Songwriting

Credits Required
Bachelor of Music
Catalog Year: 2024F Program Code: BM4.SONG
The SONG major requires students purchase additional specific hardware and software.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.berklee.edu/sts/songwriting
Study Abroad - please contact your major chair or studyabroad@berklee.edu. SEMESTERS
Course Number Course Title 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
SONGWRITING MAJOR CORE: 21 Credits Required 31
SW-110 Songwriting Foundations 2
SW-115 or SW-116 Essential Keyboard for Songwriting or Essential Guitar for Songwriters 1
SW-211 & SW-212 Songwriting 1 & 2 (must be taken with Lyric Writing 1 & 2) 2 2
SW-221 & SW-222 Lyric Writing 1 & 2 (must be taken with Songwriting 1 & 2) 2 2
SW-161, SW-181, or SW-191 Introductory DAW Class 2
SW-261, SW-281, or SW-291 Advanced DAW Class 2
SW-335 The Business of Songwriting 2
SW-231 Arranging for Songwriters 2
Major Electives* 2
CHOOSE ONE TRACK - 10 Credits Required
Songwriting/Performer
SW-236 or SW-238 Guitar Techniques for the Songwriter or Keyboard Techniques for the Songwriter 2
SW-370 or SW-371 Strategies for the Songwriter/Performer or Singer/Songwiter Workshop 2
Major Electives* 2
SW-390 Senior Seminar in Songwriting: Songwriter-Performer 2
SW-490 Directed Study in Songwriting: Songwriter-Performer 2
Songwriting/Producer
SW-383 Advanced Skills for the Producer-Songwriter 2
SW-374 or SW-425 Vocal Production for Songwriters or Multi-DAW Workflows for the Songwriter/Producer 2
Major Electives* 2
SW-391 Senior Seminar in Songwriting: Songwriter-Producer 2
SW-491 Directed Study in Songwriting: Songwriter-Producer 2
Songwriting/Topline
SW-321 or SW-372 Advanced Lyric Writing 1 or Topline 2 for Songwriters and Producers 2
SW-421 or SW-472 Advanced Lyric Writing 2 or Topline 3 for Songwriters and Producers 2
Major Electives* 2
SW-393 Senior Seminar in Songwriting: Songwriter-Topliner 2
SW-493 Directed Study in Songwriting: Songwriter-Topliner 2
Songwriting/Sync
SW-363 Songwriting for Film and TV 2
Survey and Application of Popular Song Styles, Music Supervision: Selecting and Licensing Music for Media,
SW-241, SW-273, or SW-461 (Choose 2) 2 2
or Writing the Film Musical (Choose 2)
SW-394 Senior Seminar in Songwriting: Songwriter-Sync 2
SW-494 Directed Study in Songwriting: Songwriter-Sync 2
Songwriting/Musical Theater
SW-345 Musical Theater Writing 1 2
SW-445 Musical Theater Writing 2 2
Major Electives* 2
SW-399 Senior Seminar in Songwriting: Musical Theater 2
SW-499 Directed Study in Songwriting: Musical Theater 2
* Major Electives: SW-2xx (or higher) not already completed, AR–201, CW–141, CW–171, CW–216, CW–218, ENDS–406, ENPP–205, ENPP–401, ENVC–261, HR–325, ILGT–115, ILVC–210,
IN-495, ISVC–111, ISVC–112, LENG–318, LENG–331, MB-211, MB-376, MP-113, MP–114, MP-205, MP-231, MP-305, MTEC-230, MTEC-323, MTI–309, MTI–310, PST–351, PST–352, PST–451,
PST–471, or PW–468.

Note: PIxx-311 and PIxx-312 (1 credit each) on the student’s principal instrument (or on guitar, voice or piano as a secondary instrument) may be taken as major electives. A total of 2 credits of
additional ensembles (ENxx) and/or labs (ILxx) may be required with the additional private instruction. If these additional lessons are taken on the principal instrument, then successful
completion of the corresponding proficiency is required. If taken on a secondary instrument, the lesson will be unleveled and will not require a proficiency.
MAJOR-SPECIFIC CORE MUSIC AND LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES - 22 Credits Required 22
ET 211, ET-223, or ET-231 Ear Training 3, Ear Training 3 Entering, or Solfege 1 2
ET-212, ET-224, or ET-232 Ear Training 4, Ear Training 4 Entering, or Solfege 2 2
COND-211 or COND-216 Conducting 1 or Conducting 1 with Live Keyboard 1
COND-212 or COND-217 Conducting 2 or Conducting 2 with Live Keyboard 1
LMSC-xxx Mathematics/Natural Sciences: Any 3-credit, 200 level or above LMSC course 3
LSOC-xxx or ASOC-xxx Social Science 3
MHIS-201, MHIS-202, or MHIS-203 History of Music in the European Tradition 2
MHIS-3xx Music History Elective (level 300 or higher) 2
Lxxx-xxx or Axxx-xxx* Liberal Arts and Sciences/Africana Studies Electives* 3 3
* Any three credit courses from the following catagories: AFST, AHIS, AHUM, ASOC, AMAS, LENG, LMSC, LHIS, LSOC, LVIS, LMAS, LFRN, LJPN, LHUM, LPHL, or LSPN.
CORE MUSIC - 35 Credits Required 35
Performance
PIxx-111 Private Instruction - Level 1 (50 minutes) 2
PIxx-112 Private Instruction - Level 2 (50 minutes) 2
PIxx-211 Private Instruction - Level 3 (30 minutes) 1
PIxx-212 Private Instruction - Level 4 (30 minutes) 1
ILxx Instrumental Labs 1 1
ENxx Ensembles 1 1 1 1
Non-Performance
PW-111 Music Application and Theory 4
AR-111 or AR-123 Arranging 1 Entering or Arranging 1 Continuing 2
HR-112 or HR-114 Harmony 2 or Harmony 2 Entering 2
HR-211, HR-213, or HR-215 Harmony 3, Harmony 3 Entering, or Harmony 3 Intensive 2
HR-212, HR-214, or HR-216 Harmony 4, Harmony 4 Entering, or Harmony 4 Intensive 2
ET-111 Ear Training 1 2
ET-112 or ET-123 Ear Training 2 or Ear Training 2 Entering 2
CM-211 Tonal Harmony and Composition 1 2
CM-212 Tonal Harmony and Composition 2 2
CP-210 The Art of Counterpoint 1 3
∙ Students should enroll in an ensemble (ENxx) and private instruction (PIxx) during their first four full-time semesters.
∙ Two credits of performance studies (PSxx), excluding PSH, PST, & PSEM, may replace two credits of ensembles or labs.
∙ Additional PSxx courses, excluding PSH-xxx, may be taken as general electives or major elective credits, depending on major.
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES & AFRICANA STUDIES - 24 total LAS/AFST Credits Required 24
MTEC-111 or MTEC-122 Introduction to Music Technology or Accelerated Introduction to Music Technology 2
LENS-10x Engaging Seminar 2
LHUM-400 Professional Development Seminar 2
LENG-111 Introduction to College Writing 3
LENG-223 Literature Topics 3
LHIS-xxx or AHIS-xxx History 3
AFST-221 Global Afrodiasporic Musics 3
LVIS-xxx Visual Studies 3
LMAS-xxx or AMAS-xxx Music and Society 3
English as a Second Language - An assessment is required for all non-native English speakers. Students may be required to complete ESL courses based on the results of the assessment,
which will apply as liberal arts and sciences electives or general electives.
GENERAL ELECTIVES: 8 Credits Required 2 6 8
SEMESTER CREDIT TOTALS - - > 16 15 16 15 16 15 14 13

Total Required Credits 120

7/23/2024