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. Learn more about related jobs:
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
Degree Requirements
Fall Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 17COMM100, Creating Online Media, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM101, Mass Media, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM110, Aesthetics/Techniques of Video and Film Editing, 1 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM127, Audio Production I, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM135, Recording Technology I, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
ENGL100, Academic Writing I, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
FSS160, Freshman Seminar - Communication and Media Arts, 1 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Spring Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 16COMM105, Careers in Audio/Music, 1 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM227, Audio Production II, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM235, Recording Technology II, 3 cr. | 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
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Use Schedule Search for electives |
Fall Term 2
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15COMM170, Broadcast Copywriting, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM230, Broadcast Communication Skills, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
ENGL201, Public Speaking, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ARAB@ ART101, Art History: Ancient to Early Medieval, 3 cr. ART102, Art History: Renaissance to Contemporary , 3 cr. ART104, History of Photography and Video, 3 cr. ASL101, Beginning American Sign Language I, 3 cr. ASL102, Beginning American Sign Language II, 3 cr. CHIN@ CRJU217, Ethics in Criminal Justice, 3 cr. ENGL@ ENVS105, Environmental Ethics, 3 cr. ENVS112, Food Systems III: Identity, Ethics, and Culture in the Global Food System, 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@ RECR270, Wilderness and the American Culture, 3 cr. 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: 13COMM160, Media Writing, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM225, Communication Law and Ethics, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM262, Portfolio Preparation-Communication, 1 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
SUNY General Education and 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: 16COMM101, Mass Media, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM110, Aesthetics/Techniques of Video and Film Editing, 1 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM111, Foundations of Digital Editing, 1 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM112, Foundations of Motion Graphics, 1 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM120, Broadcast Operations, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM127, Audio Production I, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
ENGL100, Academic Writing I, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
FSS160, Freshman Seminar - Communication and Media Arts, 1 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Spring Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15COMM140, Introduction to Field Production, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM210, Production and Direction, 3 cr. | 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
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|
Use Schedule Search for electives |
Fall Term 2
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15COMM170, Broadcast Copywriting, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM245, Professional Video Editing and Post Production, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
ENGL201, Public Speaking, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ARAB@ ART101, Art History: Ancient to Early Medieval, 3 cr. ART102, Art History: Renaissance to Contemporary , 3 cr. ART104, History of Photography and Video, 3 cr. ASL@ CHIN@ ENGL@ ENVS105, Environmental Ethics, 3 cr. ENVS112, Food Systems III: Identity, Ethics, and Culture in the Global Food System, 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@ RECR270, Wilderness and the American Culture, 3 cr. 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: 14COMM145, DVD Authoring, 1 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM225, Communication Law and Ethics, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM262, Portfolio Preparation-Communication, 1 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
COMM290, Television News Production, 3 cr. | Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Choose one from the courses listed below: Minimum credits required: 3
|
SUNY General Education and 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.