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Entertainment Technology
Overview
Official Name of Program
Department(s) Sponsoring Program
Degree Designation
Entertainment Technology seeks to provide highly competent graduates for careers as scenery, lighting, sound, video, and show systems technologists, technical and production managers, equipment marketing representatives, and personnel for distributors and rental houses in the entertainment industry.
All students in the department learn the systems behind live sound, lighting, video, construction, and safety. They take courses in basic coding and study drafting by learning AutoCad and Vectorworks. They learn how to care for and maintain equipment used in lighting, sound, video, and construction; and their application onstage and in the field. A laboratory course is designed for students to work on live productions with professional performers to present live events.
The program offers additional career options in the allied fields of film and television production; display design and construction; trade show exhibitions; club, casino, and theme-park operations; and all related performing arts production. Students desiring careers as designers or content creators can also benefit from the integrated technical and production components, and the degree provides a compelling stepping stone to more advanced design work at the graduate level.
Current graduates are working on cruise ships, at trade shows, and building and implementing stages inside and outside of New York City. We have alumni working in the industry across the globe. They work for manufacturers, vendors, performance venues, TV studios, and trade shows.
Graduates may pursue master's degrees beyond City Tech. Alumni have obtained master's degrees from Yale School of Drama, Parsons School of Design, and Brooklyn College, among others.
Learning Outcomes
After completing the Entertainment Technology degree, students will:
Be effective collaborators, with the ability to work as a member of a team and communicate with written, graphic, and oral means.
Be proficient in lighting, sound, scenic, show systems, and video technology.
Attain mastery in two areas of study.
Be effective managers, with an understanding of production planning and budget estimation.
Admissions Information
There are many ways a student can enter the bachelor of technology program in Entertainment Technology. Students may enter from other City Tech programs or from other colleges if they meet the college criteria for transfer admission or have completed an associate degree with an articulation agreement. Transcripts of entering transfer students will be evaluated by the registrar prior to registration.
Students who have not achieved proficiency in English and mathematics will be denied access to entertainment technology major, but are allowed to take introductory courses while they work to meet the requirements.
Articulation Agreements
Entertainment Technology has agreements with a variety of colleges to see the entire list visit the articulation agreement pages on the City Tech website.
Distance Learning Information
The coursework inside the Entertainment Technology program is a mix of in-person, hybrid and online courses. Due to our many experiential opportunities students will need to be in-person to learn to use state-of-the-art equipment in the laboratory class settings.
Additional Costs
Approximate additional costs other than tuition, student fees, and material fees will range from $1,900 to $2,950 for textbooks, supplies, memberships, trade show admissions, periodicals, clothing, safety equipment, and tools while attending the program. A recent model Apple or Windows laptop computer suitable for multimedia production is recommended. The department has some available for loan.
Minimum Windows Hardware Requirements
Processor: Quad-core Intel or AMD, 2.5 GHz+
Memory: 16GB RAM
Graphics card: Discrete GPU (DX11/12 compatible)
Graphics (V)RAM: 8GB
Storage: 1TB (SSD)
Minimum Apple Hardware Requirements
Processor: Apple Silicon (M1 or M2)
Memory: 16GB RAM
Storage: 1TB (SSD)
Recommended Windows Hardware
Processor: Eight-core Intel or AMD, 3.5 GHz+
Memory: 32GB RAM
Graphics card: Discrete GPU (DX12 compatible)
Graphics (V)RAM: 16GB
Storage: 2TB (SSD)
Recommended Apple Hardware
Processor: Apple Silicon (M4)
Memory: 32GB RAM
Storage: 2TB (SSD)
Advisement Information
Entertainment Technology provides advisement from all faculty, as well as through the department office. Information about contacting faculty can be found on their website at https://www.citytech.cuny.edu/entertainment/advisement.aspx
The department offers courses throughout the week, with some offered in the evening. We do not offer a fully online opportunity.
Explore the Entertainment Technology Department on the City Tech website.
Requirements
Some courses that are required for the major also meet general education requirements. Choosing to take advantage of double duty can speed up progress toward graduation and increase elective credits. In DegreeWorks, a double duty course displays and fulfills both requirements, but the credits count only once; the elective area will adjust automatically. Specific options for double duty courses may be listed here or noted in the degree map below.
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Bachelor's degrees and AA and AS degrees require six flexible common core courses: at least one course in each of the five flexible core areas and an additional sixth course in one of them. Students can complete no more than two courses from any one area.
All baccalaureate students starting at City Tech or transferring in with 30 or fewer credits, in addition to the common and flexible core courses, will also complete the following 12 credits: one course in speech/oral communication; one interdisciplinary course; and two additional liberal arts courses or, in BTech programs, additional liberal arts credits to reach a minimum total of 42 credits in general education.
In meeting general education requirements overall, students must take at least one advanced liberal arts course or two sequential courses in a world language. An advanced course is at the 2000 level or higher and has a prerequisite in the same or a closely related discipline. Examples of courses with prerequisites in closely related disciplines are: ECON 1101 and SOC 3301; PSY 1101 and SOC 2403. Transfer students with more than 30 earned credits or a prior degree have modified college option requirements, as noted on the Transfer Credit page.
Students at New York City College of Technology must complete two courses designated writing intensive (WI) for the associate level, one from general education requirements and one from the major; and two additional courses designated WI for the baccalaureate level, one from general education and one from the major. Transfer students and those who have earned a prior degree may have part of this requirement waived. Please consult the Degree Requirements page for additional information.
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ENT 3106 is required to be taken twice in the major for 6 credits; it may be taken as an elective 2 additional times for 6 elective credits.
Select two modules for a total of 18 credits.
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Take electives as needed to reach 120 credits overall
A recommended semester-by-semester plan for full-time students.