Undergraduate Degree Program
Bachelor of Arts
Songwriting Degree
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 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:
- Create song structures, harmonies, melodies, and lyrics that support and enhance the ideas that they want to express
- Identify and discuss quality elements in musical and lyrical structures
- Apply arranging techniques that support the style and structure of a song with appropriate instrumentation
- Craft song sections that connect, contrast, and flow together into a unified whole
- Use technology tools for remote, online collaboration
- Create high-quality song demos with a digital audio workstation
- Develop your own voice as a songwriter
- Write more effectively, efficiently, and on deadline, whether it’s by yourself or in collaboration with other songwriters
- Function in a professional manner in cowriting sessions
- Collaborate effectively in projects that involve writing for a specific artist or song type
- Understand legal and business considerations for songwriters, including copyright, deal structures, and revenue streams that support sustainability in the music industry
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-105Music Application and Theory
- OHARM-110Getting Inside Harmony 1
- OHARM-211Getting Inside Harmony 2
- OHARM-212Harmony 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-250Counterpoint
- OCOMP-110Music Theory and Composition 1
- OCOMP-111Music Theory and Composition 2
- OCOMP-210Music Theory and Composition 3
- OCOMP-211Music Theory and Composition 4
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Choose one ear-training course from the following (3 credits):
- OEART-115Basic Ear Training 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-220Blues and Rock Keyboard Techniques or OPIAN-230Pop/Rock Keyboard or OPIAN-240Piano Scales 101 or OPIAN-300Latin Piano Styles or OPIAN-315Jazz Piano
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Choose one of the following (3 credits):
- OMPRD-278Ableton Live Fundamentals or OSONG-230Producing Songwriting Demos with Pro Tools or OSONG-231Producing Songwriting Demos with Logic
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Elective Courses (27 Credits)
Complete any nine courses, except Liberal Arts courses coded with OLART, OLSOC, or OLMSC, 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 Introduction to 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
- OLART-111 Introduction to College Writing
- OLART-160 Introduction to Digital Cinematography
- 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
- OCDAN-103 Introduction to 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 Fundamentals
- OLMSC-130Applied Mathematics for Musicians
- OLMSC-150Introduction to Computer Programming for Musicians
- OLMSC-215Acoustics
- 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
- 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 full undergraduate admissions requirement details here.
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Online undergraduate degree tuition vs. campus tuition
Affordable Tuition
Online undergraduate degree tuition is $60,600 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.
Note: September 2023 Semester Price Increase
In September 2023, online undergraduate degree tuition will increase to $61,800 for 120 credits (includes associated fees).
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:
