What's a good school for Broadcast Engineering?

May 24, 2007 10:56 AM

Back-to-school-filter: I'd like return to school to pursue training in broadcast engineering. Are there any programs you recommend? (Bonus if they're in Chicago-ish). Or should I just look into getting a general electrical engineering degree?

Besides old-fashioned radio waves, I'm also interested in emerging digital technologies -- which could make a difference in what program I may choose. Here are the schools The Society for Broadcast Engineers suggests. If you can shed some more light on any of these programs, that would rule.

posted by pfafflin to education (7 comments total)

Columbia College in Chicago has a major in Audio Arts and Acoustics and has lots of classes that shoudl work for you.
go here for info. I don't know enough about it to know why the program isn't on the list you link to, but Columbia is generally well respected.
posted by cushie at 11:15 AM on May 24, 2007

I have no direct tips, except to say that I strongly, nay, strongly recommend you do some informational interviews -- talk to people in broadcast, and ask them what they think.

...I say this in part because I had a friend in radio a while back, and I vaguely remember some extremely negative views toward at least one large broadcast school. Negative as in "we will not hire anyone from there, not even as an unpaid intern".

That might have been more of a producer bias, and less an engineer thing, however.
posted by aramaic at 11:53 AM on May 24, 2007

I had an electronics bent in highschool, and i was lucky enough to score a summer job at a radio/TV operation in my small home-town, so my training was essentially an apprenticeship.

I spent about 22 years at various broadcast and production engineering jobs, before I moved into web programming.

I did try to complete electrical engineering at university, but i dropped out after 3 years due to a weakness in calculus. If I could do this all over again, I think I would just have gone to community college to get a technology diploma.

Of course this was, ummm, 23 years ago, so YMMV. Also, this is in Canada; I believe there's a FCC licencing requirement for broadcast engineers in the US...?

In your case, I'd suggest the following:
- don't go into it unless you love electronics and broadcasting; other electronics/tech areas may pay better.
- if you already have some experience or connections in broadcasting, you might just be able to get a diploma in electronics technology from any good school, and use your connections and volunteering to get the broadcast exposure.
- if you have no experience or connections in broadcast yet, the specific SBE-recommended schools might get you closer, faster.
- in any event, try to get as involved as possible in the field. This could include volunteering at a community cable station, public radio/TV, college radio, working in an AV department or rental agency, etc etc. Networking is very important to score that first job.

I found it easier to start a career, and advance, by working first in a smaller market. Once I cut my teeth there, it was much easier to later find work in the big cities.
posted by Artful Codger at 12:48 PM on May 24, 2007

Ditto Columbia. You might also try calling the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago and see if they have any info.
posted by nax at 3:42 PM on May 24, 2007

Double Ditto Columbia. When I went there 20+ years ago, the Sound Engineering Dept was very well regarded. There used to be a 3 semester series of classes that culminated in recording a local band. Those with smarts and skills got the careers they wanted after graduation.

Columbia is fairly priced, too - with Financial Aid available.
Good Luck!
posted by readery at 4:00 PM on May 24, 2007

Thanks, guys. I guess I discounted Columbia cos it seems more geared towards sound engineering and recording -- I know they're both closely related, but I'm more interested on how music travels, rather than how music is recorded (does that make sense? ... I'm not looking to be Steve Albini). In any case, I will take a closer look at Columbia's program, since it comes thrice-ly recommended. Thanks!
posted by pfafflin at 7:45 PM on May 24, 2007

I knew many audio engineers who graduated from DeVry Institute in the '70s. It's now called DeVry University and may be worth a look.
posted by DickStock at 1:37 AM on May 26, 2007