Graduate Culminating Experience & Thesis Projects

The Master of Music and Master of Arts programs at Berklee College of Music conclude with a culminating experience (CE) or thesis project. The CE represents the highest expression of a student's learning at the graduate level and helps to shape the next steps in their career by providing them with an opportunity to complete unique and original professional work. Through the CE, students make a creative contribution to define and/or solve a problem that exists within their profession.

The culminating experience may take the form of:

  • a creative project,
  • a research project, or
  • another project of the student’s devising.

Upon completion of the CE project, a student will have:

  • made a creative contribution to the profession, and/or defined and solved a problem that exists in the discipline of study;
  • designed and executed an original project;
  • produced a professional piece of academic and/or creative work, whether a research project, composition, recording or production, performance, practicum, or clinical experience that is analyzed and summarized, or other;
  • evaluated their experience, assessing the contribution made to the profession; and
  • analyzed their own artistic, professional, and personal growth as a result of having completed the experience.

Culminating Experience Timeline Overview

  • Phase One—Culminating Experience Proposal Draft:
    • In the beginning stages of their graduate program, students produce a CE proposal draft to their faculty advisors and program directors for approval. The CE proposal describes the intended CE project and the contribution the student plans to make to their profession. In the proposal, students will detail the scope of their work, indicate a plan of action (including a timeline), and identify resources or material needs. Deadlines for CE proposal drafts and revised CE proposals vary by program. Current students should contact their program directors for detailed timeline information.
  • Phase Two—Culminating Experience Proposal Final Approval:
    • As graduate students progress in their programs, they work closely with their faculty advisors, program directors, chairs, and/or additional committee members to revise and refine their proposals. The availability of additional committee members varies by program. Current students should contact their program directors to inquire further.
    • Students also determine if their proposals will require review and approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). If so, students complete that approval process. All final proposals must be approved by the faculty advisor and program director.
  • Phase Three—Culminating Experience Execution and Presentation:
    • In the final semester of their graduate program, students complete their CEs. During this time, students communicate regularly with their faculty advisors, program directors, chairs, and if applicable, committee members, to ensure their execution is appropriate and to address any concerns, questions, or needs for project revision.
    • Execution of the final CE project may involve a performance, the presentation of a recording, or another presentation of the student’s devising; in all instances, the student will present information regarding the contribution that was made to the profession in completing the experience.

Culminating Experience Projects with Distinction

CE projects that represent outstanding achievement and/or exhibit broad significance in artistic and scholarly inquiry may be nominated for distinction by graduate program directors. No more than 10 percent of the graduating students in a given program shall be nominated for distinction. 

Students whose projects are chosen will receive degrees “with distinction” and have their diplomas and records inscribed as such, and they will be invited to submit to their CE project to the Berklee archives for inclusion in our institutional repository. 

Research and Formatting Resources:

  • Institutional Review Board: If students are performing human subject–based research as part of their CE, they will need IRB approval.
  • Stan Getz Library:
    • Culminating Experience Resource Guide: Students can find resources for researching and assembling culminating experience projects in this library guide.
    • Ask Us: Chat live with a peer trainer or librarian about research and formatting needs.
  • English Writing Tutoring: If you would like to improve your writing skills, you can schedule an appointment with a tutor.
  • The Case Center: The Berklee Case Center provides support for writing, finding, and using real-world case studies in the classroom. The Case Center also provides support for students who wish to write up their own cases.
  • Berklee Citation Guide: The Berklee Citation Guide includes sample citations, style guide manuals that can be found in the library, and links to helpful websites.