journalism II: Advanced, Newswriting, MKT142 Marketing, MKT143 Retailing, MUS103 Music Skill and Theory I, MUS104 Music Skill and Theory II, MUS210 Music Appreciation, THE101 Fundamentals of Acting, THE103 Introduction to Theatre, THE284 Technical Theatre Practicum I, or THE285 Technical Theatre Practicum II.

*Note: PER130 is recommended for transfer

Elective courses by abbreviation

top of page

Program Competencies

Upon graduation from this program students shall have demonstrated the ability to:

1. Analyze and describe the component parts, interrelationships, technological developments, and the legal and business practices of the current electronic media industry, and apply this understanding to proposals of the industry’s future.
2. Explain, analyze, and evaluate the electronic media’s power and role in and on today’s society, and the ethical issues that confront electronic media practitioners.
3. Set up and operate broadcast equipment, and explain signal flow and the working interrelationships of the technical components.
4. Demonstrate oral and written presentation skills unique to the electronic communications industry.
5. Analyze communications problems and design media solutions.
6. Demonstrate success and experience working individually and as part of a production team in developing media projects from initial conception to final completion, while meeting industry-standardized guidelines.
7. Produce audio and video projects that exhibit how aesthetics can maximize a project’s communications effectiveness and create audience interest.
8. Analyze career opportunities and individual strengths, and master job search and acquisition skills.

Technical Standards*

*general information about technical standards and accommodation.

Students entering this program must be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Comprehend textbook material at the 11th grade level.
2. Communicate and assimilate information either in spoken, printed, signed, or computer voice format.
3. Gather, analyze, and draw conclusions from data.
4. Distinguish the movement of needles on meters, the component parts on electronic boards, and visual images through a camera lens.
5. Differentiate content, tones, frequencies, and words in sound recordings.
6. Work as part of a production team.
7. Function as production team leader, including decision making and scheduling.
8. Use appropriately tools/machines/equipment traditionally associated with audio and television courses such as television cameras, audio consoles, video editing systems, and video special effects generators (with or without accommodations).