Program Overview
Computer requirements for Berklee students
Entering Students
Berklee College of Music requires all entering students to own an Apple Macintosh laptop computer that meets certain standards established by the college. The Berklee Laptop Package has been designed by Berklee to best meet the curricular and student-life needs at the college.
PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT PURCHASE A LAPTOP COMPUTER PRIOR TO COMING TO BERKLEE.
Berklee purchases and configures the Berklee Laptop Package for entering students, and includes a "Berklee Laptop Computer Purchase" charge on the first semester's tuition bill. (For more information, refer to the Financial Information section of this site.) Students pick up their laptop during orientation at the beginning of their first semester, prior to the start of classes.
Continuing and Returning Students
Continuing and returning students are not required to purchase the Berklee Laptop Package unless they did not otherwise purchase it or receive a waiver exempting purchase of it as an entering student, and are entering one of the six technology-heavy majors.
Technology-Heavy Majors
Continuing and returning students who wish to declare the contemporary writing and production, film scoring, music education, music production and engineering (MP&E), music synthesis, or songwriting majors must purchase the Berklee Laptop Package prior to beginning the first semester in the major, unless the Berklee Laptop Package was purchased through Berklee College as an entering student.
Each of the six technology-heavy majors at the college—Contemporary Writing and Production (CWP), Film Scoring, Music Education, Music Production and Engineering (MP&E), Music Synthesis, and Songwriting—require that students in the majors own the Berklee Laptop Package, as well as the specific Major Bundle for the major. The Major Bundle includes specific hardware and software components to meet the curricular, musical, and professional goals of the major.
After a student declares the Contemporary Writing and Production (CWP), Film Scoring, Music Education, or Songwriting major by completing the Declaration of Major form and submitting it to the appropriate office, or is notified of acceptance into the Music Production & Engineering (MP&E) or Music Synthesis major, the college identifies the students new to the six majors and orders a Major Bundle for each student entering the first semester in the major. Students new to any of the six tech-heavy majors pay for and receive the Major Bundle at the start of his/her first semester in the major. Please contact the appropriate department Chair for more information.
Transfer Students
Transfer students are considered entering students by the college and will also be required to purchase the Berklee Laptop Package.
Transfer students who declare one of the six technology-heavy majors—Contemporary Writing and Production, Film Scoring, Music Education, Music Production and Engineering, Music Synthesis, and Songwriting—will be required to purchase not only the Berklee Laptop Package but also the major bundle mandated by the major.
Students Attending Only the 12-Week Summer Session
Students who attend only the 12-week summer session will not be required to purchase a Berklee Laptop Package, but should be aware that some classes require a computer and that enrollment in those classes may be precluded without an Apple laptop that meets the college's minimum requirements.
Nonmatriculating Students
Non-matriculating students are those individuals from ProArts schools or other institutions who are enrolled for Berklee courses, but are not enrolled in a degree or diploma program at Berklee. Non-matriculating students are not required to purchase the Berklee Laptop Package.
Minimum computer specifications
The minimum computer specifications required of entering students (including first-semester transfer students) for the 2009-2010 academic year are:
- Apple Macintosh MacBook Pro computer with 15.4Ó display, 2.2Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 120GB hard disk, 4x SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW), ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB of GDDR3 SDRAM and dual-link DVI video, Gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 400, USB ports, AirPort card built-in.
A note on laptop screen size -- the minimum laptop screen size sactioned for use at Berklee is fifteen inches (15Ó). In selecting this size, Berklee is ensuring a uniform computing workspace for students, faculty and staff. In addition, many applications in the cirriculum, such as those for music notation, sequencing and recording, and video editing, are cumbersome to work with on screens smaller than fifteen inches.
These specifications are defined and approved by the academic leadership of the college and are not subject to appeal.
Why is a computer required, and why an Apple Macintosh?
For over a half a century, Berklee College of Music has been committed to preparing our students for the musical, technological, and business necessities of the world in which they will enter. It has become increasingly clear that Berklee students must be well versed in computer technology, and specifically, music technology.
Berklee uses Apple Macintosh computers throughout our curriculum because much of the software that supports our curriculum runs exclusively on the Macintosh platform. In addition, we have found that students who have experience working on the Macintosh platform at Berklee are better prepared when they enter the music profession, where the Macintosh platform and the same software used in our coursework are prevalent and vital tools.
As part of the education process, students not only learn about music technology, but also how to utilize their computer for managing their studies, organizing their schedule, developing an effective network of contacts, and learning how to ultimately manage their career.
Why should Berklee specify the computer type, specs, and configuration?
Our experience with the laptop requirement, combined with research on the experiences of other universities, indicates Berklee students enjoy numerous benefits as a result of this requirement and laptop package.
- Coupled with a laptop computer, entering students have a year to learn the basics of technology and be better prepared when declaring a major, particularly one of Berklee's six technology-heavy majors.
- Students have access to computing capability at all times and places.
- Students are more organized. All files are in one place and can be accessed at any time.
- The core course, Introduction to Music Technology, which is mandatory for all students, requires the use of a laptop computer in the curriculum. In addition, many courses have online web-based materials.
- Students see a more realistic representation of the way course content is applied in the working world.
- Students become more accustomed to working in the manner of their chosen profession.
- Students have access to the technological tools they need to do their work; off-campus students (80% of Berklee students live off-campus) can use their laptop for homework without needing to come to a campus-based lab facility.
- Standardization of formats and platforms with common software aids the production of projects and sharing of files.
- Faculty members can integrate computers into classroom teaching and coursework without concern for scheduling and availability of outside computer time.
- Research has proven that communication between faculty and students increases across the campus.
- Access to online resources, including the internet, the Berklee library, Berklee online curricula, and email is enhanced.
- Increased use of new media resources, and other technology-based course supplements can be adopted as they become available.
- Wireless access is available in most public spaces around the Berklee campus.
- Most official communication on campus happens electronically.
- The Macintosh platform is widely used in the music profession.
- Much of the software that supports Berklee's curriculum runs exclusively on the Mac platform.
- Berklee coursework and faculty use the same kind of computers and applications and are thus better able to serve students.
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