Requirements for Graduation

Berklee students must meet the following requirements to qualify for graduation:

Undergraduate College Students

Attain at least a 2.70 cumulative GPA in major courses.
Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.00.
Complete the principal instrument proficiency level, as specified by 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.
Meet all residency and program requirements.

*Students must earn all required instrumental credit on a single principal instrument. Credit earned in instrumental instruction on a non-principal instrument may be applied toward instrument lab (ILxx) requirements. Students with principal instruments in the bass, brass, string, percussion, or woodwind families may use private instruction credit on more than one instrument within their respective family toward this requirement.

Undergraduate Conservatory Students

Attain good artistic standing.
Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.00.
Meet all residency and program requirements.

Graduate Students

Maintain full-time study at Berklee throughout the expected length of their program.
Earn a minimum letter grade of B- in each course counting towards a program requirement.
Attain a minimum GPA of 3.00.
Complete all coursework, the culminating experience and any other graduation requirements.

Honors

At the time of graduation, students who have attained a cumulative GPA within the following limits will have their diplomas and records inscribed with the corresponding honors.

Honor	Cumulative GPA
Summa cum laude	3.85–4.00
Magna cum laude	3.70–3.84
Cum laude	3.50–3.69

Residency Requirements

Undergraduate Programs
All undergraduate students, including those transferring from another school, are required to complete a minimum of 60 credits in residence for degree programs or 48 credits in residence for Professional Diploma programs. Bachelor’s degree students are also required to complete six liberal arts credits taken at Berklee.

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.

Graduate Students
Graduate students are required to maintain full-time residency throughout the expected length of their program. Exceptions to the standard residency requirements may be made at the discretion of the Division Dean.

Advisory Status

Berklee College of Music students are moved from Active Status to Advisory Status in their major when their major GPA falls below the minimum requirement of 2.70, based on final grades earned in their major-only courses at the end of the fall and spring semesters. (Advisory Status is not assigned following the summer semester.)

Students cannot graduate while in Advisory Status in their major. To stay on track and progress toward degree completion, they must return to Active Status in their major. Learn more about Advisory Status and how to return to Active Status.