EPD Application FAQ

If you are a degree student, you must earn 24 credits before you begin the EPD major. If you are a diploma student, you must earn 20 credits before you begin the EPD major. In addition, you should have already taken or tested out of MTEC-111 Introduction to Music Technology. 

There are no courses that are prerequisites, other than MTEC-111, that will apply to the EPD major in advance. We recommend however that you take your math/science requirement as soon as possible. Your math/science requirement is part of the Liberal Arts Department. EPD majors are required to take one of the following: 

• LMSC- 208 Music Acoustics
• LMSC-209 Architectural Acoustics
• LMSC-261 Introduction to Computer Programming
• OLMSC-215 Berklee Online Acoustics

You can expect to use Ableton Live and Avid Pro-Tools while in EPD so if either of these are software you may need extra time to learn, then MTEC-213: Introduction to Ableton Live or MP-113: Accelerated Pro Tools are good options. These would both count towards your general electives, but not towards your EPD major.

You can apply as soon as you meet the prerequisites. If you are a degree student, you must earn 24 credits by the end of the semester in which you are applying to the major. If you are a diploma student, you must earn 20 credits by the end of the semester in which you are applying to the major. And you need to have taken or tested out of MTEC-111 Introduction to Music Technology. 

For most students, this means you can apply in your second semester in hopes of starting in EPD in your third semester if you are accepted into the major. If you have transfer credits and have tested out of MTEC-111 you may be able to apply in your first semester in hopes of starting EPD in your second semester if you are accepted into the major.

Apply in the spring for entrance in the summer or fall semesters. If you apply in the spring, you must state which semester you’d like to start in, summer or fall. This will be taken into consideration when the applicants are chosen. Apply in the fall for entrance in the spring semester. There is no application period in the summer. 

If you are a later semester student, please note that EPD is a five-semester program. Make sure that you have five semesters left at Berklee so that you can graduate on time. 

Yes, you can still apply if you are not currently enrolled in courses or if you’re studying abroad in Valencia. We can hold your interview over Zoom. 

Using our EPD Application Portal (for Berklee students only), you must submit an essay as well as two media files of your best work in order to apply. You will then be interviewed by EPD faculty. You must submit your application before the application deadline, as no late applications will be accepted under any circumstances. We will do our best to notify you before your registration time. EPD has a specific number of seats available for each entering class. We encourage students to apply early and often. If a student does not get into the major, we encourage them to apply a second time.

You are expected to start in the semester you applied for. However, requests to defer enrollment for a semester may be considered given justifiable cause. If you would like to defer, please contact the EPD department and they will determine whether or not a deferment is possible given the enrollment in the major that semester. 

The EPD Selection Committee reviews all applications. The committee consists of EPD faculty and the department chair and assistant chair.

Entrance is offered to those applicants who demonstrate a high likelihood of success in the EPD program and the fields of electronic music production or performance, sound design, sound for games and visual media, or new musical instrument design. Criteria for acceptance include a demonstrated understanding of the fields of electronic music, sound design, and/or new music technologies presented through your creative work, essay, and interview. We are looking for students who have experience composing, producing, and/or performing electronic music genres. We require a high level of proven academic performance (i.e., demonstrated through your GPA). 

Knowledge of specific EPD course offerings is recommended. We also expect that EPD candidates have the ability to articulate how their experience in the EPD major would help attain their personal and career goals in the fields listed above. It helps if a student can show passion in the fields of electronic music production, sound design, sound design for visual media, games, and immersive environments, synthesis, modular synthesis, coding, plugin design, and/or new musical instrument design. 

Students who join the major have a wide range of skill levels. Some students who are accepted into EPD have been immersed in EPD related topics for quite some time, while others are new to the fields of electronic music and sound design. No matter your level of experience, our department seeks students who immerse themselves deeply in their passions for electronic music and sound design, demonstrating this dedication through their creative work, essay, and interview.

Well, we are the electronic production and design major so it’s certainly preferred. Our students range widely in their principal instrument and the genres of music they are interested in. The pieces you submit should showcase your best work and your skill set. Make it clear why you’ve chosen these pieces, how they relate to who you are, and how it relates to your interest in EPD and what EPD has to offer.

You will meet with a faculty member for a short interview (approximately 20 minutes) which may be in person or over Zoom. You should be on time (if not early) and prepared as the interview is still an important component to getting accepted to the major. The faculty member will talk to you about your application and ask you a little bit more about yourself and your interest in EPD. 

There’s no need for any special preparation, but we advise you to be familiar with the EPD major, the curriculum, and how it fits into your time at Berklee and your future plans after graduation. We want you to be yourself and to find out what excites and interests you about EPD. 

Yes. In fact we encourage it! We also encourage you to reach out to the department to set up a time to meet with the chair or assistant chair to discuss your application. 

Regrettably, due to limited resources in our department, we must decline some students during each application cycle. If you weren't admitted, we suggest scheduling an appointment to discuss your application and explore ways to enhance it for future submissions. We encourage you to reapply, as not being accepted doesn't necessarily indicate that you weren't a strong candidate. It simply means that we couldn't accommodate all applicants. We strive to assist as many students as possible given the circumstances and demand. 

The percentage of students who are accepted depends on how many apply. It can sometimes be very competitive, with only 50 to 60 percent getting accepted, or it can be less competitive, with up to 90 percent getting accepted. In general, we accept 50 students for spring and fall and 20 for summer. 

Hands-on experience is a central component of the EPD curriculum. For effective education to occur, it is essential to maintain reasonable ratios of student enrollment to available facilities and faculty. The labs and studios can only accommodate a limited number of students.

Yes, absolutely! Double majors are common. In most cases a double major will add two semesters to your time at Berklee. Some common double majors with EPD include music production and engineering, songwriting, film and media scoring, game and interactive media scoring, jazz composition, and even music therapy. Students should contact the chairs of the additional major to find out how to declare the major.

Yes. The following electronic production and design major bundle is required of students entering the EPD major:

•    Native Instruments Komplete
•    Ableton Live Suite
•    iZotope Production Bundle

As an EPD major, you are required to purchase a license or a subscription to Max/MSP/Jitter.

Major bundles will be included in your tuition bill. Technology Support will send you the information you need after you’ve paid for the bundle. Find more details at berklee.edu/sts/major-bundles.

Note: Additional hardware and software not listed in the bundle may be required for more advanced courses. Your teacher will let you know if additional materials are needed for a course.

Unfortunately, Berklee does not offer partial bundles. If you have all of the software, you can send receipts or other proof of purchase to elpd@berklee.edu—only after the bundle has been added to your bill. At that point, the department will reach out to the Office of Student Accounts to request that bundle be removed from your account. 

If you want to buy only the remaining software you are missing you can find deals on the retail sales page. 

If you have already paid for the bundle and received the codes from Technology Support, you cannot be refunded. 

The bundle is only available to those that have declared the major. 

The bundle can sometimes be delayed and may not be added to your bill until the beginning of the semester. Reach out to elpd@berklee.edu if you have not received the bundle by the third week of classes. 

Please email the EPD office at elpd@berklee.edu or visit the EPD office in person. We are open Monday through Friday, in person, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 1126 Boylston Street, second floor (above Symphony Mart).