Online Course Equivalencies
Below you will find a list of course equivalencies offered through Berklee Online. These courses have a different registration process and cost than courses offered on campus as part of your degree or diploma program. Review Berklee Online's tuition and fees for more information. Note that scholarships and financial aid cannot be used for Berklee Online courses.
Additional Information About Berklee Online Courses
- Any course taken through Berklee Online that is not on the lists below will transfer in as a general elective only.
- Students must complete this form to transfer their Berklee Online courses to their Berklee College of Music degree audit.
- Individual classes cannot be selected for transfer. This means all Berklee Online classes that a student has received a grade for will be transferred to their Berklee College of Music degree audit.
- All courses taken through Berklee Online will affect your GPA. Courses taken through Berklee Online are Berklee courses and cannot be removed from your transcript.
- You can review other alternative options for credit fulfillment (i.e., the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Advanced Placement exams) on our Registrar's page, as well as a complete list of Berklee equivalencies for CLEP exams.
- For remote study options for major requirements other than those explained below, please speak with your major chair. Berklee Online courses other than those specifically listed below cannot count toward your major without prior approval from your major chair.
As of fall 2020, many new Berklee Online course equivalencies have been added to the catalogue, including many major requirements and major electives. Please review the options below and contact the department chair if you have any questions:
- Counterpoint
- Contemporary Writing and Production
- Screen Scoring
- Jazz Composition
- Liberal Arts
- MTEC-111 Introduction to Music Technology
- Music Business
- Music Production and Engineering
- Music Therapy
- Performance Major Electives
- Performance Studies
- Recording and Production for Musicians Minor
- Songwriting
Counterpoint
Counterpoint Course
There is currently no online course equivalency for CP-210 The Art of Counterpoint.
Contemporary Writing and Production (CWP)
CWP Courses
| Berklee Online Course | CWP Course Equivalent and/or Requirement | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCOMP-491 Music Composition for Film and TV 2 | Major elective | ||
| OCOMP-492 Interactive Scoring for Games | Advanced technology elective | ||
| OCWPR-398 Composing and Producing Electronic Music 2 | Advanced technology elective | ||
| OMBUS-381 Music Business Law for Artists | Major elective | ||
| OMBUS-391 Creative Entrepreneurship |
| ||
| OMBUS-495 Music Supervision 1 | Major elective | ||
| OMBUS-496 Music Licensing | Major elective | ||
| OMPRD-205 Music Writing and Production with the iPad | PW-321 Music Writing and Production with the iPad (or advanced technology elective) | Student cannot also receive credit for PW-321 on campus. | |
| OMPRD-442 Audio Mastering Techniques | Advanced technology elective | ||
| OMPRD-402 Creative Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for Music and Visuals | Advanced technology elective | ||
| OSONG-430 Songwriting for Film and TV | Major elective |
Screen Scoring
Screen Scoring Courses
| Berklee Online Course | Screen Scoring Course Equivalent and/or Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OCOMP-485 Contemporary Techniques in Music Composition 2 | FS-351 Post-Romantic Scoring | Student cannot also receive credit for FS-351 on campus. |
| OCOMP-490 Music Composition for Film and TV 1 | FS-241 Dramatic Scoring 1 | Student cannot also receive credit for FS-241 on campus. |
| OCOMP-493 World Music Composition Styles | FS-433 Stylistic Adaptations | Student cannot also receive credit for FS-433 on campus. |
| OCOMP-495 Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games Capstone | FS-487 Senior Seminar and Portfolio | This course requires special permission from Berklee Online for registration. Please contact advisors@online.berklee.edu. Students cannot also receive credit for FS-487 on campus. |
| OCWPR-366 Orchestration 2: Writing Techniques for Full Orchestra | FS-340 Dramatic Orchestration | Student cannot also receive credit for FS-340 on campus. |
| OCWPR-385 Writing and Producing Advertising Music | Major elective | |
| OHARM-412 Reharmonization Techniques | Major elective | |
| OLSOC-150 The Language of Film and TV | Major elective | |
| OSONG-430 Songwriting for Film and TV | Major elective |
Jazz Composition
Jazz Composition Courses
| Berklee Online Course | Jazz Composition Course Equivalent and/or Requirement | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| OHARM-412 Reharmonization Techniques | HR-325 Reharmonization Techniques | Student cannot also receive credit for HR-325 on campus. |
Liberal Arts
Liberal Arts Courses
| Berklee Online Course | Liberal Arts Course Equivalent and/or Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LENG-111 Introduction to College Writing | Students who are native English speakers, who have demonstrated English proficiency on Berklee's English Placement Test sufficient to enroll in LENG-111, or who have completed LENG-106 (ESL 3) may use this course to fulfill the LENG-111 requirement. | |
| OLART-201 Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians | LENG-223 Literature Topics | Students who have completed a 100-level English writing and composition course may use this to fulfill the LENG-223 English literature requirement. |
| OLART-400 Career and Job Success in the Music Industry | LHUM-400 Professional Development Seminar | Students who are in semester six or above may register for this course. |
| OLSOC-210 Music, Self, and Society | Music and society (LMAS) | Students who have completed a 100-level English writing and composition course may use this course to fulfill their music and society (LMAS) requirement. |
| OLMSC-130 Applied Mathematics for Musicians | LMSC-130 Applications of Mathematics | Students cannot also get credit for LMSC-130 on campus. |
| OLMSC-215 Acoustics | Natural science/math (LMSC) | Students who have completed OLMSC-130/LMSC-130 or demonstrated proficiency on the online math placement exam may use this to fulfill the LMSC-xxx math/science requirement. Students who take this course cannot get credit for LMSC-209. Students majoring in electronic production and design or music production and engineering may use this course to satisfy the acoustics requirement. Students will be required to complete additional proctored exams. |
| OLMSC-250 Music and Neuroscience | Natural science/math (LMSC) | Students who have completed OLMSC-130/LMSC-130 or demonstrated proficiency on the online math placement exam may use this to fulfill the LMSC-xxx math/science requirement. |
| OLSOC-226 New Media Economics: Music, Mobile, Gaming, and Online Economics or OLSOC-307 Music Cognition | Social science (LSOC) | OLSOC-226: Students who have completed a 100-level English writing and composition course may use this course to fulfill their social science (LSOC) requirement. OLSOC-307: Students who have completed a 100-level English writing and composition course and a general/introductory psychology course may use this to fulfill their social science (LSOC) requirement or a liberal arts elective. Students will be required to complete an additional proctored exam and an essay for transfer to the Bachelor of Music degree. Students who take this course cannot get credit for LSOC-307. |
| OLART-231 Art History of the Western European Tradition | Visual studies (LVIS) | Students who have completed a 100-level English writing and composition course may use this to fulfill the visual studies requirement (LVIS). Students who take this course cannot get credit for LVIS-223 Art History Topics: Themes/Variations in Western Art. |
| OLART-220 History of Film Music | Music history elective: MHIS-3XX | Students who have completed a 100-level English writing and composition course and MHIS-20x may use this course to fulfill the music history elective requirement. Students who take this course cannot get credit for MHIS-331. |
| OLART-100 Developing Your Artistry | Liberal arts elective | Students in the Bachelor of Music program who are not required to take LHUM-100 or LENS may use this course as fulfillment of a liberal arts elective. Students who take this course cannot get credit for LENS-XXX. |
| OLSOC-150 The Language of Film and TV | Liberal arts elective | Students who have completed a 100-level English writing and composition course may use this course as fulfillment of a liberal arts elective. Students are required to participate in the weekly discussion forum and contribute to 75 percent of the required discussion activities. Students who take this course cannot get credit for LHUM-251. |
| OLART-216 Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice | Liberal arts elective | Students who have completed a 100-level English writing and composition course may use this to fulfill a liberal arts elective. |
MTEC-111 Introduction to Music Technology
MTEC-111 Course
| Berklee Online Course | Berklee College of Music Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
OLMSC-101 Music Production Fundamentals
| MTEC-111 Introduction to Music Technology | This course may be used to fulfill the MTEC-111 requirement. |
Music Business/Management
Music Business Courses
For Berklee College of Music students on the Boston campus only: In order for any Berklee Online music business course equivalent to properly replace an on-campus degree requirement, you must complete the appropriate on-campus course prerequisites before the transfer is complete. Please speak with the department chair, your on-campus advisor and/or the transfer credit coordinator before enrolling in a Berklee Online course for on-campus credit.
| Berklee Online Course | Music Business Course Equivalent and/or Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OMBUS-391 Creative Entrepreneurship | PM-340 The Artist Entrepreneur (major elective for music business majors only) | This substitution is not available for professional music majors, for whom PM-340 is a required class. Music business majors who take OMBUS-391 cannot also receive major elective credit for PM-340. |
| OLSOC-200 Business Communications | MB-287 Business Communication (major elective) | Students can register for this course as a music business/management major elective. Students who take this course cannot also get credit for MB-287 on campus. |
| OMBUS-110 Music Business 101 | MB-101 Introduction to the Music Business (general elective only) | MB-101 is not part of the music business/management major. It is a general elective and open to all students. Students who take this course cannot also get credit for taking MB-101 on campus. |
| OMBUS-360 Music Business Leadership and Ethics | MB-301 Business Leadership and Ethics (major requirement) | Students can register for this course if they have fulfilled the necessary prerequisites. Students cannot also get credit for MB-301 on campus. |
| OMBUS-381 Music Business Law for Artists | MB-211 Legal Aspects of the Music Industry (major requirement) | Students can register for this course if they have fulfilled the necessary prerequisites. Students cannot also get credit for MB-211 on campus. |
| OMBUS-385 Copyright Law | MB-311 Copyright Law (major elective) | Students can register for this course if they have fulfilled the necessary prerequisites. Students cannot also get credit for MB-311 on campus. |
| OMBUS-475 Music Business Finance | MB-395 Business Finance (major requirement) | Students can register for this course if they have fulfilled the necessary prerequisites. Students cannot also get credit for MB-395 on campus. |
| OMBUS-496 Music Licensing | MB-415 International Music Licensing (major elective) | Students can register for this course if they have fulfilled the necessary prerequisites. Students cannot also get credit for MB-415 on campus. |
Music Production and Engineering (MP&E)
MP&E Courses
| Berklee Online Course | MP&E Course Equivalent and/or Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OLMSC-215 Acoustics | LMSC-209 Architectural Acoustics (prerequisite course for major) | Students cannot also receive credit for LMSC-209 on campus. |
| OMPRD-160 Music Production Analysis | MP-215 Production Analysis Lab (major requirement) | Students cannot also receive credit for MP-215 on campus. |
| OMPRD-162 Critical Listening 1 | MP-214 Critical Listening Lab (major requirement) | Students cannot also receive credit for MP-214 on campus. |
| OMPRD-221 Pro Tools 110 | MP-113 Accelerated Pro Tools (general elective) | Students cannot also receive credit for MP-113 on campus. |
| OMPRD-498 Music Production Capstone | MP-461 Advanced Production Projects (major requirement) | This course requires special permission from Berklee Online for registration. Please contact advisors@online.berklee.edu. Students cannot also receive credit for MP-461 on campus. |
Music Therapy
Music Therapy Courses
| Berklee Online Course | Music Therapy Course Equivalent and/or Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OMUTH-105 Music Therapy Techniques for Wellness | Major elective | |
| OMUTH-201 Music Therapy for Beginners | MTH-201 Introduction to Music Therapy | Students cannot also receive credit for MTH-201 on campus. |
Performance Major Electives
Performance Major Electives
| Berklee Online Course | Berklee College of Music Course Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OMPRD-180 Pro Tools 101 | SW-161 DAW for Songwriters: Pro Tools | Students cannot also receive credit for SW-161 on campus. |
| OMPRD-278 Ableton Live Fundamentals | SW-181 DAW for Songwriters: Ableton Live | Students cannot also receive credit for SW-181 on campus. |
| OSONG-150 Music Production Fundamentals for Songwriters | SW-191 DAW for Songwriters: Logic Pro X | Students cannot also receive credit for SW-191 on campus. |
| OMBUS-110 Music Business 101 | MB-101 Introduction to the Music Business | Students cannot also receive credit for MB-101 on campus. |
| OMBUS-381 Music Business Law for Artists | MB-211 Legal Aspects of the Music Industry | Students cannot also receive credit for MB-211 on campus. |
Performance Studies
The following three credit performance study courses will transfer to Berklee College of Music as one instrumental lab (ILxx) credit and two general elective credits.
Lab Options: All Instruments
| Berklee Online Course | Berklee College of Music Course Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OPERF-312 Gary Burton: Jazz Improvisation | ILXX-XXX (any instrumental lab) | This course may be used to fulfill an instrumental lab credit for all instruments. |
Lab Options: Bass
These courses may be used to fulfill an instrumental lab requirement for bass principals in the Bachelor of Music program.
| OBASS-231 Rock Bass |
| OBASS-234 Slap Bass |
| OBASS-332 Jazz Bass |
| OBASS-333 R&B Bass |
Lab Options: Guitar
These courses may be used to fulfill an instrumental lab requirement for guitar principals in the Bachelor of Music program:
The following courses may be used by non-guitar principals as an equivalent to ILGT-115 Guitar Performance Skills for the Non-Guitar Principal:
| OGUIT-105 Guitar Fundamentals |
The following course equivalencies for non-guitar principals as an equivalent to ILGT-115 Guitar Performance Skills for the Non-Guitar Principal are no longer available starting in fall 2024. These course equivalencies will be honored through August 2024 only:
Lab Options: Percussion
These courses may be used to fulfill an instrumental lab requirement for percussion principals in the Bachelor of Music program.
| OPERC-160 Drum Set Performance 101 |
| OPERC-261 Rock Drums |
| OPERC-263 Funk R&B Drums |
| OPERC-324 Afro-Cuban Drums |
Lab Options: Piano
These courses may be used to fulfill an instrumental lab requirement for piano principals in the Bachelor of Music program.
| OPIAN-220 Blues and Rock Keyboard Techniques |
| OPIAN-230 Pop/Rock Keyboard |
| OPIAN-315 Jazz Piano |
Lab Options: Voice
These courses may be used to fulfill an instrumental lab requirement for voice principals in the Bachelor of Music program.
| OVOIC-241 Pop and Rock Vocals |
| OVOIC-242 Jazz Singing 101 |
| OVOIC-243 R&B Vocals |
Recording and Production for Musicians Minor
Recording and Production Course Electives
OMPRD-160 Music Production Analysis This may be used as fulfillment of the MP-115 Production Analysis Lab for Musicians requirement within the recording and production for musicians minor. |
OMPRD-162 Critical Listening 1 This may be used as fulfillment of the MP-114 Critical Listening Lab for Musicians requirement within the recording and production for musicians minor. |
Engineering Course Electives
These courses may be used as fulfillment of an engineering course elective within the recording and production for musicians minor.
Production Course Electives
These courses may be used as fulfillment of a production course elective within the recording and production for musicians minor.
| OMPRD-389 Audio Post-Production for Film and TV |
| OMPRD-475 Creative Music Production Skills |
Songwriting
Songwriting
Songwriting Courses
The following songwriting major course equivalencies are no longer available starting in fall 2024. These course equivalencies will be honored through August 2024 only.
| Berklee Online Course | Songwriting Course Equivalent and/or Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OCOMP-490 Music Composition for Film and TV 1 | Major elective | |
| OCOMP-491 Music Composition for Film and TV 2 | Major elective | |
| OMPRD-205 Music Writing and Production with the iPad | Major elective | |
| OMPRD-379 Ableton Live Techniques: Synthesis and DSP | Major elective | |
| OMPRD-385 Remixing | Major elective | |
| OMPRD-402 Creative Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for Music and Visuals | Major elective | |
| OSONG-220 Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies | SW-221 Lyric Writing 1 (major requirement) | Student cannot also get credit for SW-221 on campus. |
| OSONG-150 Music Production Fundamentals for Songwriters | Major elective | |
| OSONG-221 Lyric Writing: Writing From the Title | Major elective | |
| OSONG-222 Lyric Writing: Writing Lyrics to Music | Major elective | |
| OSONG-240 Commercial Songwriting Techniques | Major elective | |
| OSONG-310 Songwriting: Writing Hit Songs | Major elective | |
| OSONG-315 Songwriting: Melody | Major elective | |
| OSONG-316 Songwriting: Harmony | Major elective |
Berklee chairs/deans: please contact Sophie Innerfield if you have any updates for this page.