Composition Bachelor's Degree
Valid for catalog year fall 2020–summer 2021 only. For students who entered Berklee prior to fall 2020, search major grids for past catalog years.
Semester 1
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PIXX-111 | Private Instruction 1 | 2 |
| ENXX-xxx | Ensemble | 1 |
| PW-111 | Music Application and Theory | 4 |
| ET-111 | Ear Training 1 | 2 |
| LENS-10x | LENS Seminar | 2 |
| LENG-111 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| MTEC-111 | Introduction to Music Technology | 2 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Semester 2
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PIXX-112 | Private Instruction 2 | 2 |
| ENXX-xxx | Ensemble | 1 |
| XXXX-xxx | Arranging 1 - choose 1 AR-111 Arranging 1 Entering AR-123 Arranging 1 Continuing |
2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Ear Training 2 - choose 1 ET-112 Ear Training 2 ET-123 Ear Training 2 Entering |
2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Harmony 2 - choose 1 HR-112 Harmony 2 HR-114 Harmony 2 Entering |
2 |
| CM-211 | Tonal Harmony and Composition 1 | 2 |
| LENG-223 | Literature | 3 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
Semester 3 (suggested semester to study abroad)
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PIXX-211 | Private Instruction 3 | 1 |
| ENXX-xxx | Ensemble | 1 |
| ILXX-xxx | Instrumental Lab | 1 |
| XXXX-xxx | Ear Training 3 or Solfege 1 - choose 1 ET-211 Ear Training 3 ET-223 Ear Training 3 Entering ET-231 Solfege 1 |
2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Harmony 3 - choose 1 HR-211 Harmony 3 HR-213 Harmony 3 Entering HR-215 Harmony 3 Intensive |
2 |
| CM-212 | Tonal Harmony and Composition 2 | 2 |
| CP-210 | The Art of Counterpoint 1 | 3 |
| LMSC-xxx | Mathematics/Natural Sciences (200 level or above) | 3 |
| ISKB-211 | Basic Keyboard 1 | 1 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Semester 4 (suggested semester to study abroad)
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PIXX-212 | Private Instruction 4 | 1 |
| ENXX-xxx | Ensemble | 1 |
| ILXX-xxx | Instrumental Lab | 1 |
| XXXX-xxx | Ear Training 4 or Solfege 2 - choose 1 ET-212 Ear Training 4 ET-224 Ear Training 4 Entering ET-232 Solfege 2 |
2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Harmony 4 - choose 1 HR-212 Harmony 4 HR-214 Harmony 4 Entering HR-216 Harmony 4 Intensive |
2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Conducting 1 - choose 1 COND-211 Conducting 1 COND-216 Conducting 1 with Live Keyboard Ensemble |
1 |
| CP-215 | The Art of Counterpoint 2 | 2 |
| LHIS-xxx | History (any LHIS course) | 3 |
| CM-221 | Techniques of Tonal Writing | 2 |
| ISKB-212 | Basic Keyboard 2 | 1 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Semester 5
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| XXXX-xxx | Conducting 2 - choose 1 COND-212 Conducting 2 COND-217 Conducting 2 with Live Keyboard Ensemble |
1 |
| LSOC-xxx | Social Sciences (any LSOC course) | 3 |
| MHIS-251 | General Music History 1 | 2 |
| MLAN-311 | Analysis of Classical and Romantic Music | 2 |
| CP-311 | Advanced Counterpoint | 2 |
| CM-311 | Contemporary Techniques in Composition 1 | 2 |
| CM-231 | Instrumentation and Score Preparation | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Major Electives (select from list below) Any CM, CP, COND, MLAN, and MHIS course not already taken as part of the major, as well as CW-237, CW-247 and CW-257, ENCL-406, ILPN-210, PSVC-343, and SW-345 |
2 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Semester 6
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LHUM-400 | Professional Development Seminar | 2 |
| MHIS-252 | General Music History 2 | 2 |
| LVIS-xxx | Visual Studies (any LVIS course) | 3 |
| XXXX-xxx | Liberal Arts Elective These courses are chosen from any three-credit Liberal Arts category (LENG, LMSC, LHIS, LSOC, LVIS, or LMAS). Additional options for electives include LFRN (French), LJPN (Japanese), LHUM (humanities), LPHL (philosophy), and LSPN (Spanish). Liberal Arts elective courses must be three (3) credits and the course code must have a prefix from the above list. Please note that courses with prefix LHAN are not liberal arts courses and cannot be used as liberal arts electives. |
3 |
| CM-312 | Contemporary Techniques in Composition 2 | 2 |
| MLAN-312 | Analysis: 20th- and 21st-Century * | 2 |
| CM-398 | Directed Study in Composition 1 | 1 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Semester 7
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MHIS-22X | Music of the African Diaspora in the United States (choose 1) | 2 |
| LMAS-xxx | Music and Society (any LMAS course) | 3 |
| XXXX-xxx | Liberal Arts Elective These courses are chosen from any three-credit Liberal Arts category (LENG, LMSC, LHIS, LSOC, LVIS, or LMAS). Additional options for electives include LFRN (French), LJPN (Japanese), LHUM (humanities), LPHL (philosophy), and LSPN (Spanish). Liberal Arts elective courses must be three (3) credits and the course code must have a prefix from the above list. Please note that courses with prefix LHAN are not liberal arts courses and cannot be used as liberal arts electives. |
3 |
| CM-441 | Scoring for Full Orchestra | 2 |
| CM-497 | Directed Study in Composition 2 | 1 |
| XXXX-xxx | Major Electives (select from list below) Any CM, CP, COND, MLAN, and MHIS course not already taken as part of the major, as well as CW-237, CW-247 and CW-257, ENCL-406, ILPN-210, PSVC-343, and SW-345 |
2 |
| XXXX-xxx | General Electives | 2 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Semester 8
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CM-498 | Directed Study in Composition 3 | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Major Electives (select from list below) Any CM, CP, COND, MLAN, and MHIS course not already taken as part of the major, as well as CW-237, CW-247 and CW-257, ENCL-406, ILPN-210, PSVC-343, and SW-345 |
4 |
| XXXX-xxx | General Electives | 6 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
* Offered spring and fall only
Study abroad at our Valencia, Spain, campus. It is recommended that Composition majors study in Valencia during their third or fourth semester. For specific program information, please see the chair of your major or contact the study abroad office.