Dual Programs of Study for Music

Source: https://college.harvard.edu/academics/liberal-arts-sciences/dual-programs-study-music Parent: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply

Overview

For Musical Academics or Academic Musicians

If you are a talented musician and dedicated scholar, choosing between in-depth music training and a liberal arts education can be a tough decision. With Harvard's dual programs of study with New England Conservatory (NEC) and Berklee College of Music, you can have the best of both worlds.

Programs

The dual programs of study allow students to receive a bachelor's degree from Harvard College and take private lessons and preparatory classes at New England Conservatory or Berklee.

Students taking part in the Harvard-NEC dual degree program will pursue a bachelor's degree at Harvard followed by a master's degree at NEC.

Students taking part in the Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies program will complete Harvard’s bachelor’s requirements in their four years and then have the option to apply to the Berklee master's program.

New England Conservatory

The Harvard/NEC program is a 5-year dual degree program in which a student earns a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) or Bachelor of Science (S.B.) at Harvard College and a Master of Music (M.M.) at New England Conservatory.

Conservatory

Program Overview

During your first three years, you will take studio instruction each semester at NEC, but you will focus on your academic coursework at Harvard. In your fourth year of study, you will complete your degree requirements at Harvard and begin to fulfill NEC’s Master of Music (M.M.) degree requirements, which you will finish in your fifth year of study. - #### Admission

The program is open to high school students who apply to both institutions through the normal admissions process. You must apply to both Harvard and NEC, indicating on both applications your interest in the Harvard-NEC dual degree option. If you are admitted to both institutions, you will then receive an additional decision for admission to the dual degree program.

Admission to the NEC Dual Degree Program guarantees admission to the NEC Master of Music degree program.

NEC does not offer an early action program but has a regular action deadline of December 1.

Performance applicants will be expected to audition at NEC during the regular auditions period in February/March.

Composition applicants will be expected to interview at NEC during February/March if invited after review of scores and recordings.

Find out more at the Department of Music at Harvard (617-495-2791) or the Office of Admissions at New England Conservatory (617-585-1101).

For more information, you may also contact:

Harvard University \ Peter Charig, Undergraduate Program Coordinator \ Pcharig@fas.harvard.edu

New England Conservatory of Music \ Admissions@necmusic.edu

Berklee College of Music

The Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies program is designed for musicians who are interested in building a foundation for their artistic careers at Berklee, while attaining a liberal arts education at Harvard.

Berklee

Program Overview

The Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies program allows students to take courses at Berklee while pursuing their undergraduate degree at Harvard.

Joint Studies students complete the full requirements of the Harvard A.B. or S.B. degree, including all general education requirements and all the requirements for the Harvard concentration of their choice. As part of their Harvard curriculum, students may take classes at Berklee. Students begin by taking private instruction on their instrument at Berklee, participating in an ensemble, and taking introductory courses that prepare them for more advanced offerings within Berklee’s curriculum. From there, students will be allowed to pursue their own interests at Berklee in consultation with Berklee and Harvard advisers. Students who are interested in pursuing a master’s program at Berklee may do so separately from the Joint Studies program, through consultation with Berklee advisors. - #### Admission

The Joint Studies program is open to high school students who apply to both institutions through the normal admissions process. You must apply to both Harvard and Berklee, indicating on both applications your interest in the Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies option. If you are admitted to both institutions, you will then receive an additional decision for the Joint Studies program.

Berklee students are allowed to apply early to both Harvard and Berklee. They will receive their general admission decisions from both in December, but they will not receive their decision from Berklee about the Joint Studies program until the spring.

Admission to the Joint Studies program does not guarantee admission to the master’s program. Students must apply for the master’s program in their final year at Harvard.\

Find out more at the Department of Music at Harvard University (617-495-2791) or contact the Office of Admissions at Berklee College of Music at 800-237-5533 or admissions@berklee.com.