Undergraduate Degree Program
Bachelor of Professional Studies
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.
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
Curriculum
(120 Credits)
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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.
- 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-420Collaborative Songwriting
- OSONG-465 Songwriting Capstone
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Specified Elective Courses (15 Credits)
- Choose one of the following courses:
- OMBUS-240Music Business Trends and Strategies
- OMBUS-270Music Publishing 101
- OMBUS-496Music Licensing
- OMBUS-495Music Supervision 1
- OENTR-391Creative Entrepreneurship
- Choose four of the following courses:
- OLART-215Creative Writing: Poetry
- OSONG-380Songwriting for Film and TV
- OCWPR-250Arranging: Contemporary Styles
- OCWPR-130Arranging 1: Rhythm Section
- OCWPR-334Contemporary Vocal Arranging
- OCWPR-231Arranging: Small Ensemble and Horns
- OCWPR-332Arranging: Advanced Horn Writing
- OCWPR-333Arranging: Woodwinds and Strings
- OCWPR-365Orchestration 1
- OCOMP-320Creative Strategies for Composition Beyond Style
- OCOMP-285Contemporary Techniques in Music Composition 1
- OCOMP-385Contemporary Techniques in Music Composition 2
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Specialization Courses in Your Interest (9 Credits)
Complete any three 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, music production, arranging, orchestration, etc.).
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Five Core Music Studies Based on Placement (15 Credits)
Based on placement, these five courses must include at least two theory/harmony courses, one ear training course, one keyboard course, and the Counterpoint course.
- Complete two Harmony courses (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
- Complete one Ear Training (OEART) course from the following:
- OEART-115Basic Ear Training
- OEART-119Ear Training 1
- OEART-120Ear Training 2
- OEART-215Ear Training for Live Performance
- OEART-320Harmonic Ear Training: Recognizing Chord Progressions
- Complete one Piano/Keyboard (OPIAN) course from the following:
- OPIAN-100Berklee Keyboard Method
- OPIAN-220Blues and Rock Keyboard Techniques
- OPIAN-150Keyboard for the Electronic Musician
- OPIAN-315Jazz Piano
- OPIAN-230Pop/Rock Keyboard
- Complete the following course:
- OCOMP-250Counterpoint
Three Music Technology Courses (9 Credits)
- Complete the following courses:
- OMPRD-160Music Production Analysis
- OSONG-150Music Production Fundamentals for Songwriters
- OMPRD-278Ableton Live Fundamentals or OSONG-230Producing Songwriting Demos with Pro Tools or OSONG-231Producing Songwriting Demos with Logic
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General Education Courses (42 Credits)
- Complete the following courses:
- OLART-100Developing Your Artistry
- OLART-216Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice
- 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 (OLART) from the following:
- OLART-111Introduction to College Writing
- OLART-231Art History
- 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-220History of Film Music
- OLART-400Career and Job Success in the Music Industry
- Complete four Social Science courses (OLSOC) from the following:
- OLSOC-200Business Communications
- OLSOC-226New Media Economics: Music, Mobile, Gaming, and Online Markets
- OLSOC-307Music Cognition
- 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/OMPRD) from the following:
- OLMSC-101Music Production 101
- OLMSC-130Applied Mathematics for Musicians
- OLMSC-260Sampling and Audio Production
- OLMSC-215Acoustics
- OMPRD-210Audio Fundamentals for Recording
- OMBUS-475Music Business Finance
- 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 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 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.