Minors
Film and Media Scoring
It’s time to call “action!” on your introduction to film and media scoring with this comprehensive minor, designed to prepare you for a thriving career. Gain a solid foundation in the art of scoring for film and media, from technical orchestration techniques to the aesthetic nuances of various genres. Your choice of electives includes explorations in advertising music, world music composition styles, counterpoint, music notation and score preparation, and more. You’ll learn from industry experts and develop a portfolio of work that showcases your ability to compose compelling scores for film, TV, and beyond.
The addition of a Film and Media Scoring minor will be enable you to:
- Sketch and compose stylistically appropriate music in a variety of dramatic styles
- Orchestrate dramatic music using appropriate instrumental tone colors and voicings
- Create final soundtrack recordings to picture
- Create orchestral mockups and electronic scores using current sequencers and sample libraries
- Analyze the dramatic arc of a musical score for a film or other extended media work
- Demonstrate a broad knowledge of film music history
- Describe the process of creating linear film and other medias
- Demonstrate a foundational understanding of intellectual property considerations and processes in the media industries
Prerequisites
- OCOMP-111Music Theory and Composition 2
- OEART-119Ear Training 1
- OLART-201Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians
- OMPRD-279Producing Music with Cubase or OMPRD-273Producing Music with Logic
Curriculum
(18 Credits)
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Required Courses (15 Credits)
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Complete all five of the following (3 credits each, 15 total):
- OCWPR-260Film Scoring 101
- OCWPR-365Orchestration 1
- OCWPR-366Orchestration 2: Writing Techniques for Full Orchestra
- OCOMP-490Music Composition for Film and TV 1
- OCOMP-491Music Composition for Film and TV 2
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Elective Course (3 Credits)
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Complete one course from the following elective requirements list (3 credits, 3 total)
- OCOMP-367Contemporary Techniques in Music Composition 1
- OCOMP-485Contemporary Techniques in Music Composition 2
- OSONG-430Songwriting for Film and TV
- OLSOC-150The Language of Film and TV
- OCWPR-385Writing and Producing Advertising Music
- OLART-220History of Film Music
- OCWPR-101Music Notation and Score Preparation Using Finale
- OCWPR-103Music Notation and Score Preparation using Sibelius Ultimate
- OCOMP-493World Music Composition Styles
- OCOMP-250Counterpoint
- OCOMP-492Interactive Scoring for Games
Declaring a Minor: Am I Eligible?
There are different considerations to be aware of, depending on where you are in your student journey.
Prospective Students
Choosing a minor is not part of the application process. You are eligible to do this once you have been accepted into an undergraduate degree program at Berklee Online.
Accepted Students
Congratulations! Now that you have been accepted, you are eligible to declare a minor. If you received transfer credit for music electives, this may impact the total number of credits you will need to complete your degree. Please note that your declared minor must be in a different concentration from your major. Contact your Academic Advisor to learn more.
Continuing Students
As long as you are not currently enrolled in your final semester at Berklee Online and you are in good academic standing, you can declare a minor at any time. Please note that your declared minor must be in a different concentration from your major. Most minor courses will count towards the general elective section. If you have already fulfilled this requirement through Berklee Online coursework or transfer credit, contact your Academic Advisor to see how this might impact your degree completion timeline.
Read full undergraduate minor admissions and policy details here.
Benefits of a Minor
Improved Career Outcomes
Completing a minor enhances your résumé and demonstrates your ability to master multiple disciplines, making you a more attractive candidate to employers.
Aligned with Personal Interests
Choose from a variety of minors that match your passions and career goals, allowing you to tailor your education to your unique interests.
Broadened Skill Set
Gain expertise in additional areas of the music industry, equipping you with a versatile set of skills that prepare you for a wide range of professional opportunities.
Demonstrated Versatility
Show your capability to excel in multiple fields within the music industry, highlighting your adaptability and commitment to continuous learning.
Enhanced Professional Network
Engage with an online community of musicians, executives, and industry leaders, expanding your professional connections and diversifying your learning beyond your major.
FAQs
When can I declare a minor?
In order to declare a minor, you must be accepted into one of our undergraduate degree programs and in good academic standing. You are not eligible to declare a minor in your final semester of study in your degree program and are prohibited from pursuing a minor in the same concentration as your major.
Can I transfer credit into a minor?
If you have already completed Berklee Online courses that align with a minor’s requirements, those should automatically apply to your minor once you have declared it. In the rare event that you completed an external course that was deemed directly equivalent to one of the required courses in your minor, that should automatically apply upon minor declaration as well.
Can I use financial aid to cover my minor requirements?
If you qualify for aid, you should be able to use this to cover the cost of the coursework for your minor, provided you are still in the process of completing your undergraduate program requirements.
Can I declare more than one minor?
You can declare up to two minors. Please note that your declared minor must be in a different concentration from your major.