Audio Engineering
Lamar State College Port Arthur’s Commercial Music Program prepares students for careers in the music industry. Students gain comprehensive training in the fundamental techniques of music production, recording, editing and mixing. With hands-on experience provided by industry professionals, students develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to work in the ever evolving professional recoding industry. Whether you’re an artist or producer looking to develop your engineering skills or your goal is to become a professional audio engineer, Lamar State College Port Arthur’s Commercial Music Program will provide you with the skills needed to succeed.
With small class sizes and a dedicated faculty, students in the Audio Engineering Program receive individualized instruction utilizing industry-standard equipment including, AVID, SSL, Focusrite, Universal Audio and more. Graduates of the Audio Engineering Program will possess a strong understanding of music theory, the arrangement and composition of music, audio recording techniques, music technology, analog and digital signal flow and gain staging, and the current state of the music industry.
Program Outcomes
- Apply commercial music audio technology to professional practice
- Apply commercial music performance skill to supportaudio engineering practice.
- Apply basic music industry principles to professionalpractice.
- Demonstrates professional behavior as characterizedby a commitment to the profession.
Critical Thinking
Communication
Empirical and Quantitative Reasoning
Teamwork
Personal Responsibility
Using multi-track recording systems.
Ability to edit and mix music.
Mastering music for analog and digital distribution.
Working with live instrumentation and programmed instrumentation.
Understanding of the music business and music publishing.
Career Information
Graduates of the Audio Engineering program at Lamar State College Port Arthur can look to find employment as a recording engineer, editor, mixing engineer, mastering engineer, beat maker, producer, sound designer, live sound engineer, broadcast engineer and music programmer.
Potential employment opportunities for students with a degree in Audio Engineering include studio recording, live sound, sound design for film and television, sound for web content, marketing, advertising, broadcasting, audio equipment technician, songwriting, music programming, music editing, music production, music business and artist development.
| Course | Title | SCH |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | ||
| MUSC 1325 | Acoustics | 3 |
| MUSC 1327 | Audio Engineering I | 3 |
| MUSI 1181 | Piano Class I | 1 |
| MUSI 1303 | Fundamentals of Music | 3 |
| MUSI 1310 | American Music | 3 |
| Second Semester | ||
| MUSB 1305 | Survey of Music Business | 3 |
| MUSC 1211 | Commercial Music Sight Singing & Ear Training I | 2 |
| MUSC 1213 | Commercial Music Theory I | 2 |
| MUSC 1331 | MIDI I | 3 |
| MUSC 2327 | Audio Engineering II | 3 |
| MUSI 1182 | Piano Class II | 1 |
| Summer Semester | ||
| PHYS 1315 or PHYS 1305 | Physical Science I or Elementary Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1111 or PHYS 1105 | Physical Science I Lab or Elementary Physics Lab | 1 |
| Third Semester | ||
| MUSC 1196 | Special Topics in Recording Arts Technology/Technician | 1 |
| MUSC 1405 | Live Sound I | 4 |
| MUSC 2347 | Audio Engineering III | 3 |
| MATH 1314 or MATH 1332 | College Algebra or Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| PSYC 1300 or PSYC 2301 | Learning Framework or General Psychology | 3 |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| MUSB 1423 | Audio Electronics | 4 |
| MUSC 2403 | Live Sound II | 4 |
| MUSC 2448 | Audio Engineering IV | 4 |
| SPCH 1315 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Total | 60 | |
| course | title | sch |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | ||
| MUSC 1325 | Acoustics | 3 |
| MUSC 1327 | Audio Engineering I | 3 |
| MUSI 1181 | Piano Class I | 1 |
| MUSI 1303 | Fundamentals of Music | 3 |
| MUSI 1310 | American Music | 3 |
| Second Semester | ||
| MUSB 1305 | Survey of Music Business | 3 |
| MUSC 1211 | Commercial Music Sight Singing & Ear Training I | 2 |
| MUSC 1213 | Commercial Music Theory I | 2 |
| MUSC 1331 | MIDI I | 3 |
| MUSC 2327 | Audio Engineering II | 3 |
| MUSI 1182 | Piano Class II | 1 |
| Total | 27 | |
No more than 60-66 semester credit hours (SCH) from LSCPA will be applied to a Bachelor degree at Lamar University.
An additional 60 SCH or more must be completed to satisfy the bachelor degree requirements.
Students may pursue a Bachelor of Communication with an emphasis in Broadcasting or Audio/Radio Production.
Students may also pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Film, Cinematography, Sound Design, Music Technology, Audio Engineering, or Sound as a Fine Art.
What will my average annual income look like as an audio engineer?
According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, Audio Engineers can expect to earn a mean hourly wage of $28 per hour and earn a mean annual salary of $58,670. Working in the film, television and video game industry yields a higher mean annual salary of $75,180. According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of Audio Engineering is predicted to have a 9% growth from 2012 – 2022.
Will I be able to work on the type of music that I am interested in?
Students are able to focus on a specific area of commercial music while studying an array of popular forms of music from rock to rap and country to Cajun; students work and develop skills in a variety of genres.
Does Lamar State College Port Arthur have recording studios?
There are three professional recording studios that are available to all students enrolled in the Commercial Music Program. In addition to the recording studios, Lamar State College Port Arthur has both a Mac based music production/programming lab and a PC based music composition lab.
What type of equipment will I be able to use at Lamar State College Port Arthur?
You will learn to use industry standard recording, editing and mixing equipment. You will have access to an array of microphones including Neumann, Royer, Mojave, Lawson, Bock, SoundDelux, AKG and Shure. Students work with industry standard digital audio workstations like Reason, Logic and Pro Tools/Pro Tools HD as well as an array of excellent microphone preamps and analog signal processors.
How much studio time will I have access to?
Students are able to book up to nine hours of studio time per week and can book studio time up to two weeks in advance.
How long will it take to complete the degree?
It typically takes two years to complete an Associates of Arts and Science in Sound Recording. A Level 1 Certificate in Live Sound Design and Technology takes one year to complete.
Will my courses in a certificate program transfer to the degree?
If you begin with the certificate program, all the courses (with the exception of CETT 1303 DC Circuits, CETT 1305 AC Circuits and CETT 1325 Digital Fundamentals) will transfer to the degree program.
What types of courses are in the degree plan?
This degree requires courses in music theory, basic piano, live sound, audio electronics, acoustics, music production, music programming, studio recording and audio mixing and mastering.
Do you have job placement assistance?
Lamar State College-Port Arthur does provide job assistance. The college has a job board that all students can access throughout their time at school. Upon graduation, you can provide the job placement office with a current resume, and they will send it out to prospective employers. The faculty in the Commercial Music Department will work with you to make you aware of positions that match your skill sets.
Do you offer internships for this degree?
There are internship opportunities for all sound engineering students. Typically during your final two semesters on campus, you will work as an intern at a local studio, performance venue or for a live sound company. This internship experience can be placed on your resume as professional experience. Many internships have led to networking opportunities, part-time employment and full-time employment.
- Dr. Blas A. Canedo-Gonzalez
- Chair of Commercial Music, Visual and Performing Arts
- Sam and Linda Monroe Performing Arts Center Building, Office 144
- 409-984-6547
- canedoba@lamarpa.edu
Audio Engineering Society Student Chapter (AES)
Electronic Music Foundation Student Chapter (EMF)
Student Testimonials
“I have had a wonderful experience at Lamar State College Port Arthur. The teachers have really worked with me to personalize my demanding learning experience. The Commercial Music Department provides a small community for all of those involved with any field of music to share with others with common interests and make connections in the field to find work. I am very happy with the decision to attend Lamar State College Port Arthur and I intend to learn everything here that is offered to me.”
Justin Gilbert Spring 2015
“I have always wanted to sing, produce, and record music. Attending Lamar State College Port Arthur has taught me lots of important information that I needed to know. I plan on using the information I learned at Lamar State College Port Arthur to help me with my career as an Audio engineer and producer. I highly suggest that anybody wanting to pursue a career in the music business or audio engineering field enroll at Lamar State College Port Arthur.”
Justin J. White Spring 2015
“My overall experience at Lamar State College Port Arthur has been great. The teachers are reasonable and the classes are enjoyable even though some are hard. My experience in the Commercial Music Department has been one to remember.”
Darrel Lewis Spring 2015
LSCPA's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is provided in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 USC § 1092(f), 34 CFR 668.46).
Overview
Associate of Applied Science
Certificates
- Dr. Blas A. Canedo-Gonzalez
- Chair of Commercial Music, Visual and Performing Arts
- Sam and Linda Monroe Performing Arts Center Building, Office 144
- 409-984-6547
- canedoba@lamarpa.edu
Academic Transfer Degree
Leads to a Bachelor of Communication with an emphasis in Broadcasting or Audio/Radio Production at a four-year college/university