By Vicki W. Kipp
June 2, 2023
We are grappling with how to recruit new broadcast engineers to replace us so we can retire. As broadcast engineers, that means being prepared. We want to find and train our replacement. But there is a dire shortage of new broadcast engineers.
Until a decade or two ago, Wisconsin was home to two SBE certified schools: UW-Platteville and Milwaukee Area Technical College. Unfortunately, those broadcast engineering programs have been discontinued.
There are no longer SBE certified schools in Wisconsin.
So, if Wisconsinites want a degree related to broadcast engineering, where can they go?
CURRENT SBE CERTIFIED SCHOOLS
If someone can go out of state for college, some excellent SBE certified schools are available. https://sbe.org/certification/sbe-certified-schools/
Students who attend an SBE certified school may apply for the SBE’s Certified Broadcast Technologist (CBT) designation within one year of graduation.
Colleges that wish to become “SBE certified” should apply to SBE Certification Director Megan Clappe at mclappe@sbe.org.
BATES TECHNICAL COLLEGE
2320 South 19th Street Tacoma, WA 98405
Bates Technical College’s Broadcasting / Video Production (BVP) program lists job outcomes such as chief engineer and audio engineer. Isn’t it fun to read the words “broadcasting” and “engineer” in the same sentence? They mention the call signs of broadcast stations and production studios where their alumni work.
Based on data from O*Net (onetonline.org) captured on June 2021, Bates College estimates there are potentially 3,000 annual job openings in broadcast engineering, operations, production, and audio, with a national median salary of $55,160. Students are encouraged to take an SBE certification exam after they complete their academic program.
Bates Technical College has four academic quarters per calendar year.
BATES BVP DEGREES & CERTIFICATES:
• ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE: BROADCASTING / VIDEO PRODUCTION AAS (105 CREDITS, 6 QUARTERS)
• AAS TRANSFER: BROADCASTING / VIDEO AAS-T (115 CREDITS, 6 QUARTERS)
• COMPETENCY CERT: BROADCAST AND VIDEO ELEMENTS (75 CREDITS, 5 QUARTERS)
• CERTIFICATE: BVP ENGINEERING (15 CREDITS, 1 QUARTER)
• CERTIFICATE: BVP AUDIO (15 CREDITS, 1 QUARTER)
• CERTIFICATE: BVP OPERATIONS (15 CREDITS, 1 QUARTER)
• CERTIFICATE: BVP PRODUCTION (15 CREDITS, 1 QUARTER)
BATES COURSES
DC Electronics Theory (5)
AC Electronics Theory (5)
Basics Electronics Lab (5)
Intro to Studio & Field Production (4)
Principles of Lighting (4)
Production Process Theory (3)
Basic Digital Video Editing (4)
BVP Safety Principles (2)
Employment Preparation (3)
Master Control Operations I (5)
Control Room Equipment I (5)
Broadcast station Operations (5)
Characteristics of Sound (5)
Basic Audio Equipment (5)
Intro to Digital Audio Recording (5)
ADVANCED ENGINEERING (30)
Receivers & Transmitters (5)
Content Delivery Systems (5)
Networking for Video & Audio (5)
Audio Engineering (5)
Video Engineering (5)
Practicum I (5)
ADVANCED PRODUCTION (30)
Audio / Video Pre-Production App (5)
Advanced Editing Projects (5)
Field Production (5)
Production Capstone I (5)
Production Capstone II (5)
Practicum II (5)
APPROVED ELECTIVES LIST (15)
Program Editing (5)
Basic Maintenance & Troubleshooting (5)
Remote / Robotic Camera Systems (5)
Master Control Operations II (5)
Video Graphics Applications II (5)
Technical Directing (5)
Emerging Technologies (5)
Practicum III (5)
Practicum IV (5)
Practicum V (5)
For more information, contact
Bob Traufler, Career Advisor
253.680.7605
btraufler@batestech.edu
Other Contacts:
Ken Witkoe
253.680.7761
kwitkoe@batestech.edu
Roland Robinson
253.680.7754
rrobinson@batestech.edu
GEORGIA PIEDMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE
495 N. Indian Creek Dr. Clarkston, GA 30021-2397
Piedmont-verified students who complete the program with a grade of B or better and who apply for the SBE Certified Broadcast Technologist (CBT) designation will be approved.
Piedmont Technical College offers a Design and Media Production associate degree. The production emphasis might be most relevant to broadcast engineering.
Piedmont Courses
Design and Media Production Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree (61 credits)
GENERAL EDUCATION CORE (15)
Language Arts / Communication (3)
Social / Behavioral Sciences (3)
Natural Sciences / Mathematics (3)
Humanities / Fine Arts (3)
Elective: General Education (3)
OCCUPATIONAL COURSES (16)
Intro to Design (4)
Vector Graphics (4)
Raster Imaging (4)
Exit Review (4)
TECHNOLOGY COURSE (3 or 4)
Intro to Computer Literacy (3) OR Intro to Media Technology (4)
OCCUPATIONAL ELECTIVES (20)
Intro to Photography (4)
Production Photography (4)
Intro to Animation (4)
Intro to Television Production (4)
Intro to Video Production (4)
Identity Design (4)
Page Layout (4)
Publication Design (4)
Advanced Raster Imaging (4)
Documentary Photography (4)
Foundations Interface Design (4)
Basic 3D Modeling and Animation (4)
Intermediate 3D Modeling (4)
Digital, Texture & Lighting (4)
Character Rigging (4)
3D Production and Animation (4)
2-Dimensional Animation (4)
Overview of Video Game Art and Design (4)
2-Dimensional Character Animation (4)
Lighting for Television (4)
Writing for Broadcast (4)
Basic Video Editing (4)
Intro to Video Compositing and Broadcast Animation (4)
Intermediate Video Compositing and Broadcast Animation (4)
Intermediate Video Editing (4)
Post-Production Audio (4)
Color Grading (4)
Visual Effects (4)
Special Projects (4)
Portraiture Photography (4)
Photography II (4)
Intermediate Video Production (4)
Narrative Filmmaking (4)
Documentary Filmmaking (4)
Select (7 credits) below:
Any DMPT course above
-OR
Intro to the Music Industry (3)
Intro to Sound Production (3)
Business Regulations and Compliance (3)
Small Business Management (3)
Entrepreneurship (6)
Contact:
Obrin Griffin
404-297-9522 ext 1213
griffino@gptc.edu
ARMED FORCES RADIO AND TELEVISION SERVICES (AFRTS) TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAM*
Defense Information School
6500 Mapes Rd. Ft. Meade, MD 20755
*Must enlist in the US military.
Certified Broadcast Technologist (CBT) certification is granted upon satisfactory completion of the military training program and a review by the National Certification Committee for BTVEM and BRTSM.
BROADCAST RADIO AND TELEVISION SYSTEM MAINTENANCE COURSE (DINFOS-BRTSM)
https://www.dinfos.dma.mil/Academics/DINFOS-Course-Catalog/DINFOS_BRTSM/
(71 Days)
Computer Systems
Fundamentals of Television
Cameras and Media Storage
Audio
Conference Room Maintenance
Studio
Transmission
BASIC TELEVISION EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE COURSE (DINFOS-BTVEM)
(124 Days)
Intro To Electronics
Voltage and Current
Direct Current
Alternating Current
Solid State Electronics
Power Supplies
Amplifier Currents
Oscillator Currents
Digital Circuits
Principles of Troubleshooting
Contact:
Michael Gannon,
Director, Institutional and Academic Affairs
301-677-2968
gannonm@dinfos.osd.mil
OTHER OPTIONS
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
School of Digital Media 1349 Cramer Circle, BIS 303 Big Rapids, MI 49307 231.591.2712
https://www.ferris.edu/business/departments/digital-media.htm
Ferris Television Engineer Bill Jung has thrown Michigan broadcasters a lifeline. Jung turned his master’s degree capstone project into a full-fledged broadcast engineering minor, which is set to begin in the Fall of 2023.
Bill Jung recognized the need for a broadcast engineering minor. He collaborated with School of Digital Media Director Glen Okonoski to create a broadcast engineering minor from existing courses in television, digital media, computer science, electronics, and troubleshooting.
Read more about engineer Bill Jung and this in-demand degree at https://fsutorch.com/2023/04/26/broadcast-engineering-comes-to-ferris-this-fall/
TELEVISION AND DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION (TDMP)– (120 TO 123 CREDITS)
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BS)
GENERAL ED (36 – 37 CREDITS)
Communication Competency (9 Credits)
Quantitative Literacy Competency (3 to 4 Credits)
Natural Sciences Competency (6 Credits)
Culture Competency (9 Credits Required)
Global Diversity Competency (1 Course Required)
Collaboration Competency (If not met by College Requirements)
Problem Solving Competency (If not met in College Requirements)
MAJOR COURSES – (55 CREDITS)
Digital Media Art and Technology
Audio Production
Field Production
Motion Design
Online Media Management
Cinematic Story Production
Television Operations
Television Studio Production
Seminar in Television and Digital Media
Instructional Design
Television and Digital Media Internship
Advanced Producing and Directing
TDMP ELECTIVES – (12 CREDITS)
3D Modeling and Animation 1
Type & Technology
Type & Visual Interfaces
Entertainment Arts and Production
Lighting for Film and Video
Interviewing
Remote Television Production
Film and Digital Media Practicum
Advanced Compositing for Video
Color Grading
Digital Cinematography
Special Studies in Television and Digital Media Production
BROADCAST ENGINEERING MINOR (17 – 18 CREDITS)
Networking, Troubleshooting, Circuits, etc…
Contact
Bill Jung, Television Engineer
Ferris State University, School of Digital Media
FORMER SBE CERTIFIED SCHOOLS
MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE DEGREE (DISCONTINUED)
Program Code: 10-605-1A (70 Credits)
DC and AC Electronics 1 (4)
Digital Electronics (3)
Computer Systems (3)
DC and AC Electronics 2 (3)
Electronic Devices & Circuits (4)
Microprocessors (3)
Fabrication Techniques (1)
Electronic Communications (3)
Computing with C (3)
TV Broadcast Systems (4)
Telephone Systems (2)
Advanced Electronic Comm (4)
Digital Communications Syst (2)
Computer Networks (3)
Motors and Controls (4)
Programmable Controllers (3)
Hydraulics and Pneumatics (2)
Adv PLCs (3)
Automated Systems (3)
GENERAL STUDIES
ENG (6)
MATH (5)
NAT SCI (4)
PSYCH (3)
SOC SCI / HIST (3)
ELECTIVES (Choose one)
Electronics Co-op (3)
TV Broadcast Workshop 1 (3)
TV Broadcast Workshop 2 (3)
UW-PLATTEVILLE
BROADCAST TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT: ENGINEERING / OPEERATIONS (DISCONTINUED)
There are incredible broadcast engineering programs around the US, but not everyone can pick up and move for school. Could someone assemble a similar combination of courses at a local technical college?
At UW-Platteville, a formerly SBE Certified School, I earned a broadcast engineering degree from a program that no longer exists. The Broadcast Technology Management BS had four components: broadcast, technology, and management, and an emphasis on Engineering / Ops.
When I was hired after college, IP networking was quickly becoming essential. I went to “finishing school” at my local technical college and earned an IT certificate. Then I tested for the SBE’s CBNT certification.
How close could I match the critical parts of my bachelor’s degree with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree at the local tech college? Alma mater first, but what is available now?
Let’s see…
| UW-Platteville BS | Local Technical College AAS |
| BROADCAST TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT: ENGINEERING / OPERATIONS | VIDEO PRODUCTION + IT-NETWORK SPECIALIST + ELECTRONIC SERVICE TECHNICIAN + Business Classes |
| BROADCAST TECHNOLOGY: (39 credits) | |
| Intro to TV Electrical Systems | ? |
| Intro to Mass Media | Wireless Topics |
| Intro to Telecom Tech | VoIP Convergence Fundamentals |
| Applied Communication-Television (semester of producing campus news broadcast) | Advanced Video Production |
| Public Speaking | Oral / Interpersonal Communication |
| Television Production | Video Production |
| Radio Production | Sound Production Techniques |
| Digital Communication Systems (early IP, audio, video data networks) | Wireless Topics |
| Business Communications | Written Communication |
| Practicum: Telethon | Event Production |
| Comm Technologies Management | Video Project Management |
| Facilities Plan & Design (Gannt Chart, Drafting] | ? |
| Communication Internship | ? |
| Advanced Audio Techniques | |
| ENGINEERING / OPERATIONS: (18 credits) | |
| Basic Electronics | Analog Circuit Techniques |
| Basic Electricity | AC / DC Electronics 1 |
| Semiconductor Applications | Digital Circuit Principles |
| Linear Circuits | AC / DC Circuit Techniques and Principles |
| Digital and Micro Electronics | Digital Circuit Techniques |
| Modulation and Transmission (RF) | ? |
| Analog Circuit Principles | |
| Exploration of Information Technology | |
| Intro to Cloud Computing | |
| Intro to Cisco Networking | |
| IT Security Awareness | |
| Python Scripting | |
| BUSINESS MANAGEMENT: (15 credits) | Various |
MADISON COLLEGE
VIDEO PRODUCTION
https://madisoncollege.edu/academics/programs/video-production-certificate
IT-NETWORK SPECIALIST
https://madisoncollege.edu/academics/programs/it-network-specialist#curriculum
ELECTRONIC SERVICE TECHNICIAN
https://madisoncollege.edu/academics/programs/electronic-service-technician#curriculum
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
https://madisoncollege.edu/academics/programs/business-management#curriculum
SUPPLEMENT WITH SBE
With my SBE Member-Plus classification, I can attend any SBE University Course or webinar at no cost. The SBE has many RF courses.
SBE UNIVERSITY
sbe.org/education/sbe-university
SBE University’s online self-study courses include an electronic book, chapter quizzes, and a final exam. Students have six months to complete an SBE University course after starting.
Intro to Broadcast Audio Processing
Intro to AM Antenna Systems
Intro to Matching AM Networks and AM Phasing
Intro to FM Transmission Systems
Intro to Television Video and Audio
Intro to TV ENG (Electronic News Gathering) Truck Operations
Intro to Computer Networking for Broadcast Engineers
Intro to File-Based Architecture and Workflows
Voice Telco Networks and Studio Interface Systems Course
Simple Network Management Protocol in Broadcast Monitoring and Control Systems
SBE ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
The SBE adds new webinars often.
AoIP, Audio Streaming, CBNT & CBNE Study, Containerized Software, IP Networking, EAS, SNMP, Troubleshooting, Transmitter Maintenance, AM Directional Antenna Modeling, BXF Workflow, IP Microwave STLs, Last-Mile for Cloud, Studio Lighting, All-Digital AM, Co-locating with AM Broadcast Antennas, SIP Series, Real-Time Media, SMPTE – ST 2110, Tower Lighting, ATSC 3.0, Tower Design, Tower Leases, WebRTC, Mobile Video, Virtualized Environment, ANSI / TIA-222-H, Broadcast Operations, The Manager’s Engineering Notebook, Cybersecurity for Remote Transmitter Sites, HD Radio, Chief Operator, Translators and Boosters, Job Security, Workbench Tips, Managing a Project, Outside Contractors, Your Contract Engineering Business, Math of Reliability, EAS, RF 101 (Eight Parts), RF Safety, Springtime Maintenance, Streaming Radio, Transmitter Site Safety, Drones, Wireshark, Advanced RF Series: RF 201 (Nine Parts), Power Meter, Multiplex Over AES, ATSC 3.0 (Six Parts), ATSC 3.0 Networking (Three Parts), Virtualization, Grounding / Lightning Protection, Basic RF for IT Series, FCC Rules and Regulations, AM, C-Band, FM, Spectrum Allocations, Broadcast Auxiliary, White Spaces, Wireless Mics.
ARRL HAM RADIO
Amateur radio concepts overlap with those in an RF transmission and reception course.
CONCLUSION
If a student doesn’t live near an SBE certified school, they may be able to piece together an equivalent broadcast engineering education with courses from multiple organizations. And employers may find broadcast engineering candidates by looking at someone’s accumulated knowledge and job experience that partially matches a traditional broadcast engineering background.
So much training takes place on the job, anyway.
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