<p>Hi!</p>
<p>I was wondering if you know the names of colleges that have songwriting as a major (or popular music, such as USC). I know this is an extremely rare major, so there won't be that many schools.</p>
<p>These are the only colleges I have found so far:</p>
<p>Berklee College of Music
University of Southern California
Belmount University</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Not really that rare, just a possibly narrower focus than the aims of a music degree. Eg. many many many music students write contemporary songs 
But they’re building on a base of explicit training in their musicality, whether it’s composition, voice performance, jazz guitar etc.</p>
<p>At any rate, here’s one for sure that I suspect is exactly what you mean: NYU - Tisch Clive Davis Recording Arts program – mostly contemporary for producer/artists – believe it is a BFA or Bsc (can’t remember now). Not part of the music school. Admission is by portfolio of songs, admit rate is about 10%.</p>
<p>Other programs where you’re likely to write/produce contemporary music and where they require portfolios of your contemporary work would include Indiana SOM (Jacobs) Recording Arts Bsc degree and UMich SOM Performing Arts Technology (which includes a lot of electronic composition and can be a BFA or BMUS).</p>
<p>There are actually a lot of different kinds of programs wherein the majority of the students write and record contemporary music but it is really all over the map.<br>
Hope this gives you somewhere to start.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, kmccrinle!</p>
<p>That’s great to know! 
I’ll be sure to look at the colleges you mentioned.</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>To Rayna,</p>
<p>The USC Popular Music Major is in the Thornton School of Music. </p>
<p>In an earlier post by the title “USC Popular Music” on 6/11/2010 by jacollege is a long reply by radad. His son is in the program at Thornton. Radad wrote a detailed explanation of his son’s training, contacts and experiences. I think you would find it helpful.</p>
<p>Belmont (no ‘u’) has several.</p>
<p>In the School of Music – ** BM degree**</p>
<p>Music Composition
Commercial Music – Composition and Arranging Emphasis
Commercial Music – Song Writing Emphasis</p>
<p>In the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business – ** BA and BS degrees**</p>
<p>Songwriting major<br>
Bachelor of Science (BS) and Bachelor of Arts (BA)</p>
<p>They all have different requirements, of course.</p>
<p>Thank you!!! :)</p>
<p>This helps a LOT! :D</p>
<p>This doesn’t add much since you already noted it on your list, but back in 7th grade I did a “future career” research report on songwriting and wrote a LOT about Berklee’s songwriting major. 
</p>
<p>Have you looked at any arts/music-related schools that have a self-designed or “build your own” major program? You could always create a songwriting major for yourself at a school that allows students to create their own major. You do lose the benefit of having professors trained in the songwriting field to actually instruct you, but with a more creative major like songwriting it might actually work out pretty well.</p>
<p>I was thinking of doing some sort of “performing arts” build your own major with acting/dancing/guitar/piano. I need to do some research on building my own major… it’d be really hard, but kinda exciting.</p>
<p>Thanks~
I’m considering that, since I have to many interest :P</p>
<p>The students in the Honors program at Belmont can design their own major. There are 54 honors students in the freshmen class (which is 1000-1200?). I don’t know how many apply for it.</p>
<p>Really? that’s great!</p>
<p>Thanks for the info!</p>