Songwriting 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 |
| LHIS-xxx | History (any LHIS course) | 3 |
| XXXX-xxx | Keyboard - choose 1 ISKB-111 Keyboard Fundamentals ISKB-211 Basic Keyboard Techniques 1 |
1 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
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-211 | Tonal Harmony and Composition 1 | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Choose 1 ISKB-211 Basic Keyboard Techniques SW-236 Guitar Techniques for Songwriters SW-238 Keyboard Techniques for Songwriters SW-373 Advanced Guitar Techniques for Songwriters |
1 |
| SW-211 | Songwriting 1 | 2 |
| SW-221 | Lyric Writing 1 | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Songwriting Technology Requirements Choose from SW-161, SW-181, SW-191, SW-261, SW-281, SW-291, SW-360, SW-383, SW-362. SW-362 requires permission from the chair or course instructor |
2 |
| 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 |
| CP-210 | The Art of Counterpoint | 3 |
| SW-212 | Songwriting 2 | 2 |
| SW-222 | Lyric Writing 2 | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Songwriting Technology Requirements Choose from SW-161, SW-181, SW-191, SW-261, SW-281, SW-291, SW-360, SW-383, SW-362. SW-362 requires permission from the chair or course instructor |
2 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Semester 5 (suggested semester to study abroad)
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CM-212 | Tonal Harmony and Composition 2 | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Conducting 1 - choose 1 COND-211 Conducting 1 COND-216 Conducting 1 with Live Keyboard Ensemble |
1 |
| LMSC-xxx | Mathematics/Natural Sciences (200 level or above) | 3 |
| MHIS-20X | History of Music in the European Tradition (choose 1) | 2 |
| SW-231 | Arranging for Songwriters | 2 |
| SW-398 | Directed Study in Songwriting | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | General Electives | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Semester 6 (suggested semester to study abroad)
| Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| LSOC-xxx | Social Sciences (any LSOC course) | 3 |
| MHIS-22X | Music of the African Diaspora in the United States (choose 1) | 2 |
| LVIS-xxx | Visual Studies (any LVIS course) | 3 |
| SW-241 | Survey of Popular Song Styles | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Major Electives (select from list below) AR–112, AR–201, CM–311, COND–351, CW–141, CW–171, CW–216, CW–218, ENDS–406, ENPP–205, ENPP–300, ENPP–303, ENPP–401, ENPP–402, ENVC–261, ET–331, ET–332, ET–351, ET–441, FS–221, LENG–318, LENG–331, HR–261, HR–325, HR–365, ILGT–115, ILPN–227, ILVC–210, ISVC–111, ISVC–112, LENG–450, LENG–452, MLAN–251, MB-211, MB-376, MP–110, MP-113, MP–114, MP-205, MP-231, MP-305, MTEC-230, MTEC-323, MTEC–341, MTI–309, MTI–310, PIxx–xxx, PSPR–365, PST–351, PST–352, PST–451, PST–471, PW–468, any SW elective level 200 or above not already taken as a requirement. |
2 |
| 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 |
| XXXX-xxx | Choose 1 SW-311 Advanced Songwriting SW-321 Advanced Lyric Writing SW-371 Singer/Songwriter Workshop SW-383 Advanced Skills for the Producer-Songwriter |
2 |
| XXXX-xxx | Major Electives (select from list below) AR–112, AR–201, CM–311, COND–351, CW–141, CW–171, CW–216, CW–218, ENDS–406, ENPP–205, ENPP–300, ENPP–303, ENPP–401, ENPP–402, ENVC–261, ET–331, ET–332, ET–351, ET–441, FS–221, LENG–318, LENG–331, HR–261, HR–325, HR–365, ILGT–115, ILPN–227, ILVC–210, ISVC–111, ISVC–112, LENG–450, LENG–452, MLAN–251, MB-211, MB-376, MP–110, MP-113, MP–114, MP-205, MP-231, MP-305, MTEC-230, MTEC-323, MTEC–341, MTI–309, MTI–310, PIxx–xxx, PSPR–365, PST–351, PST–352, PST–451, PST–471, PW–468, any SW elective level 200 or above not already taken as a requirement. |
2 |
| XXXX-xxx | General Electives | 2 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
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 |
| SW-335 | The Business of Songwriting | 2 |
| SW-497 | Senior Seminar in Songwriting | 2 |
| XXXX-xxx | General Electives | 5 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Study abroad at our Valencia, Spain, campus. It is recommended that songwriting 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.