Undergraduate Degree Program
Bachelor of Arts
Music Composition Degree
• $75 application fee waived through November 12
The Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition will help you master your compositional craft, push your musical boundaries, and shape your unique sound for a groundbreaking career in the industry. You will gain the tools and experience to compile a comprehensive portfolio, which will highlight your diverse array of in-demand skills. Through a deep exploration of harmony, counterpoint, orchestration, analysis, and history, at the end of this program you'll have what it takes to compose across diverse styles and instruments prevalent in modern concert music.
You’ll study all of the major musical developments from the sixteenth century right up to the eclectic range of styles that characterize contemporary composition. This ensures that once you graduate from the program you will possess a versatile skill set that enables you to create music that resonates with diverse audiences across genres, while developing your individual compositional voice.
Additionally, you’ll receive private instruction in a one-to-one weekly lesson with a Berklee Online instructor. Each semester’s private lessons will focus on creating an original composition, with the size of the ensemble and the scope of the composition expanding throughout the program.
Upon graduation, not only will you be prepared to gain entry to graduate studies in composition, but you’ll also be ready to pursue a career as a composer, orchestrator, music director, educator, scholar, or practitioner of music composition.
Upon completion of the Music Composition major, you will be able to:
- Develop your own individual compositional voice
- Compose original scores in a variety of genres and for various ensembles
- Comprehend the contemporary music practices active today
- Synthesize and apply historical knowledge of compositional practices to the creation of original musical works
- Analyze musical compositions in a variety of contemporary and historical styles
- Master the fundamentals in composition, orchestration, harmony, counterpoint, contemporary techniques, analysis, and history
- Deepen your understanding of your musicality and your art through analysis and practice
- Demonstrate the appropriate technological and production skills related to music composition
- Produce a portfolio of original compositions
- Evaluate the historical, social, and cultural context of musical compositions
Curriculum
(120 Credits)
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Concentrate Courses (66 credits)
(48 Concentrate Course credits + 18 Private Lesson credits)Complete one of the following (3 credits):
- OMPRD-180Pro Tools 101 or OMPRD-221Pro Tools 110 or OMPRD-273Producing Music with Logic or OMPRD-279Producing Music with Cubase
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Complete the following (42 credits):
- OCOMP-110Music Theory and Composition 1
- OEART-119Ear Training 1
- OCOMP-111Music Theory and Composition 2
- OCWPR-103Music Notation and Score Preparation using Sibelius Ultimate
- OCOMP-250Counterpoint
- OCOMP-210Music Theory and Composition 3
- OCOMP-220Tonal Writing and Analysis (details coming soon)
- OCOMP-330Chromatic Writing and Analysis (details coming soon)
- OCOMP-365Developing Your Creativity as a Composer (details coming soon)
- OCWPR-365Orchestration 1
- OCOMP-367Contemporary Techniques in Music Composition 1
- OCWPR-366Orchestration 2: Writing Techniques for Full Orchestra
- OCOMP-485Contemporary Techniques in Music Composition 2
- OCOMP-494Electroacoustic Composition (details coming soon)
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Choose one keyboard course from the following (3 credits):
- OPIAN-100Berklee Keyboard Method or OPIAN-150Keyboard for the Electronic Musician or OPIAN-210Intermediate Keyboard or OPIAN-220Blues and Rock Keyboard Techniques or OPIAN-230Pop/Rock Keyboard or OPIAN-240Piano Scales 101 or OPIAN-315Jazz Piano
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Private Lessons (18 credits)
Complete nine semesters of private composition lessons, each worth 2 credits (18 credits), the final semester will consist of a capstone project.
- OPLMC-101Private Composition Lesson Level 1
- OPLMC-102Private Composition Lesson Level 2
- OPLMC-201Private Composition Lesson Level 3
- OPLMC-202Private Composition Lesson Level 4
- OPLMC-203Private Composition Lesson Level 5
- OPLMC-301Private Composition Lesson Level 6
- OPLMC-302Private Composition Lesson Level 7
- OPLMC-401Private Composition Lesson Level 8
- OPLMC-402Private Composition Lesson Level 9
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Elective Courses (12 Credits)
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Complete any four courses, except Liberal Arts courses coded with OLART, OLSOC, or OLMSC in a given student's area of interest and professional development (guitar, voice, music business, songwriting, arranging, orchestration, etc.) It is strongly recommended that students also consider the following courses related to the major: OMPRD-202, OCOMP-320, OCOMP-395, OCOMP-493, OCOMP-490, OCWPR-130, OCWPR-231, OSONG-250, OCWPR-332, OCWPR-333, OCWPR-334, OCWPR-335. (12 credits)
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Liberal Arts Courses (42 Credits) +
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Complete one Composition/Writing (OLART) course from the following (3 credits):
- OLART-111 College Writing or OLART-201 Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians or OLART-215 Creative Writing: Poetry or OLART-216 Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice
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Complete one History (OLART) course from the following (3 credits):
- OLART-170 Rock History or OLART-220 History of Film Music or OLART-231 Art History of the Western European Tradition or OLART-233 Music History of the Western World 1: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque or OLART-234 Music History of the Western World 2: Classical, Romantic, and Modern
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Complete any four additional Arts/Humanities (OLART, OMPRD, OCDAN, OCTHR) courses from the following (12 credits):
- OLART-100 Developing Your Artistry
- OMPRD-110 Music Video Production
- OLART-111 College Writing
- OLART-160 Digital Cinematography Fundamentals
- OLART-170 Rock History
- OLART-201 Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians
- OLART-205 Game Design Principles
- OLART-215 Creative Writing: Poetry
- OLART-216 Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice
- OLART-220 History of Film Music
- OLART-231 Art History of the Western European Tradition
- OLART-233 Music History of the Western World 1: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque
- OLART-234 Music History of the Western World 2: Classical, Romantic, and Modern
- OLART-400 Career and Job Success in the Music Industry
- OMPRD-250 Music Video Editing with Final Cut Pro
- OMPRD-251 Creative Video Editing with Adobe Premiere
- OCDAN-103 Iconic Dance and Urban Movement
- OCTHR-103 Script Analysis for Theater
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Complete four Social Sciences (OLSOC) courses from the following (12 credits):
- OLSOC-150 The Language of Film and TV
- OLSOC-180 Project Management for Musicians
- OLSOC-200 Business Communications
- OLSOC-210 Music, Self, and Society
- OLSOC-226 New Media Economics: Music, Mobile, Gaming, and Online Markets
- OLSOC-307 Music Cognition
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Complete four Math and Physical/Natural Sciences (OLMSC, OMPRD, OMBUS) courses from the following (12 credits):
- OLMSC-101Music Production 101
- OLMSC-130Applied Mathematics for Musicians
- OLMSC-150Computer Programming Fundamentals
- OLMSC-215Acoustics
- OLMSC-250Music and Neuroscience
- OLMSC-260Sampling and Audio Production
- OMPRD-210Audio Fundamentals for Recording
- OMBUS-475Music Business Finance
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 SchedulePrivate Lessons
Music Composition majors in the Bachelor of Arts degree program complete nine levels of private music composition lessons. Each level of private lessons is 12 weeks in duration and involves a weekly, one-hour, live webcam session with a faculty member of your choosing. The lessons provide the opportunity to expand your musical vocabulary, improve technique, and gain valuable insight into your own strengths and areas of development.
Private lesson instructors will share their practical knowledge and coach you through lesson material at a pace individually tailored to your needs. You’ll receive one-on-one weekly feedback on your progress and get new practice instructions and guidance through each lesson.
When / How to Enroll for Your Private Lessons
When course registration opens for the semester, you will be able to register for the appropriate private lesson course level, and then select a day, time, and instructor. Private majors in the Bachelor of Arts degree will earn two credits for the successful completion of each level of private lessons, for a total of 18 credits.
How to Apply
• $75 application fee waived until Nov 12
- Fill out the online application (15 minutes).
- Statement of Purpose: Create a 500-750 word essay, or a 3-5 minute video essay, in which you tell us about your background and why you are applying to the program.
- Portfolio: Prepare at least two examples of original compositions, presented in music notation via PDF files, along with MP3s or links to sound recordings of each composition posted to a website such as YouTube or SoundCloud. It is acceptable for applicants to submit MIDI reproductions of their music. Alternatively, you may also submit a recorded video audition of a performance of a prepared piece (original or cover) on your principal instrument. The performance should be an unedited take, approximately 2-4 minutes in length, in any style, which demonstrates proficiency and overall musicianship on your principal instrument. The video should be uploaded to a website such as YouTube, with a link provided on the application’s audition requirement field.
- Attach your official transcripts.
- Ask for two letters of recommendation.
Read full undergraduate admissions requirement details here.
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65%
Online undergraduate degree tuition vs. campus tuition
Affordable Tuition
Online undergraduate degree tuition is $62,150 for 120 credits (includes associated fees). To get started, this degree program includes a non-refundable $75 application fee.
Read full tuition and associated program fee details for this, and all other undergraduate programs here.
Available Financial Aid
Ready to Return to Berklee or Transfer in Credits from Another Institution to Complete Your Degree?
Students transferring in from an accredited institution can carry over up to 60 credits, and students with previous Berklee experience may be able to transfer even more.
Learn about our different transfer options: