The Cutting Edge

Dynamic new degree programs enrich school's offerings. 

November 12, 2014

It’s an exciting time to be a student at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. The school recently announced a number of new programs that will kicked off in fall 2015 and provide opportunities for conservatory-level training in growing areas of the performing arts.

“These programs expand the Conservatory’s academic profile and provide exciting new curricular pathways to the professional world,” said Jim O’Dell, interim vice president of academic affairs and dean of the Conservatory.

B.F.A. in Contemporary Theater

The school’s unique B.F.A. in Contemporary Theater provides advanced conservatory-level training in the art of new theater creation. “The theater artist of today is a collaborative story-teller,” said Program Director Wanda Strukus, Ph.D., who has played an integral role in designing the program to center around ensemble-based exploration and creation. “By combining the rigor of conservatory training, the exploratory energy of a creative performance laboratory and the intellectual stimulus of a strong academic core, we challenge and support students with big visions for theater, and we prepare them for a wide range of opportunities in the 21st-century theater landscape.”

M.M. in Contemporary Classical Music

Focused on music post-1950s, this program is designed for students who want to work with living composers, commission new projects and create their own artistic opportunities. Additionally, the program takes advantage of Boston’s thriving new music scene by offering internship and apprenticeship opportunities with local music organizations.

M.M. in Music Education (Autism Concentration) and Graduate Diploma in Music and Autism

The Conservatory is introducing first-of-their-kind programs to satisfy a growing need for training in the highly specialized area of music and autism. The programs provide students with rigorous hands-on educational experiences both in and out of the classroom, as well as innovative techniques for teaching music to students on the autism spectrum. “As the population of individuals with autism spectrum disorder continues to grow, today’s music educators must be prepared to teach all of their students effectively,” said Music Education Director Rhoda Bernard, Ed.D. “These new programs are going to give degree candidates the training they need to teach music to all students, in all settings.”

As the Conservatory looks to enrich its academic offerings and deepen the practical value of its programs, it’s clear that a Boston Conservatory at Berklee education is no longer just providing advanced technical training—it’s building multifaceted leaders in all branches of the performing arts.

Learn more about the Conservatory’s new degrees.