Audio Studies at William Paterson University
In keeping with the mission of William Paterson University, the Sound Engineering Arts course of study sets out to create a challenging program promoting student success through rigorous coursework combining both theoretical and practical methodologies. These approaches to scholarship prepares the student for advancement within the professional audio industry and advanced studies, while emphasizing personal growth in preparation for lifelong learning, which is undoubtedly essential in this broadly based technological field.
To these ends, the Sound Engineering Arts student is:
- Exposed to the tools of the trade in a mainly rigorous and technical manner through lecture, demonstration, and individual lab time
- Exposed to industry professionals who hail from all areas of the craft through guest lectures, field experience, and attendance at professional audio conferences
- Able to understand music from a musician's perspective. The natural progression for many recording engineers is to achieve the position of record producer who's responsibility is to oversee all manner of creative, technical, and monetary matters. The successful producer typically rises from the audio engineering ranks through a demonstration of exceptional musical, technical, and interpersonal skills, in addition to business savvy.
These objectives are first met during the freshman year through the core of music course work as well as a start to the math and physics sequence. These classes will aid the student in learning musical terminology, developing musical sensibilities, and act as an introduction to problem solving skills. The series of required Sound Engineering Arts courses begin in the second year, where students are introduced to the professional audio field through lecture and lab assignments.
The Sound Engineering Arts course work culminates in a Senior project which will provide a capstone experience in the form of a large music recording project and portfolio creation.
William Paterson University maintains an active student chapter of the Audio Engineering Society which offers monetary support to bring in guests from the professional audio world. The Audio Engineering Society is the only professional society devoted exclusively to audio technology.
Students have a wide variety of opportunities at internships both in Northern New Jersey and in New York City. These opportunities are offered by a diverse set of audio production and post-production facilities, manufacturers, record companies, mastering houses, and the like.