CAREER DRIVEN EDUCATION
This is the real world – or as close as we can make it. Since we cover a lot of ground in a relatively short amount of time, everything you learn here has a direct purpose. Not only do you study the necessary theory and background information on the topics of radio and television, you get to apply it during hands-on exercises in the lab, starting your very first week!

RADIO & TELEVISION (RTV) BROADCASTING PROGRAMS
The ultimate goal of Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts is to prepare students for entry-level employment in the radio and television industries. Students refine skills in radio performance, news and commercial copywriting, applied speech, technical television, audio and video production.

After an initial 16-week overview of both disciplines, all students select a concentration in either radio or video, referred to as the RTV Single Concentration Program.

Students who elect the video concentration study various aspects of video production, including electronic news gathering, equipment operation, studio operation, non-linear editing, graphics and on-camera performance.

The radio concentration focuses on radio show preparation, performance, radio production, digital audio editing, and commercial copywriting techniques. Radio students work at the school’s radio stations in on-air and off-air capacities, practicing board operation; on-air announcing; on-air delivery of news, sports, and weather; and writing and re-writing news stories.

Students who wish to study both concentrations may elect to transfer into the RTV Dual Concentration Program once they have graduated from the single concentration program. Students then return for an additional 16 weeks to take the other concentration.
Students who graduate from the RTV Single Concentration receive a diploma indicating the program of study, as well as the chosen area of concentration (radio or television/video). In addition to this diploma, students who transfer into the RTV Dual Concentration Program receive a certificate of completion upon completing the second concentration.

The Radio & Television Broadcasting Programs at Specs Howard School is designed to prepare the graduate for an entry-level job. Graduates usually enter the workforce at this point and/or continue their education at one of the many schools that accept transferred credits from Specs Howard School.

HANDS-ON LEARNING
Specs Howard School is all about options, so everyone spends time in the spotlight and behind the scenes. Aspiring TV reporters not only learn to stand before a camera, they learn how to stand behind one -- running the camera, editing raw footage, directing a live program, writing scripts and so on.

Aspiring radio personalities not only perfect their gift for gab on the microphone, they also write news stories, run the board, and produce and edit commercials and feature reports.

Weeks 1-16
To begin, all students receive a
16-week introduction to both radio and television/video. This includes the following courses (detailed course descriptions are available in the Specs Howard catalog):

• Technical Television
  
• Video Performance
  
• Studio Operations
  
• Career Perspectives I
  
• Applied Speech
  
• Introduction to Broadcast Writing
  
• Broadcast Writing
  
• Promotions
  
• Introduction to Radio Production
  
• Television News Production

Weeks 17-32
Students shift their attention to studying one of the following:

The video concentration includes the following courses:

• TV News Writing
• Electronic News Gathering (ENG) Techniques
  
• Advanced News Production
  
• Specs In Focus
  
• Studio Production
  
• Advanced Video Production
  
• Career Perspectives II
  

The radio concentration includes the following courses:

• Radio Performance
  
• Radio Production
  
• Broadcast Writing for Radio
  
• On Air I & II
  
• Digital Audio Editing
  
• Career Perspectives II

Upon graduation with a video concentration, students are prepared to pursue any number of entry-level positions in television/video, including live broadcast, editing, performance, talent and other jobs.

Upon graduation with a radio concentration, students are expected to demonstrate their ability to perform the basic duties required to hold an entry-level position in a small market radio station or audio production facility, including on-air talent, promotions, production, news and other areas.