Bachelor of Music in Game and Interactive Media Scoring

The game and interactive media scoring major allows you to explore the history of music in video games and apply that knowledge through interactive scoring projects. You’ll complete the college’s core music curriculum while building technological and professional skills to move you forward in your career.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Learn about financial aid, scholarships, and others ways of paying for your Berklee education.
Study Abroad

Game and interactive media scoring students can study abroad at our campus in Valencia, Spain. For specific program information, see the chair or contact the study abroad office.

Alumni Story

Adam Burgess B.M. '14

The Overwatch composer breaks down some of the epic music heard by 50 million gamers worldwide, and shares career tips for aspiring game composers.

Full Description

The game and interactive media scoring major explores the history of music in video games and then applies that knowledge through interactive scoring projects. Students learn modern approaches to video game scoring, compositional techniques, aesthetics, relevant technology, self-discipline, musicianship, and creative development. Like the video game industry itself, this program is steeped in the practice of collaboration: Students in the major will collaborate not only with other students at Berklee, but also score student games from universities that offer the top video game development programs.

The music score is a cornerstone in modern storytelling and one of the foundational components of the major. The music score uses intervallic relationships of notes, harmony, and intervals in storytelling related to dramatic effect. Interactive scoring methods are applied to sync to picture based on dramatic context, utilizing harmonic and cadential development and non-song-based methods of musical development.

What Will I Learn?

Upon successful completion of this program, students will:

compose music in multiple interactive scoring methodologies utilized in game and interactive media, including branching, layering, and transitional scores;
recognize, learn, and compose for multiple game audio technologies;
write music in multiple styles for a wide range of live ensembles and work with virtual instruments;
create synth mockups of live instruments;
mix, implement, and program music scores within games;
deconstruct the design and mechanics of video games;
evaluate how game design mechanics impact audio production needs;
work successfully in a team environment to produce audio assets;
program custom sound playback approaches in major video game development environments;
use the technical tools for games' collaborative and programming environments;
design sound and music for various game settings (realistic, abstract, sandbox, real-time strategy, first-person, role-playing, simulation, sports, puzzler, party, action-adventure, platformer, and more);
create work estimates with budgets and negotiate contracts; and
create demo reels and related marketing material for self-promotion.

Entrance Requirements

There are no entrance requirements to declare this major. Follow the regular declaration of major process as outlined by the Registrar's Office (login required).

Curriculum and Courses

There are 30 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 (9 credits) for a degree total of 120 credits.

GAIM-271 Introduction to Games and Interactive Media Scoring (2 credits)
SCRN-202 Introduction to Scoring Technology for Media Composers (2 credits)
SCRN-240 Introduction to Orchestration and Composition for Media Composers (2 credits)
GAIM-333 Game Design for Composers (3 credits)
GAIM-341 Compositional Techniques for Interactive Media (2 credits)
GAIM-371 Scoring for Interactive Media (3 credits)
GAIM-372 Mixing for Interactive Media (2 credits)
GAIM-381 Audio Foundations of Interactive Media (2 credits)
GAIM-471 Advanced Scoring for Interactive Media (3 credits)
GAIM-472 Advanced Mixing for Interactive Media (2 credits)
GAIM-479 Project Management, Communication, and Collaborative Tools for Interactive Media (2 credits)
GAIM-489 Senior Portfolio and Seminar in Game and Interactive Media Scoring (2 credits)
SCRN-491 Business Career Workshop for Media Composers (2 credits)
2 credits of major electives: any course with a GAIM prefix not already completed, and any 300- or 400-level courses from the following course prefix areas not already completed: CM, CW, FS, IR, MB, MTEC, OCOMP, OCWPR, OMBUS, OMPRD, OSONG, PW, SCRN, or SW.