Court and Realtime Reporting Curriculum at Alfred State College

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Program Description

Curriculum List

Graduation Requirements

Course Descriptions


Program Description

The Court and Realtime curriculum at Alfred State College is currently a two-year program. Classes start in late August and continue through May. The program leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree in Courtroom Reporting.  The court and realtime curriculum is also taught on the Internet (CARRIT).  The CARRIT program begins in August (fall) and January (spring) semesters.

The program, approved by the National Court Reporters Association, prepares students for careers as official, freelance and realtime reporters, as well as careers in closed captioning and CART services. Many jobs are available for competent reporters and captioners.

One feature of the program is the development of high recording skills to 225-plus words per minute through the use of machine shorthand and computer-aided transcription (CAT). In the first year, students learn realtime shorthand theory and develop computer skills that will enhance their overall employability. The prerequisite for entering the specialized court reporting course in the summer session is the attainment of a minimum recording speed of 90 words per minute. Development of skills in recording and transcribing specialized court reporting and captioning matter starts in the summer term and continues through the second year.

During the last semester, students are introduced to the "art" of court reporting and captioning. Court and freelance reporting students learn how to mark exhibits, research for the record, file notes, invoice clients, assemble and deliver a completed transcript, and other general reporting techniques. Captioning students learn the logistics of captioning including setup, modem connections, specialized vocabulary, and how to prepare for captioning assignments.  Students are placed in a court reporting or captioning internship, working with a reporter or captioner in or near their hometown.

For more information on the college, the campus, dorm life, the tuition and other charges, as well as making application to the college, go to the home page for Alfred State College.

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SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Court and Realtime Reporting Curriculum (216)

(Current typical semester plan for on-campus students.)

 

first year/first semester (fall)

 

first year/second semester (spring)

course number

course name (click on CTRP course number for description of court reporting courses only)

cr hrs

course number

course name (click on CTRP course number for description of court reporting courses only)

cr hrs

CTRP 1174

Realtime Writing Theory I

4

CTRP 2274

Realtime Writing Theory II

4

COMP 1503

Freshmen Composition

3

BUAD 4403

Business Computer Applications

3

MATH xxx3

Math Elective (Statistics recommended)

3

LITR 2603

Introduction to Literature

3

BUAD 1103

Keyboarding

3

Science xxx3

Science elective (any natural science)

3

BUAD 1543

 Grammar for Transcription

3

 CTRP 3373

 Computer Aided Transcription

3

 

 

 

HPED xxx1

Physical Education

1

Summer Term (required) CTRP 3163 Court and Realtime Reporting I & CTRP3363 Technology for R/C

second year/third semester (fall)

 

second year/fourth semester (spring)

CTRP 4265

Court and Realtime R/C II

5

CTRP 4365

Court and Realtime R/C III

5

CTRP 2603

Personal Dictionary Prod. & Maint.

3

CTRP 4602

Court and Realtime Reporting Internship and Practicum

2

MEDR 1103

Medical Terminology

3

CTRP 4634

Procedures for Reporting/Captioning

4

SPCH 1083

Effective Public Speaking

3

BUAD 3042

Business Law

3

SOCI xxx3

General Sociology or Social Science electric (Criminology)

3

PSYC 1013

General Psychology

3

Course offerings may change due to availability. For a complete list of curriculum requirements see the latest college catalog.

CARRIT (Internet) Course Requirements****

 

Internet Based Courses (39 cr hrs)

1st Semester (4 cr hrs)

CTRP 1174 Realtime Writing Theory I                   _____

2nd Semester (4 cr hrs)

CTRP 2274 Realtime Writing Theory II                  _____

CTRP 3373 Computer Aided Transcription            _____

Summer Session (3 cr hrs)

CTRP 3163 Court/Realtime Reporting I                 _____

CTRP 3363 Technology for R/C                             _____

3rd Semester (11 cr hrs)

CTRP 4265 Court/Realtime Reporting II                _____

CTRP 2603 Personal Dictionary Prod. & Maint.     _____

MEDA 1133 Medical Terminology                         _____

4th Semester (11 cr hrs)

CTRP 4365 Court/Realtime Reporting III               _____

CTRP 4602 Court/Realtime Reporting Internship    _____

CTRP 4634 Court/Realtime Procedures                 _____

 

Transfer, Challenge, or Directed Study,Courses (34 hrs)

BUAD 1103 Keyboarding**                                   _____

BUAD 1543 Grammar for Transcription**             _____

BUAD 4403 Business Computer Applications**     _____

BUAD 3043 Business Law I                                   _____

COMP 1503 Freshmen Composition**                  _____

LITR 2603 Intro to Literature                                 _____

SPCH 1083 Effective Speaking                              _____

PSYC 1013 General Psychology                            _____

SOCI ___3 Social Science Elective                        _____

MATH___3 Mathematics Elective                          _____

SCIENCE ___3***                                               _____

HPED ___1 Physical Education Elective**             _____

 

**These course are taught on-line through Alfred State College

***General Education Requirements requires completion of a Natural Science (biology, chemistry, nutrition, ecology, etc.)  A Complete list available from advisor.

****All course requirements as outlined in the official college catalog at the time of acceptance must be adhered to

 

Note—the last number of each course signifies the credit hours  (CTRP 1174 = 4 credit hours)

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Graduation Requirements

In addition to the AAS Degree requirements, the Office and Reporting Technologies Department requires a 2.0 index in required court reporting subjects. All courses listed must be satisfactorily completed and a minimum of 62 credit hours earned. Some courses may be completed at other colleges and transferred in for credit.

Court Reporting students must also meet all the NCRA requirements as stated in the course objectives including the passing of three, five-minute tests on unfamiliar matter with 95 percent accuracy on two-voice material at 225 words per minute, jury charge material at 200 words per minute, and literary material at 180 words per minute; two five-minute time writings in keyboarding from unfamiliar material at a minimum of 60 gross wpm with a maximum of 5 errors; the completion of 40 verified hours on internship experience, including the production of a 40-age transcript; the transcription of a simulated RPR skills test at RPR speed levels in 3 hours; and the production of accurate transcripts using computer aided technology as outlined in the course outlines.

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Course Descriptions (Court Reporting Courses)

CTRP 1174 - Realtime Writing Theory I (4 credits, must be passed with a “C” or better) Teaches the students how to write, read, and transcribe the spoken word by means of a conflict-free, realtime-ready shorthand theory. Includes the use of on-line computer-aided technology. Minimum speed of 50 words per minute on three-minutes of unfamiliar material with 95 percent accuracy. Successful completion of this course required a grade of "C" or better. (back to curriculum list)

CTRP 2274 - Realtime Writing Theory II (4 credits, prerequisite CTRP 1174 with a “C” or better) Continuation of basic theory concepts of writing, reading, and transcribing using computer-aided technology. Includes the teaching of advanced writing principles and computer-aided transcription. Emphasizes the building of the skill beyond theory. Minimum speed of 90 words per minute on three minutes of unfamiliar material with 95 percent accuracy. Successful completion of this course requires a grade of "C" or better. (back to curriculum list)

CTRP 2603 – Personal Dictionary Production and Maintenance   (3 credits, prerequisite(s): CTRP 1174 with “D” or better and CTRP 3373 with “D” or better) This course will be an extension of the material learned in the Computer Aided Transcription course (CTRP 3373) and a direct application of the realtime techniques learned in the Realtime Writing Theory I course (CTRP 1174). The topics to be covered will be include personal dictionaries; update area; D-Defines, J-Defines, and E-Defines, job dictionaries; power defines; phonetic tables; how to insert, modify, and delete entries; filtering your dictionary; printing your dictionary, backing up and restoring your dictionaries, and dictionary maintenance. The students will build and maintain their personal dictionary by adding new entries. (back to curriculum list)

CTRP 3163 - Court and Realtime Reporting I (3 credits, prerequisite CTRP 2274 with a “C” or better) Advanced theory principles for writing, reading, and transcribing shorthand dictation using computer-aided technology. Emphasis on literary, jury charge, and two-voice styles of dictation, along with building accuracy skills. Course is typically designed for three-week summer intercession, independent study for remainder of summer, and speed testing in the fall before classes begin. Minimum speeds at the end of the summer are 80 wpm on literary, 100 wpm on jury charge, and 130 wpm on two-voice material; all five-minute dictation to be transcribed with a minimum of 95 percent accuracy. Successful completion of this course requires a grade of "C" or better. (back to curriculum list)

 

CTRP 3363 - Technology for Reporting/Captioning (3 Credits) For Reporters, this course will complement the Computer Aided Transcription course (CTRP 3373) to the extent that information pertaining to the computers, hardware, software, maintenance, and upkeep will be enhanced. The material covered in this class will relate to reporting technology, computer operating systems, realtime applications, realtime reporting in the captioning/CART environment, litigation support, videotaping, and information on related software packages used by judicial reporters.  For Captioners, the material covered in this class will relate to captioning technology, computer operating systems, on-line translations systems, care and maintenance of computer hardware data input device, basic setup and maintenance of broadcast captioner’s equipment, broadcast news production preparation, prescripting, psychology of on-air captioning, verbatim vs. word substitutes, finger spelling, history of captioning, and information relating to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.(back to curriculum list)

 

CTRP 3373 - Computer Aided Transcription (3 credits) Emphasis on how the computer works with the shorthand writing machine to produce a transcript. Includes realtime, computer concept, computer terminology, basic file management, saving, and printing. Students must be able to produce a minimum ten-page computer aided transcript containing all of the elements of a complete transcript, and a five-page, first-pass transcript with 95 percent translation rate. (back to curriculum list)

 

CTRP 4265 - Court and Realtime Reporting II (5 credits, prerequisite CTRP 3163 with a “C” or better) Continuation of advanced theory principles for writing, reading, and transcribing shorthand dictation using realtime and computer aided technology. Emphasis on literary, jury charge, and two-voice dictation, as well a multi-voice designations. speed building techniques are taught. Students must pass two speed takes at the minimum speeds of 130 wpm for literary, 150 wpm for jury charge, and 180 wpm on two-voice material; all five-minute dictation to be transcribed with a minimum of 95 percent accuracy. Successful completion of this course requires a grade of "C" or better. (back to curriculum list)

 

CTRP 4602 - Court and Realtime Reporting Internship and Practicum (2 credits, prerequisite CTRP 4265) Off-campus court, freelance, and realtime writing experience where students are placed with qualified reporters. The experience takes place between first and second semester of the senior year. Students must complete 40 verified hours of writing experience with an additional 20 hours of office experience. A 40-page transcript from the experience is required along with evaluation. In addition, students meet for one hour per week during the semester to discuss various aspects of reporting including resumes, job interviews, proper dress, self-improvements, ethics, and different problematic scenarios. Students are also responsible for weekly presentation of a current event, and the completion of a unit on basic geography. (back to curriculum list)

 

CTRP 4634 - Court and Realtime Reporting Procedures (4 credits, prerequisite(s) CTRP 3163 with a “D” or better and CTRP 3373 with a “D” or better) Introduction of court and realtime reporting procedures including professional responsibilities, federal and state court systems, civil and criminal trials, logistics of reporting (marking exhibits, research and references, filing notes, invoicing, indexing, delivery of transcripts); reporting techniques (interruption of speaker, identification of speakers, swearing in of witness, voir dire, etc.); methods of transcription production; ethics and professional associations. Included in the course are simulations of trials and depositions where students take the part of the reporter. Students are required to apply professional ethics to various situations, identify appropriate reference sources in transcript production. In addition, a mock National Court Reporters Association, Registered Professional Reporter exam must be transcribed within 3 hours, and a mock Certified Realtime Reporter exam is given. (back to curriculum list)

 

CTRP 4365 - Court and Realtime Reporting III (5 credits, prerequisite CTRP 4265 with a “C” or better) This course concentrates on speed building techniques in the four areas of dictation: literary, jury charge, two-voice, and multi-voice. Realtime concepts, computer aided technology, and advanced theory principles are an integral part, along with the speed building. Students must pass three speed takes at the minimum speeds of 180 wpm on literary, 200 wpm on jury charge, and 225 wpm on two-voice materials; all five-minute dictation to be transcribed with a minimum of 95 percent accuracy. Successful completion of this course required a grade of "C" or better.   (back to curriculum list)

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For course description of other required courses, see the current college catalog.


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Revised 11/2006 by Melissa J. Blake