Music Production and Engineering Bachelor's Degree (2024)

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The music production and engineering (MP&E) experience at Berklee prepares you to enter the current music production field as an effective professional in any number of roles within a landscape of rapidly evolving tools and techniques. Your experience will prepare you to appropriatelyadaptto the changing demands of the recording industry.

Through in-studio classroom experience, hands-on project work, and exposure to resident and visiting industry professionals, you will:

• develop an informed and critical aesthetic vision;
• gain a thorough knowledge and understanding of complex technical systems;
• learn to collaborate effectively with others in numerous musical settings through participation as an engineer and producer;
• learn to define quality using both musical and technical criteria, and to apply those criteria to your work and to the work of others; and
• refine your communication and time-management skills in the context of multidisciplinary productions.

Please review these frequently asked questions to learn more about applying to the MP&E major. Prospective students indicating preference for this major will be sent detailed information by the Office of Admissions.

The learning outcomes for the MP&E major fall under four main themes: professional discourse and analysis, tools and technology, methodologies and best practices, and business.

Upon successful completion of this major, students will:

• apply critical listening skills and advanced analysis of both the aesthetic form and commercial function of records to evaluate audio program material across a variety of genres, and make technical and artistic decisions based upon that critical analysis;
• multitrack record, overdub, edit, and mix both live ensemble and electronically-produced sources, using complex analog and digital audio systems while demonstrating professional best practices;
• demonstrate a high-level understanding of the underlying technology and use of microphones, recording consoles, signal processing, signal flows and DAW workflows, and the ability to adapt to diverse and changing technology environments;
• manifest an informed and critical aesthetic vision while leading a creative project from idea inception to final delivery;
• successfully collaborate with others in a variety of musical settings through participation as an engineer and/or producer;
• communicate effectively, and employ time management skills in the context of multistage multidisciplinary productions;
• develop business plans and budgets in the context of multi-stakeholder music production projects; and
• produce and deliver commercially competitive masters to record labels and other media outlets in a variety of recommended formats.

Due to the rigor and popularity of the program, admission to the MP&E major is by application only. Acceptance is competitive and decisions are based on musicianship, prior academic record, and demonstrated passion for the craft.

Applications are accepted online at the beginning of fall and spring semesters, and students typically apply during their second semester on campus.

Application Process

The application is a two-step process that includes:

1. submission of a written online applicationconsisting of a series of short-answer essays; and
2. a five-minute (maximum)video responding to selected prompts.

Once received, applications will be reviewed by the MP&E selections committee. All applicants will be notified of their decision via email prior to registration for the following semester.

Prerequisites

You must be a currently enrolled Berklee College of Music student before being considered for admission to the MP&E major. Prior to applying, potential applicants must have completed at least one semester of study at the college or have a minimum of 12 transfer credits. Students intending to apply for MP&E should enroll in MP-113 no later than their second semester.

For detailed information on the application process, including specific information for Berklee Global Partner students,please see the answers to frequently asked questions.

There are 32 required credits specific to this major in addition to the B.M. required core music courses (41 credits), liberal arts courses (40 credits), and general electives (7 credits) for a degree total of 120 credits. See the sample curriculum here.

32 credits specific to the major:

• MP-113 Accelerated Pro Tools (2 credits)
• MP-211Principles of Audio Technology 1 (2 credits)
• MP-214Critical Listening Lab (1 credit)
• MP-215Production Analysis Lab(1 credit)
• MP-225Audio and MIDI Systems for Music Production(2 credits)
• MP-226Hybrid Production (2 credits)
• MP-212Principles of Audio Technology 2(2 credits)
• MP-241Mix Techniques(2 credits)
• MP-318Creative Production Skills(2 credits)
• MP-340Multitrack RecordingTechniques(2 credits)
• MP-341Mix Techniques 2(2 credits)
• MP-320Music Production for Records(2 credits)
• MP-385Advanced Recording Techniques(2 credits)
• MP-447The Business of Music Production(2 credits)
• MP-461Advanced Production Projects(2 credits)
• Major electives: 4 credits (see grids for more information; select any MP elective level 200 or above or MTEC elective level 300 or above)

LMSC-208 or LMSC-209 is recommended for MP&E students to fulfill their Mathematics/Natural Sciences degree requirement.