Koyo School of Music and Dance—Japan
This program enables students to begin their music education at Koyo School of Music and Dance of the Jikei Group of Colleges (Koyo) in Kobe, Japan, and complete an undergraduate degree at Berklee in Boston. Once accepted to Berklee, students may receive transfer credit for certain courses taken at Koyo.
Visit the Koyo website to learn more about the credit transfer pathway to Berklee.
About the Program
Students Who Entered Koyo on or After September 1, 2022
Entrance Requirements
Students transferring from Koyo to Berklee must earn a grade of “B” (3.00/4.00 GPA) or better in each course specified in the Berklee Global Partner (BGP) credit transfer agreement (see "Courses and Credits" below) to receive credit. If a student receives a grade of “B-“ or lower in any of the required core music courses, no credit will be awarded to the student for any of the core music courses listed in the credit transfer agreement.
In this case, the student will enter Berklee as a transfer student. In the first semester of study, they will be required to take the Entering Student Placement Assessment (ESPA) for course placement in core music courses. They may transfer in any applicable liberal arts and sciences courses admissible under the transfer credit policy in place at the time of the student's matriculation to Berklee.
Admissions: Koyo students who wish to transfer to Berklee are required to go through Berklee's official undergraduate admissions process. Students accepted to Berklee will receive transfer credit for courses taken at Koyo in accordance with an agreement between the two schools. Transferring students must send Berklee an official transcript showing all courses specified as completed with a satisfactory grade of "B" or better before credit transfer at Berklee can take place.
Koyo students planning to transfer to Berklee under this agreement must do so within four years after completing their program of study at Koyo.
Learn more about the requirements to graduate. We encourage you to review the Berklee Global Academic Partner Berklee Track Guidebook, which provides comprehensive information about the credit transfer process. Required Transfer Credits: 22 Additional Potential Transfer Credits: 33 Potential Transfer Credit Summary Koyo students who wish to transfer to Berklee are required to go through Berklee's official undergraduate admissions process. Students accepted to Berklee will receive transfer credit for courses taken at Koyo in accordance with an agreement between the two schools. Students transferring to Berklee must earn a grade of B or higher (3.00–4.00) in each level 1 (core music) course, and a grade of C or higher (2.00–4.00) in each level 2 (other liberal arts and general electives) course designated for transfer in this agreement (see "Required Courses" below) in order to receive transfer credit from Berklee. To earn credit for any course in level 1 for which students receive a grade below B, students will be required upon entering Berklee to (1) take the entering student proficiency assessment (ESPA) for harmony and ear training courses; (2) earn credit by exam (CBX) for music technology, tonal harmony, and counterpoint courses; or (3) enroll in the course at Berklee. For any course in level 2 for which students receive a grade below C, credit will not be granted. See more information about core music courses at Berklee. Liberal Arts and General Electives
Performance Courses
Requirements to Graduate
Courses and Credits
Koyo School of Music and Dance Courses Berklee College of Music Course Equivalents Harmony 1 PW-111 Music Application and Theory (4 cr.) Harmony 2 HR-112 Harmony 2 (2 cr.) Arranging 1 AR-111 Arranging 1 (2 cr.) Ear Training 1 ET-111 Ear Training 1 (2 cr.) Ear Training 2 ET-112 Ear Training 2 (2 cr.) Introduction to Computer Music MTEC-111 Introduction to Music Technology (2 cr.) Harmony 3 HR-211 Harmony 3 (2 cr.) Harmony 4 HR-212 Harmony 4 (2 cr.) Ear Training 3 ET-211 Ear Training 3 (2 cr.) or ET-231 Solfege 1 (2 c.), depending on Berklee major requirement Ear Training 4 ET-212 Ear Training 4 (2 cr.) or ET-232 Solfege 2 (2 cr.), depending on Berklee major requirement
Note: Contact the Koyo academic advisor to ask about the courses below.Koyo School of Music and Dance Courses Berklee College of Music Course Equivalents Classical Music Analysis MLAN-311 Analysis of Classical and Romantic Music (2 cr.) English as a Second Language 2 and 3 LHUM-2xx Liberal Arts Elective (3 cr.) Traditional Harmony and Composition 1 CM-211 Tonal Harmony and Composition 1 (2 cr.) Traditional Harmony and Composition 2 CM-212 Tonal Harmony and Composition 2 (2 cr.) Counterpoint CP-210 The Art of Counterpoint (3 cr.) Basic Keyboard 1 ISKB-212 Basic Keyboard Techniques 1 (1 cr.) Basic Keyboard 2 ISKB-211 Basic Keyboard Techniques 2 (1 cr.) Ethnic Music 1 PSW-346 African Diaspora: South American Music (2 cr.) Ethnic Music 2 MLAN-346 Music and Culture of India, the Far East, and Eastern Europe (2 cr.) History of Pop/Rock Music MHIS-322 History of Rock Music (2 cr.) History of Jazz LHAN-221 History of Jazz (2 cr.) Western Music History 1 and 2 MHIS-201 History of Music in the European Tradition (2 cr.) Introduction to Songwriting SW-111 Essentials of Songwriting (1 cr.) Jazz Improvisation 1 PSIJ-211 Jazz Improvisational Techniques (2 cr.) Arranging 2 AR-112 Arranging 2 for Entering Students (2 cr.) Lydian Chromatic Concept AR-340 Jazz Arranging for Small Ensembles (2 cr.) Survey of Harmony in Rock Music HR-231 Harmonic Analysis of Rock Music (2 cr.) Additional Potential General Elective Credits: 56
NOTE: Students must contact the Koyo academic advisor about the courses belowKoyo School of Music and Dance students may transfer a maximum of 10 credits (cr.) of General Elective courses from the list of classes noted under the "KOYO Courses" column below. KOYO Courses Improvisational Concepts for Bass (2 cr.) Fundamentals of Guitar Improvisation (2 cr.) Jazz Improvisation 2 (2 cr.) Jazz Improvisation 3 (2 cr.) Jazz-Fusion Improvisation (2 cr.) Rock Improvisation (2 cr.) Blues Improvisation (2 cr.) Advanced Jazz Improvisation 1 (2 cr.) Advanced Jazz Improvisation 2 (2 cr.) Vocal Improvisation in Jazz (2 cr.) Stage Performance Skills 1 (2 cr.) Stage Performance Skills 2 (2 cr.) Chord Scales in Improvisation (2 cr.) Vocal Improvisation in R&B/Pop (2 cr.) Fingerpicking Style Guitar (2 cr.) Stylistic Study of Funk Guitar Performance (2 cr.) Hand Percussion (2 cr.) Stylistic Study of Modern Drumming (2 cr.) Compound Sticking and Polyrhythm (2 cr.) Song Arrangement Techniques (2 cr.) Songwriting 2 (2 cr.) Songwriting 3 (2 cr.) Logic for Songwriters 1 (2 cr.) Logic for Songwriters 2 (2 cr.) Logic for Songwriters 3 (2 cr.) Mindful Movement for Musicians (2 cr.) Copyright and Legal Issues in the Music Business (2 cr.) Beginning Dance for Singers (2 cr.)
Required Transfer Credits: 22
Additional Potential Credits: 33
Potential Ensemble Credits: 6
Additional Potential General Elective Credits: 56 credits
Total potential transfer credits with the agreement: 117 credits
Students Who Entered Koyo Prior to September 1, 2022Entrance Requirements
Residency Requirements
Students attending Berklee’s on-campus programs under this agreement must fulfill Berklee’s residency requirement: All students, including candidates transferring from another school, are normally required to complete at least four semesters of attendance and a minimum of 60 credits for the Bachelor of Music degree (or 48 credits for the professional diploma) in order to graduate from the college. This requirement will be applied regardless of the number of credits transferred.
Liberal Arts and General Electives
Students transferring to the Bachelor of Music degree program at Berklee College of Music must earn a minimum of 39 credits in liberal arts and may use six additional liberal arts credits (two courses) as general elective credit. Students in the professional diploma program at Berklee may use up to 12 liberal arts credits (four courses) as general elective credits. Students attending Berklee’s on-campus programs under this agreement must fulfill Berklee’s residency requirement (see above). This requirement will be applied regardless of the number of credits transferred.
See more information about liberal arts courses at Berklee.
Performance Courses
Ensembles: Koyo transfer students may receive up to six transfer credits for ensembles.
Principal Instrument: Principal instrument courses (private lessons) taken at Koyo are nontransferable. Berklee’s policy states that all students, including transfer students, must participate in and pass a minimum of four semesters of principal instrument instruction at Berklee, regardless of their level of proficiency. All transfer students are required to take a Berklee instrumental/vocal proficiency placement examination upon arrival at Berklee to ensure appropriate placement in principal instrument courses.
We encourage you to review the Berklee Global Academic Partner Berklee Track Guidebook, which provides comprehensive information about the credit transfer process.
Requirements to Graduate
- Residency: All students, including candidates transferring from another school, are normally required to complete a minimum of four semesters of full-time attendance and earn a minimum of 60 credits (48 credits for diploma students) at Berklee College of Music in order to graduate. Credit by exam (CBX), advanced placement credit, CLEP credit, and transfer credit do not count as residency requirement credits, even if earned while at Berklee College of Music. This requirement will be applied regardless of the number of credits transferred.
- Attain at least a 2.70 cumulative GPA in all major courses and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.
- Complete the principal instrument proficiency level, as specified by the major.
- Complete a required final project in the chosen area of concentration, as described and approved by the department chair (as applicable).
- For music education majors, complete all observation and student teaching requirements.
- For music therapy majors, complete all coursework and a six-month, full-time, post-coursework internship.
- Fulfill all financial obligations to the college.
Learn more about the requirements to graduate.
Level 1: Required Core Music Courses (29 Potential Transfer Credits) Students must complete all of the required core music courses listed in block 1 below to be eligible for transfer credits. Contact the academic advisor at this institution to ask for details. Potential Transfer Credit Summary Courses and Credits
BLOCK 1 (14 Credits) Koyo school of music and dance Courses Berklee college of music Course equivalents Harmony 1 PW-111 Music Application and Theory (4 cr.) Harmony 2 HR-112 Harmony 2 (2 cr.) Arranging 1 AR-111 Arranging 1 (2 cr.) Ear Training 1 ET-111 Ear Training 1 (2 cr.) Ear Training 2 ET-112 Ear Training 2 (2 cr.) Introduction to Computer Music MTEC-111 Introduction to Music Technology (2 cr.) BLOCK 2 (15 POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL CREDITS) KOYO SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND DANCE COURSES BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC COURSE EQUIVALENTS Harmony 3 HR-211 Harmony 3 (2 cr.) Harmony 4 HR-212 Harmony 4 (2 cr.) Ear Training 3 ET-211 Ear Training 3 (2 cr.) or ET-231 Solfege 1 (2 cr.), depending on Berklee major requirement Ear Training 4 ET-212 Ear Training 4 (2 cr.) or ET-232 Solfege 2 (2 cr.), depending on Berklee major requirement Traditional Harmony and Composition 1 CM-211 Tonal Harmony and Composition 1 (2 cr.) Traditional Harmony and Composition 2 CM-212 Tonal Harmony and Composition 2 (2 cr.) Counterpoint CP-210 The Art of Counterpoint (3 cr.)
Level 2: Other Liberal Arts Courses and General Elective Courses (22 Potential Transfer Credits)
Note: Contact the academic advisor at this institution to ask about the courses below.Koyo School of Music and Dance Courses Berklee College of Music Course equivalents Classical Music Analysis MLAN-311 Analysis of Classical and Romantic Music (2 cr.) English as a Second Language 2 and 3 LHUM-2xx Liberal Arts Elective (3 cr.) Ethnic Music 1 PSW-346 African Diaspora: South American Music (2 cr.) Ethnic Music 2 MLAN-346 Music and Culture of India, the Far East, and Eastern Europe (2 cr.) History of Pop/Rock Music MHIS-322 History of Rock Music (2 cr.) History of Jazz LHAN-221 History of Jazz (2 cr.) Western Music History 1 and 2 MHIS-201 History of Music in the European Tradition (2 cr.) Introduction to Songwriting SW-111 Essentials of Songwriting (1 cr.) Jazz Improvisation PSIJ-211 Jazz Improvisational Techniques (2 cr.) Lydian Chromatic Concept AR-340 Jazz Arranging for Small Ensembles (2 cr.) Survey of Harmony in Rock Music HR-231 Harmonic Analysis of Rock Music (2 cr.)
Level 1 courses: 29 credits
Level 2 courses: 22 credits
Ensemble courses: 6 credits
Total: 57 credits