
Broadcast Production
Never in the history of the world has there been a more exciting time to study communications. Technology changes at the speed of light and employers demand trained people. At Tompkins Cortland Community College, you’ll benefit from a hands-on program that allows you to work with broadcast quality equipment from your first semester to your last. You’ll work with trained professional instructors who bring the latest technology and techniques straight from the field into the classroom. The broadcast production program allows you to choose or combine television, radio, and digital media courses to create a tailored program of study.
Careers on Career Coach
As a student in the broadcast production program, you will be prepared for entry-level positions in broadcasting, corporate media, advertising agencies, sound studios, and cable television operations. Specific positions include camera operators, production assistants, technical directors, audio technicians, video editors, on-air talent, and web designers. In small studios found in industry, schools and cable systems, graduates may take on a role that encompasses many of these functions.
Select a career below to connect to Career Coach and find information about that career including median salary and job postings.
Explore more career options: A.A.S. Radio Concentration | A.A.S. Television Concentration
Program Chair

Chris Xaver, Ph.D.
Professor, Communication and Media Arts
Chris brings to Tompkins Cortland a strong and varied background. She received her B.S in broadcast journalism, cum laude, from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, her M.A. from Syracuse in political science from the Maxwell School of Citizenship, and her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Capella University.
Transfer Options
The radio and television sequence is aligned with related bachelor’s degree programs so you can transfer as a junior. Graduates of this program have transferred to:
- Buffalo State College
- SUNY College at Cortland
- SUNY College at Fredonia
- Full Sail University
- Ithaca College
- SUNY College at Oswego
- SUNY College at Plattsburgh
- SUNY College at Purchase
- St. John Fisher College
Highlighted Courses
Not all of the highlighted courses are required in each degree in this program area. Please be sure to check the degree requirements tab for details about the requirements for each degree.
Degree Requirements
Fall Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 17
COMM100, Creating Online Media, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 100. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM101, Mass Media, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 101. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM110, Aesthetics/Techniques of Video and Film Editing, 1 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 110. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM127, Audio Production I, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 127. COMM 127 is only offered in the Fall semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM135, Recording Technology I, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 135. COMM 135 is only offered in the Fall semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
ENGL100, Academic Writing I, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in ENGL 100. A student exempted from ENGL 100 must substitute a 3-credit Liberal Arts Elective. The course should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
FSS160, Freshman Seminar - Communication and Media Arts, 1 cr. FSS 160 is only offered in the Fall semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Spring Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 16
COMM105, Careers in Audio/Music, 1 cr. COMM 105 is only offered in the Spring semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM227, Audio Production II, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 227. COMM 227 is only offered in the Spring semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM235, Recording Technology II, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 235. COMM 235 is only offered in the Spring semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
ENGL101, Academic Writing II, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Choose one from the courses listed below: Minimum credits required: 3
|
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
MATH@ |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
Fall Term 2
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
COMM170, Broadcast Copywriting, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 170. COMM 170 is only offered in the Fall semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM230, Broadcast Communication Skills, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 230. COMM 230 is only offered in the Fall semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
ENGL201, Fundamentals of Speech, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ARAB@ ART101, History and Appreciation of Art I, 3 cr. ART102, History and Appreciation of Art II, 3 cr. ART104, History of Photography and Video, 3 cr. CHIN@ CRJU217, Ethics in Criminal Justice, 3 cr. ENGL@ ENVS105, Environmental Ethics, 3 cr. ESL101, English as a Second Language I, 8 cr. ESL103, English as a Second Language II, 8 cr. ESL120, Writing and Grammar III, 4 cr. ESL121, Reading & Vocabulary III, 4 cr. FREN@ GERM@ HUMN@ ITAL@ MUSI101, Music Appreciation, 3 cr. MUSI108, Music Theory I, 3 cr. MUSI109, Music Theory II, 3 cr. PHIL@ RUSN@ SOCE258, Creative Nonfiction Writing, 3 cr. SPAN@ WGST248, Contemporary Women Writers, 3 cr. |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
Spring Term 2
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 13
COMM160, Media Writing, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 160. COMM 160 is only offered in the Spring semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM225, Communication Law and Ethics, 3 cr. COMM 225 is only offered in the Spring semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM262, Portfolio Preparation-Communication, 1 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 262. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
SUNY General Education & Tompkins Cortland Liberal Arts courses
Note: The @ symbol represents any course number or discipline. For example, BIOL @ means any course with a Biology course prefix. An @ alone means one course in any course discipline with any course number.
Degree Requirements
Fall Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 16
COMM101, Mass Media, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 101. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM110, Aesthetics/Techniques of Video and Film Editing, 1 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 110. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM111, Foundations of Digital Editing, 1 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 111. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM112, Foundations of Motion Graphics, 1 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 112. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM120, Broadcast Operations, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 120. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM127, Audio Production I, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 127. COMM 127 is only offered in the Fall semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
ENGL100, Academic Writing I, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in ENGL 100. A student exempted from ENGL 100 must substitute a 3-credit Liberal Arts Elective. The course should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
FSS160, Freshman Seminar - Communication and Media Arts, 1 cr. FSS 160 is only offered in the Fall semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Spring Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
COMM140, Introduction to Field Production, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 140. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM210, Production and Direction, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 210. COMM 210 is only offered in the Spring semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
ENGL101, Academic Writing II, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Choose one from the courses listed below: Minimum credits required: 3
|
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
MATH@ |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
Fall Term 2
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
COMM170, Broadcast Copywriting, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 170. COMM 170 is only offered in the Fall semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM245, Professional Video Editing and Post Production, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 245. COMM 245 is only offered in the Fall semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
ENGL201, Fundamentals of Speech, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ARAB@ ART101, History and Appreciation of Art I, 3 cr. ART102, History and Appreciation of Art II, 3 cr. ART104, History of Photography and Video, 3 cr. CHIN@ ENGL@ ENVS105, Environmental Ethics, 3 cr. ESL101, English as a Second Language I, 8 cr. ESL103, English as a Second Language II, 8 cr. ESL120, Writing and Grammar III, 4 cr. ESL121, Reading & Vocabulary III, 4 cr. FREN@ GERM@ HUMN@ ITAL@ MUSI101, Music Appreciation, 3 cr. MUSI108, Music Theory I, 3 cr. MUSI109, Music Theory II, 3 cr. PHIL@ RUSN@ SOCE258, Creative Nonfiction Writing, 3 cr. SPAN@ WGST248, Contemporary Women Writers, 3 cr. |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
Spring Term 2
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 14
COMM145, DVD Authoring, 1 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 145. COMM 145 is only offered in the Spring semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM225, Communication Law and Ethics, 3 cr. COMM 225 is only offered in the Spring semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM262, Portfolio Preparation-Communication, 1 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 262. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM290, Television News Production, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in COMM 290. COMM 290 is only offered in the Spring semester. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Choose one from the courses listed below: Minimum credits required: 3
|
SUNY General Education & Tompkins Cortland Liberal Arts courses
Note: The @ symbol represents any course number or discipline. For example, BIOL @ means any course with a Biology course prefix. An @ alone means one course in any course discipline with any course number.