Program Overview

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Bachelor of Arts in Audio Production

About

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) Audio Production program offers students the skills to pursue a career in audio production including applied, hands-on learning opportunities combined with a world-class theory-based education. Subjects include the operation of Audio Workstations, Dolby Atmos, microphones, techniques in audio production, live sound, and sound design. The opportunities for research and creative activity are immense in this ever-growing field of audio production.

Audio production is comprehensive in its applications, with particular advantages for employment here in Las Vegas, the Entertainment Capital of the World. Audio production is gaining momentum as a growing endeavor for many technology professionals, as all entertainment levels need audio professionals. The legal environment also uses audio technology to render audio for use in trials in the field of forensics. This degree, offered within the School of Music, does not require an audition.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the functions and applications of audio production in multiple areas, including technological development, music production, podcasting, and pedagogy.
• Solve complex audio production problems by identifying the problem, exploring potential solutions, and implementing the best solution.
• Use industry-standard technologies to record, edit, and mix music.
• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of emerging technologies and communicate strategies for using these technologies in the audio production process.
• Discuss the principles, laws, regulations, and ethical considerations or audio production and intellectual property.
• Create technology products and protocols using analog and digital instruments, interactive and generate media and programming language.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, musicians, and other production personnel to create high-quality production products.
• Mix live music in real time using industry-standard equipment, including a mixing board with multiple inputs.

Career Possibilities

General

• Acoustic Installation Engineer
• Audio Engineer for Video
• Audio Gaming Engineer
• Audio Multimedia Specialist
• Digital Remastering Editor
• Music Recording Engineer
• Audio mastering engineer
• Instructional Designer Audio Specialist
• Live Sound FOH Engineer
• Live Sound monitor engineer
• In-Ear monitor designer/engineer
• Music Archive manager
• Media Production Consultant
• Multimedia Designer
• Multimedia Audio Specialist
• Multimedia Coordinator/Engineer
• Multimedia Instructor
• Multimedia Audio for Web Developer
• Music Education Technology Specialist
• Music Producer
• Audiobooks recording and editing engineer
• Court recorder and archival engineer
• Audio Forensics/Restoration engineer
• Pro Audio sales
• Consumer Audio Equipment designer
• DJ

Radio & Broadcast

• Broadcast Engineer
• Broadcast Audio editor
• Sound Designer
• Mixing engineer
• Re-recordist
• Archive specialist
• On-location recording engineer

Film & Television

• Film Audio Effects Recordist
• Film Audio Effects Mixing Engineer
• Foley Artist (Film Sound Effects)
• Audio Synchronization engineer
• Orchestral Film Score recording and editing engineer
• Boom recordist
• Surround Sound engineer
• Music Supervisor

Streaming Services

• Web audio streaming specialist
• Music Compression engineer
• Archive and Catalog specialist
• encoding and transcoding specialist
• Music preview creator

Automotive

• Acoustic Analysis and Audio Media systems for motor vehicles designer

Home Theater

• Design and installation of customized home audio and theater systems

Casino, Showroom

• Showroom audio FOH and monitor engineer
• Muzak (background and elevator music) editor/operator
• House speaker system design, installation and maintenance
• Gaming Machines audio specialist

Conventions, Trade Shows

• Audio Systems installer
• A/V systems audio mixing engineer
• Audio Systems Maintenance & Repair technician
• Media integration specialist

Worship

• FOH mixing engineer
• Audio Equipment installation & maintenance
• Wireless Microphone specialist (A2)

Professional Sports

• Audio Tech
• Mixing Engineer
• Wireless microphone and headset engineer
• Audio Broadcast Specialist

Requirements

Audio Production (BA) Degree Requirements - Total Credits: 120

General Education Requirements - Credits: 36-46

First-Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3

• CFA 100 - First Year Symposia
• or
• CFA 101 - Introduction to Environmental Design are recommended

Composition - Credits: 6

• ENG 101 - Composition I
• and
• ENG 102 - Composition II

Second Year Seminar - Credits: 3

Constitutions - Credits: 3-6

Select one course in each Nevada Constitution and US Constitution or one combination course that satisfies both Nevada and US Constitutions.

Mathematics - Credits: 3

• MATH 120 - Fundamentals of College Mathematics
• or higher, excluding MATH 122 and MATH 123

Distribution Requirement-Credits: 19

Please see Distribution Requirement for more information.

Humanities and Fine Arts - Credits: 0

Automatically satisfied by Major requirements

Social Science - Credits: 9

• COM 102 - Introduction to Interpersonal Communication is required
• Two additional courses 3 credits each from two different social science disciplines

Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking - Credits: 10

• Two courses from Life and Physical Science; at least one course must have a lab
• Analytical Thinking 3 credit course

Multicultural and International Requirements - Credits: 0-6

• Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
• International, one 3 credit course required

These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements. A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. List of approved Multicultural and International courses.

Audio Production Major Requirements - Credits: 60

Major requirements include the Audio Production Core Courses and Required Music Courses.

Audio Production Core Courses - Credits: 42

42 credits are fulfilled by successfully completing all of the following requirements:

• MUS 139 - Introduction to Music Technology
• MUS 231 - Recording Technology I
• MUS 232 - Recording Technology II
• MUS 239 - Virtual Studio Technology
• MUS 319 - Multimedia for the Professional
• MUS 320 - Large Console Recording
• MUS 321 - Studio Recording III
• MUS 335 - On Location Audio Recording
• MUS 350 - The Theory and Application of Microphones
• MUS 433 - Advanced HD and Surround Sound
• MUS 434 - Audio Mastering
• MUS 435 - Large Venue Sound Reproduction
• MUS 439 - Advanced Studio Production
• MUS 460 - Music Technology Senior Program (Independent Study)

Required Music Courses - Credits: 18

18 credits are fulfilled by successfully completing all of the following requirements:

• MUS 101 - Music Fundamentals
• MUS 109 - Functional Piano I
• MUS 110 - Functional Piano II
• MUS 121 - Music Appreciation
• MUS 125 - History of Rock Music
• MUS 134 - Jazz Appreciation
• MUS 181 - Business of Music
• MUS 490 - Music Internship & Entrepreneurship

General Electives - Credits: 14-24

Students may take up to 24 credits of elective coursework to achieve 120 credit hours required for graduation. At least 10 elective credits should be upper-division coursework in order to fulfill the university graduation requirement of 42 upper-division credits.

Notes

1. MUS 319 is a Milestone Experience course for Audio Production Bachelor of Arts degree.
2. MUS 460 is a Culminating Experience course for Audio Production Bachelor of Arts degree.
3. College of Fine Arts students must maintain a 2.70 GPA for courses taken in the student's major area.

Contacts

School of Music

The School of Music offers enriching undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students pursuing careers in composition, conducting, jazz studies, music education, and performance. We have more than 400 music majors studying under the guidance of experienced artist and performers, master teachers, and respected international scholars.

College of Fine Arts

The College of Fine Arts provides an academic experience that heightens awareness of the physical, intellectual, and cultural world. We diligently prepare students for professional employment and/or post-graduate study in their artistic area.