Jazz 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.
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Core
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Major
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Liberal Arts
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Electives
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 |
| MTEC-111 | Introduction to Music Technology | 2 |
| LENS-10x | LENS Seminar | 2 |
| LENG-111 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| 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 |
| LENG-223 | Literature | 3 |
| LMSC-xxx | Mathematics/Natural Sciences (200 level or above) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
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 |
| LHIS-xxx | History (any LHIS course) | 3 |
| ISKB-211 | Basic Keyboard 1 | 1 |
| AR-112 | Arranging 2 | 2 |
| AR-228 | Survey of Jazz Composition and Arranging | 2 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
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 |
| CM-211 | Tonal Harmony and Composition 1 | 2 |
| LSOC-xxx | Social Sciences (any LSOC course) | 3 |
| ISKB-212 | Basic Keyboard 2 | 1 |
| AR-201 | Chord Scale Voicings for Arranging | 2 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Semester 5 (suggested semester to study abroad)
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CP-210 | The Art of Counterpoint | 3 |
| XXXX-xxx | Conducting 1 - choose 1 COND-211 Conducting 1 COND-216 Conducting 1 with Live Keyboard Ensemble |
1 |
| MHIS-20X | History of Music in the European Tradition (choose 1) | 2 |
| AR-331 | Big Band Arranging and Score Analysis | 2 |
| HR-325 | Reharmonization Techniques | 2 |
| CM-371 | Jazz Composition 1 | 2 |
| CP-361 | Jazz Counterpoint 1 | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | General Electives | 1 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Semester 6 (suggested semester to study abroad)
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CM-212 | Tonal Harmony and Composition 2 | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Conducting 2 - choose 1 COND-212 Conducting 2 COND-217 Conducting 2 with Live Keyboard Ensemble |
1 |
| LHUM-400 | Professional Development Seminar | 2 |
| MHIS-22X | Music of the African Diaspora in the United States (choose 1) | 2 |
| LVIS-xxx | Visual Studies (any LVIS course) | 3 |
| CM-373 | Jazz Composition 2 | 2 |
| CP-362 | Jazz Counterpoint 2 | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | General Electives | 1 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Semester 7
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MHIS-3XX | Music History Elective (any MHIS course level 300 or higher) | 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-375 | Jazz Composition 3 | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Major Electives (select from list below) AR-340, AR-407, CM-345, CM-346, CM-385, CW-211, HR-235, HR-241, HR-335, HR-345, HR-355, HR-365, JC-470, JC-495, MLAN-352, MLAN-353, PW-240 |
2 |
| XXXX-xxx | General Electives | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Semester 8
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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-499 | Directed Study in Jazz Composition | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Major Electives (select from list below) AR-340, AR-407, CM-345, CM-346, CM-385, CW-211, HR-235, HR-241, HR-335, HR-345, HR-355, HR-365, JC-470, JC-495, MLAN-352, MLAN-353, PW-240 |
4 |
| XXXX-xxx | General Electives | 5 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
Study abroad at our Valencia, Spain, campus. It is recommended that jazz composition majors study in Valencia during their third, fourth, fifth, or sixth semester. For specific program information, please see the chair of your major or contact the study abroad office.