Audio Engineering instructor and student working control board

Audio Engineering

Certificate Technical Degree

If you have an ear for perfection, San Jacinto College can help you get started down the road to a career as an audio engineer. Work in a recording studio or in live sound reinforcement. Master your skills here and you’ll go far!

Program at a Glance

Our audio engineering program gives you hands-on training in recording, mixing, and special effects processing, along with a curriculum of music instruction. Musicians, singers, actors, announcers, and public speakers spend their entire careers trying to sound their best. Audio engineers are their most important allies in accomplishing this goal. Audio engineering schools and programs will open doors for you after graduation. Enroll, and see what you can accomplish.

Earning Potential

Broadcast Technician: $39,526
Sound Engineering Technician: $53,662

For more salary information, check out Texas Wages

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program have become professionals working in:

  • Recording studios
  • Television and radio stations
  • Convention centers and other event venues
  • Hotels
  • Churches 

Locations

Central Campus
Serving students in Southeast Houston, Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte, Seabrook, and Clear Lake.

DEGREES & CERTIFICATES

Music Recording, AAS

Technical Degree
The Associate of Applied Science degree prepares you for an entry-level career.This is our most in-depth audio engineering program and includes core classes. Take advanced classes in audio electronics, music business, theory, and more. Advance those skills during your program internship. You’ll be ready to launch your career by graduation!
Length 2 Years
If you're studying full-time, you can complete the 60 credits for this program in five terms, including a summer term.

Music, Sound Recording, Occupational Certificate

Certificate
The Occupational Certificate prepares you for the A.A.S. degree or Certificate of Technology program or to advance in your current career.This is a fast-track certificate program. Specialize in the recording field without having to take core classes. Classes are led by seasoned professors with experience in the industry. You’ll learn about both the business and technical aspects of audio engineering. Credits can be applied toward a Certificate of Technology or an AAS degree.
Length 1 Year
If you're studying part-time, you can complete the 17 credits for this certificate in three terms including a summer term.

Music, Techniques of Audio Engineering, Certificate of Technology

Certificate
The Certificate of Technology prepares you for the degree program, an entry-level career, or advancement in your current career.This program is in between the shorter occupational certificate and the longer associate degree. It focuses on theory, hands-on application, musical skills, and business concepts. You’ll also gain practical experience through an internship. No core classes are needed and all credits count toward an AAS A.A.S. degree.
Length 2 Years
If you're studying part-time, you can complete the 35 credits for this certificate in four terms.
Audio Engineering students in classroom studio Play Video

Audio Engineering Facilities

Take a virtual tour of our audio engineering facilities, then find out more about each building below!

Audio Engineering Classroom Play Video

Tools of the Trade

Take a peek at the state-of-the-art tools we use in the classroom.
  • Digital Consoles
    • Allen & Heath GLD Chrome
    • Avid SC48
    • DiGiCo S21
    • Soundcraft Expression 3
    • Studer Vista
    • Yamaha QL
  • Analog Consoles
    • Allen & Heath PA28
    • Midas M32
    • Soundcraft MFXi 12
    • Soundcraft Spirit 8
  • Digital Consoles
    • Allen & Heath GLD Chrome
    • Avid SC48
    • DiGiCo S21
    • Soundcraft Expression 3
    • Studer Vista
    • Yamaha QL
  • Analog Consoles
    • Allen & Heath PA28
    • Midas M32
    • Soundcraft MFXi 12
    • Soundcraft Spirit 8
  • Console 
    • Solid State Logic 4000 G+ with Ultimation and Total Recall
  • High resolution master disk recorder  
    • Alesis Masterlink ML-9600
  • Monitoring system 
    • ATC SCM 45 Pro (X2)
  • Sub-bass enclosures 
    • ATC SCM 0.1/12SL
  • Digital audio workstation 
    • Avid Pro Tools Ultimate HDX, 48 I/O (Studio A) 
    • Avid Pro Tools Ultimate HDX, 16 I/O (Studio B)
  • Audio interface
    • Avid HD I/O  (X3) (Studio A) 
    • Avid HD I/O (Studio B)
  • Headphone A-net distributor 
    • Aviom A-16D Pro
  • Personal headphone mixer 
    • Digital Audio Labs Livemix CS-DUO (x5)
  • Pre-amp / compressor / equalizer  
    • Avalon VT-747sp (X2)
  • Digital multi-effects processor 
    • Bricasti M7 with M10 Remote
  • Monitor controller with remote (Studio B) 
    • Dangerous Music Monitor ST
  • Compressor / Limiter 
    • dbx 165A (X2) 
    • Empirical Labs EL8X Distressor (X2)
  • Studio B monitors 
    • Genelec 1031 (X2) 
    • KRK VXT8 (X2)
  • Digital multi-effects processor 
    • Lexicon PCM-96 
    • Lexicon PCM-81
  • Digital delay 
    • Lexicon PCM-42 (X2)
  • 500 Series passive equalizer 
    • Lindell PEX-500 (X4)
  • Near-field monitors 
    • Neumann KH120 (X2)
  • Two-inch 24 track analog recorder 
    • Otari MTR 90 II
  • Multi-touch production console (Studio B) 
    • Steven Slate Raven MTi2 (X2)
  • Half-inch 2 track analog recorder 
    • Sony JH110
  • Dual channel tube pre-amp 
    • Summit TPA-200B
  • Digital multi-effects processor 
    • TC Electronics M2000
  • Digital delay / effects processor 
    • TC Electronics 2290 (X2)
  • Compressor / Limiter 
    • Universal Audio 2-1176
  • Pre-amp / equalizer 
    • Vintech X73 (X2)

Wireless Receiver System

  • Shure ULXD QUAD system (Live sound)

Condenser Microphones

  • ADK GK47
  • AKG C12 VR
  • AKG C414 ULS (X4)
  • AKG C414 XLS (X2)
  • AKG C430 (X2)
  • AKG C460 (X2)
  • AKG C451 (X2)
  • Audiotechnica ATM33R
  • Audiotechnica AE2500 (condenser/dynamic)
  • Audix f15
  • BLUE Baby Bottle
  • Crown PZM (X2)
  • Crown CM-700 (X2)
  • Earthworks TC30mp (X2)
  • Manley Reference Tube
  • Neumann U87
  • Neumann KM-84 (X2)
  • Neumann TLM-49
  • Peluso CEMC-6 (X2)
  • Røde Classic
  • Røde NTK (X2)
  • Røde NT2-A (X2)
  • Røde NT4 (Condenser stereo)
  • Sennheiser MKH 416 (Shotgun condenser)
  • Shure Beta 87a (X3) (Live sound)
  • Shure Beta 98 (X3) (Live sound)
  • Shure Beta 91 (Condenser, boundary)
  • Warm Audio WA-251
  • Warm Audio WA-84 (X2)
  • Warm Audio WA-47

Dynamic Microphones

  • AKG D112
  • Audiotechnica AE2500 (condenser/dynamic)
  • Audix i5
  • Electro-Voice RE20
  • Heil PR-30 (X3)
  • Royer R-121 (X2) (Dynamic ribbon)
  • Sennheiser MD-421 (X10)
  • Sennheiser MD-409 (X3)
  • Shure Beta 52 (X3)
  • Shure SM 57 (X5)
  • Shure Beta 57
  • Shure SM 58 (X12)
  • Shure Beta 58 (X4) (Live sound)
  • Shure SM-7B
  • Shure KSM 8 (Live sound)

Audio Engineering Club

Network and gain valuable experience outside the classroom through our audio engineering club.
Audio Engineering Students
Get hands-on audio engineering experience outside the classroom. AEO members not only provide live sound reinforcement to events on and off campus, they also host a podcast, and tour major Houston concert venues and recording studios. This organization is open to audio engineering majors.

Advisors: 
Angela Beyer angela.beyer@sjcd.edu
Andrew Fiddler andrew.fidder@sjcd.edu

The Sound of Success

Lester Williams
Once my students graduate, they go to work in the most high-profile venues in Houston. [The venues] are looking for well-trained interns and this is where they find them.”
Lester Williams
Audio engineering instructor
We at San Jac work closely with the community. Through our relationships, you’ll get access to many internship opportunities to apply what you’ve learned in class to real-life situations. This will open up professional doors that other audio engineering schools and programs won’t provide.

Interested?

If you’re interested in fine arts related disciplines or programming, just fill out the form below and we’ll get in touch!

Contact the Audio Engineering Program

For general information about the College, please contact us at 281-998-6150 or Information@sjcd.edu.  
For department questions, please reach out to a faculty member or call us at 281-476-1831. 
And be sure to follow us on Facebook!
@sjccaudio