Captioning Certificate

The Captioning Certificate is designed to prepare students who are interested in pursuing careers in broadcast captioning, both on-line and off-line, using the latest in realtime technology with specific application software.  Students will be encouraged to explore all areas of the captioning arena for future possible employment opportunities.  To earn a certificate, complete the required courses as listed with a grade of C or better.  At least 50 percent of all coursework must be completed at Cypress College.  This certificate requires a total of 17.5 units.  

Three to five students.

The program goals include the following:  Stenographic writing skills on literary topics ranging in speeds from 160 words per minute to 220 words per  minute using application software, completion of an internship experience with a captionist in the field, creation of outlines and stenographic briefs and shortcuts in order to deliver a finished product for the HOH (hard of hearing) audience, and the development of advanced writing techniques in order to caption all types of broadcasted material on the television, radio, Internet,  and podcasts, when necessary.

The program requirements include a development of a stenographic dictionary which may include 50,000 or more words, shortcuts, and brief and phrases.  The program requirements include attaining writing proficiency on the steno machine of up to 220 words per minute with 95 to 97.5 percent accuracy.