Undergraduate Degree Program

Bachelor of Professional Studies

Music Business Degree

Sharpen your knowledge of the concepts, skills, and methodologies needed to succeed in today’s evolving music business. You will study how the music business currently operates and where the business is headed in the key areas of music publishing, licensing, law, management, touring, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Through hands-on instruction from Berklee College of Music’s award-winning music business faculty and industry professionals, this degree will prepare you for a variety of music business-focused careers, including artist manager, booking agent, music publisher, business manager, concert promoter, music supervisor, label operations manager, entrepreneur, and more.

Credit Transfer / Degree Completion

Berklee Online will accept up to 60 academic credits earned from an accredited institution, or earned from our certificate programs or individual courses.More about degree completion

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Curriculum

(120 Credits)

Required Online Courses (30 Credits)
Online courses are 12 weeks in length. They are taught by our world renowned faculty in intimately-sized classes of 20 students or fewer.
OMBUS-110Music Business 101
OMBUS-125Music Marketing 101
OMBUS-240Music Business Trends and Strategies
OMBUS-250Touring 101
OMBUS-360Music Business Leadership and Ethics
OMBUS-380Legal Aspects of the Music Industry
OMBUS-391Creative Entrepreneurship
OMBUS-475Music Business Finance
OMBUS-496Music Licensing
OMBUS-498 Music Business Capstone

Specified Elective Courses (15 Credits)
Complete five Music Business courses from the following:
OMBUS-235Artist Management
OMBUS-385Copyright Law
OMBUS-270Music Publishing 101
OMBUS-495Music Supervision 1
OMBUS-274Modern Music Marketing: Music Promotion, Fan Relationships, and Direct-to-Fan Strategies
OMBUS-320International Music Marketing: Developing Your Music Career Abroad
OMBUS-220Music Venue Management
OMBUS-497Music Supervision 2

Specialized Courses in Your Interest (18 Credits)
Complete any six courses, except Liberal Arts courses coded with OLART, OLSOC, or OLMSC, in a given student's area of interest and professional development (e.g., music business, songwriting, arranging, orchestration, etc.).

Five Core Music Studies Based on Placement (15 Credits)
Based on placement, these five choices must include at least one theory course, one harmony course, one ear training course, and the keyboard course. Proper sequencing is indicated by the order below.
Complete one harmony course (OHARM) from the following:
OHARM-110Getting Inside Harmony 1
OHARM-211Getting Inside Harmony 2
OHARM-100Music Foundations
OHARM-101Music Theory 101
OHARM-201Music Theory 201: Harmony and Function
OHARM-301Music Theory 301: Advanced Melody, Harmony, Rhythm
OHARM-412Reharmonization Techniques
OCOMP-110Music Theory and Composition 1
OCOMP-111Music Theory and Composition 2
OCOMP-210Music Theory and Composition 3
OCOMP-211Music Theory and Composition 4
Choose one ear-training course (OEART) from the following:
OEART-115Basic Ear Training
OEART-119Ear Training 1
OEART-120Ear Training 2
OEART-320Harmonic Ear Training: Recognizing Chord Progressions
OEART-215Ear Training for Live Performance
Choose one keyboard course (OPIAN) from the following:
OPIAN-100Berklee Keyboard Method
OPIAN-220Blues and Rock Keyboard Techniques
OPIAN-315Jazz Piano
OPIAN-230Pop/Rock Keyboard
Choose any two additional from the above (OHARM, OEART, or OPIAN), or the following:
OCMUS-105Time and Rhythm 1
OCWPR-130Arranging 1: Rhythm Section
OCWPR-332Arranging: Advanced Horn Writing
OCWPR-250Arranging: Contemporary Styles
OCWPR-231Arranging: Small Ensemble and Horns
OCWPR-333Arranging: Woodwinds and Strings
OCWPR-334Contemporary Vocal Arranging
OCWPR-335Jazz Arranging
OCOMP-250Counterpoint

General Education Courses (42 Credits)
Complete the following:
OLART-100Developing Your Artistry
Complete one composition/writing course from the following:
OLART-216Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice
OLART-111Introduction to College Writing
OLART-201Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians
OLART-215Creative Writing: Poetry
Complete one history course from the following:
OLART-231Art History
OLART-233Music History of the Western World 1: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque
OLART-234Music History of the Western World 2: Classical, Romantic, and Modern
OLART-170Rock History
OLART-220History of Film Music
Complete three arts/humanities courses from the following:
OCDAN-103Introduction to Iconic Dance and Urban Movement
OCTHR-103Script Analysis for Theater
OLART-111Introduction to College Writing
OLART-231Art History
OLART-216Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice
OLART-205Game Design Principles
OLART-201Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians
OLART-215Creative Writing: Poetry
OLART-160Introduction to Digital Cinematography
OLART-233Music History of the Western World 1: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque
OLART-234Music History of the Western World 2: Classical, Romantic, and Modern
OMPRD-250Music Video Editing with Final Cut Pro
OLART-170Rock History
OLART-400Career and Job Success in the Music Industry
OLART-220History of Film Music
Complete four social science courses (OLSOC) from the following:
OLSOC-200Business Communications
OLSOC-307Music Cognition
OLSOC-226New Media Economics: Music, Mobile, Gaming, and Online Markets
OLSOC-180Project Management for Musicians
OLSOC-150The Language of Film and TV
OLSOC-210Music, Self, and Society
Complete four math and natural & physical sciences (OLMSC) from the following:
OLMSC-101Music Production 101
OLMSC-130Applied Mathematics for Musicians
OLMSC-260Sampling and Audio Production
OLMSC-215Acoustics
OMPRD-210Audio Fundamentals for Recording
OLMSC-150Introduction to Computer Programming for Musicians

How should I set up my schedule, based on the above requirements?

Check out this handy planning guide to help you understand which courses you should take during which semester.

View Sample Schedule

How to Apply

Fill out the online application (15 minutes)
Create a 500-750 word essay, or a 3-5 minute video essay
Attach your official transcripts
Ask for two letters of recommendation

Read more undergraduate admissions requirement details here.

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Online undergraduate degree tuition vs. campus tuition

Affordable Tuition

Online undergraduate degree tuition is $59,880 for 120 credits. To get started, this degree program includes a $75 (non-refundable) application and a one time comprehensive fee of $350.

Available Financial Aid

Already started your degree, or want to transfer credits to complete your degree?

We will accept up to 60 academic credits earned from an accredited institution, or earned from our certificate programs or individual courses. Learn more here.