Composition Diploma

Valid for catalog year fall 2019–summer 2020 only. For students who entered Berklee prior to fall 2019, search major grids for past catalog years.

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    Core

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    Major

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    Liberal Arts

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    Electives

Semester 1

Course # Title Credits
PIXX-111 Private Instruction 1 2
ENXX-xxx Ensemble 1
PW-111 Music Application and Theory 4
ET-111 Ear Training 1 2
MTEC-111 Introduction to Music Technology 2
LENS-10x LENS Seminar 2
Total Credits 13

Semester 2

Course # Title Credits
PIXX-112 Private Instruction 2 2
ENXX-xxx Ensemble 1
AR-111 Arranging 1 2
ET-112 Ear Training 2 2
HR-112 Harmony 2 2
CM-211 Tonal Harmony and Composition 1 2
ISKB-211 Basic Keyboard 1 1
Total Credits 12

Semester 3 (suggested semester to study abroad)

Course # Title Credits
PIXX-211 Private Instruction 3 1
ENXX-xxx Ensemble 1
ILXX-xxx Instrumental Lab 1
ET-231 Solfege 1 2
HR-211 Harmony 3 2
CP-210 The Art of Counterpoint 1 3
ISKB-212 Basic Keyboard 2 1
XXXX-xxx General Electives 1
Total Credits 12

Semester 4 (suggested semester to study abroad)

Course # Title Credits
PIXX-212 Private Instruction 4 1
ENXX-xxx Ensemble 1
ILXX-xxx Instrumental Lab 1
ET-232 Solfege 2 2
HR-212 Harmony 4 2
CM-212 Tonal Harmony and Composition 2 2
XXXX-xxx Conducting 1 - choose 1
COND-211 Conducting 1
COND-216 Conducting 1 with Live Keyboard Ensemble		 1
LENG-111 Introduction to College Writing 3
Total Credits 13

Semester 5

Course # Title Credits
CP-215 The Art of Counterpoint 2 2
XXXX-xxx Conducting 2 - choose 1
COND-212 Conducting 2
COND-217 Conducting 2 with Live Keyboard Ensemble		 1
MHIS-251 General Music History 1 2
CM-221 Techniques of Tonal Writing 2
CP-311 Advanced Counterpoint 2
CM-311 Contemporary Techniques in Composition 1 2
MLAN-311 Analysis of Classical and Romantic Music 2
Total Credits 13

Semester 6

Course # Title Credits
LHUM-400 Professional Development Seminar 2
MHIS-252 General Music History 2 2
MHIS-22X Music of the African Diaspora in the United States (choose 1) 2
CM-312 Contemporary Techniques in Composition 2 2
CM-231 Instrumentation and Score Preparation 2
CM-398 Directed Study in Composition 1 1
XXXX-xxx Major Electives (select from list below)
Any CM, CP, COND, MLAN, and MHIS course not already taken as part of the major, as well as CW-237, CW-247 and CW-257, ENCL-406, PSVC-343, and SW-345		 2
Total Credits 13

Semester 7

Course # Title Credits
MLAN-312 Analysis: 20th- and 21st-Century * 2
CW-441 Scoring for Full Orchestra 2
CM-497 Directed Study in Composition 2 1
XXXX-xxx Major Electives (select from list below)
Any CM, CP, COND, MLAN, and MHIS course not already taken as part of the major, as well as CW-237, CW-247 and CW-257, ENCL-406, PSVC-343, and SW-345		 2
XXXX-xxx General Electives 4
Total Credits 11

Semester 8

Course # Title Credits
CM-498 Directed Study in Composition 3 2
XXXX-xxx Major Electives (select from list below)
Any CM, CP, COND, MLAN, and MHIS course not already taken as part of the major, as well as CW-237, CW-247 and CW-257, ENCL-406, PSVC-343, and SW-345		 4
XXXX-xxx General Electives 3
Total Credits 9

* Offered spring and fall only

Study abroad at our Valencia, Spain, campus. It is recommended that composition majors study in Valencia during their third or fourth semester. For specific program information, please see the chair of your major or contact the study abroad office.