Undergraduate Degree Program
Bachelor of Arts
Songwriting Degree
• Apply in as little as 15 minutes
Learn techniques for writing original songs in a variety of musical styles—techniques that have propelled Berklee alumni to write number-one songs and win Grammy Awards. In this program, you will develop skills to create song structures, harmonies, melodies, and lyrics that support and enhance the ideas that you want to express. Through listening and analysis, you will be able to recognize and discuss quality elements in musical and lyrical structures. You will learn arranging techniques that support the style and structure of a song with appropriate instrumentation. You will develop your own voice as a songwriter and learn to write more effectively and efficiently, whether by yourself or in collaboration with other songwriters.
Upon graduation, you will have a professional portfolio of original songs to launch your career in the music industry as a songwriter, lyricist, singer/songwriter, arranger, and/or demo/MIDI production worker. The portfolio will demonstrate the current practices of songwriters and include lead sheets, lyric sheets, and demo recordings of each of the songs, equivalent in production quality to those typically presented to music publishers, record producers, and record companies by professional songwriters.
Upon completion of the Songwriting major, you will be able to:
- Identify and evaluate quality elements in musical and lyrical structures
- Create song structures, harmonies, melodies, and lyrics that effectively express ideas and emotions
- Apply arranging techniques that support the style and structure of a song with appropriate instrumentation
- Use technology and digital audio workstations (DAWs) to create high-quality song demos and collaborate remotely
- Develop your voice as a songwriter while drawing inspiration from diverse songwriting traditions
- Write effectively, efficiently, and on deadline, both independently and collaboratively
- Understand legal and business considerations for songwriters, including copyright, deal structures, and revenue streams that support sustainability in the music industry
- Function in a professional manner in co-writing sessions
- Collaborate effectively on projects that involve writing for specific artists or song types while demonstrating inclusive and equitable practices
Curriculum
(120 Credits)
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Concentrate Courses (51 Credits)
Complete the Following (36 Credits):
- OSONG-150Music Production Fundamentals for Songwriters
- OMPRD-160Music Production Analysis
- OSONG-220Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies
- OSONG-316Songwriting: Harmony
- OSONG-221Lyric Writing: Writing From the Title
- OSONG-315Songwriting: Melody
- OSONG-222Lyric Writing: Writing Lyrics to Music
- OSONG-250Arranging for Songwriters: Instrumentation and Production in Songwriting
- OSONG-310Songwriting: Writing Hit Songs
- OSONG-240Commercial Songwriting Techniques
- OSONG-430Songwriting for Film and TV
- OSONG-465 Songwriting Capstone
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Complete two harmony courses from the following (6 credits):
- OHARM-100Music for Beginners
- OHARM-101Music Theory 101
- OHARM-104Music Theory Fundamentals
- OHARM-105Music Application and Theory
- OHARM-201Music Theory 201: Harmony and Function
- OHARM-212Harmony 2
- 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
- OCOMP-250Counterpoint
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Choose one ear-training course from the following (3 credits):
- OEART-116Ear Training Fundamentals or OEART-119Ear Training 1 or OEART-120Ear Training 2 or OEART-215Ear Training for Live Performance or OEART-320Harmonic Ear Training: Recognizing Chord Progressions
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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-200Piano Technique 101 or OPIAN-210Intermediate Keyboard or OPIAN-215Keyboard Technique for Songwriters or OPIAN-220Blues and Rock Keyboard Techniques or OPIAN-230Pop/Rock Keyboard or OPIAN-240Piano Scales 101 or OPIAN-245Piano Chords 101 or OPIAN-305Piano Technique 201 or OPIAN-310Piano and Keyboard Techniques for Session Musicians or OPIAN-315Jazz Piano or OPIAN-400Advanced Jazz Piano or OPIAN-405Keyboards for Live Performance: Techniques and Technology
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Choose one of the following (3 credits):
- OMPRD-180Pro Tools 101 or OMPRD-228Writer, Engineer, Producer in the Home Studio or OMPRD-273Producing Music with Logic or OMPRD-278Ableton Live Fundamentals
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Elective Courses (27 Credits)
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Complete any nine courses, except Liberal Arts courses coded with OLART, OLSOC, OLMSC, or OAFST in a given student's area of interest and professional development (27 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, OAFST) courses from the following (12 credits):
- OLART-100 Developing Your Artistry
- OMPRD-110 Music Video Production
- OAFST-110 Black Creative Expression: An Introduction to Africana Studies
- 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-100 Wellness for Artists: Music, Movement, and Mindfulness
- 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-200A Scientific Approach to Nutrition and Health for Performing Artists
- 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 ScheduleHow to Apply
Your time is valuable, and our online application makes applying as straightforward as possible.
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Create an account in our application portal, and complete / submit your online application. You'll need:
- A 500-750-word essay, or a 3-5-minute video essay
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The email addresses / contact information of two recommenders who will provide your letters of recommendation
Start / Resume Your Application
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Nice! After submission, be sure to order your official transcripts.
- A 500-750-word essay, or a 3-5-minute video essay
- The email addresses / contact information of two recommenders who will provide your letters of recommendation
Read the full details of undergraduate admission requirements here.
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Online undergraduate degree tuition vs. campus tuition
Affordable Tuition
Online undergraduate degree tuition is $62,150 ($63,350 Sept onward) for 120 credits (includes associated fees).
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:
Related Music Career Roles
Employers look for skills learned in this degree program, when hiring for the following music roles:
