Education

M.F.A. in Media Scoring and M.F.A. in Sonic Arts

Our M.F.A. programs in media scoring and sonic arts complement our B.Mus. and M.Mus. degrees in music composition, Ph.D. in composition via the CUNY Graduate Center, and undergraduate minor in music technology (see below).

The two M.F.A. degrees balance flexibility and artistic development with practical skills for careers in the media industry, and both are offered as part of the programs of the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Brooklyn College. The Feirstein M.F.A. programs, housed in a 68,000-square-foot facility on a working film lot (Steiner Studios), offer students opportunities for educational and professional experiences unrivaled at a public university on the East Coast of the United States.

These programs and all others hosted by the Feirstein School of Cinema require added fees to support the technology infrastructure. See the Feirstein website for details.

• More information about the M.F.A. in media scoring
• More information about the M.F.A. in sonic arts
• Apply for the M.F.A. in sonic arts or M.F.A. in media scoring.
• Read a 2017 New York Times article about the Feirstein School.
• Watch a short video about the Feirstein School.

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Media Scoring

Composition and production of music for moving images.

• Courses are held at the Barry R. Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Brooklyn College, located at the Steiner Studios, a 15-acre fully professional, Hollywood-style media production lot.
• Curriculum includes cinema, composition, conducting, technology, and music business.
• The program is open to students with a bachelor’s degree in music or in another subject.
• Application information

Sonic Arts

Creation of music or sound art using new technologies, from electronic improvisation to electroacoustic music, installations, sound design, and multimedia.

• Courses are held at the Barry R. Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Brooklyn College and the Brooklyn College main campus.
• Curriculum is a flexible/customizable menu of courses.
• The program is open to students with a bachelor’s degree in music or in another subject.
• Application information

Undergraduate Minor in Music Technology

Undergraduate students at Brooklyn College may earn a minor in music technology by completing 12 credits of approved course work. Contact Professor Doug Cohen for more information.

Additional Degree Programs

Undergraduate Degree and Master’s Degree in Music Composition

Interested composers may enroll as a music composition major at the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music and focus their creative work on electronic/electroacoustic music while taking advantage of the additional opportunities of the Composition Department. Contact CCM Director Doug Geers for more information.

M.F.A. in Performance and Interactive Media Arts (PIMA)

This is a graduate program for the creation of interdisciplinary, live performance works. PIMA is a collaborative venture in partnership with the departments of Art, Theater, Computer and Information Science, and Television and Radio, and the Conservatory of Music. Contact PIMA Director David Grubbs for more information.

Ph.D. in Music Composition (via CUNY Graduate Center)

Interested students may admit to the Ph.D. or D.M.A. composition program of the CUNY Graduate Center and become active participants at the BC-CCM. Contact CCM Director Doug Geers for more information.

Individual Classes

In spring 2014, 34 new master’s-level courses were added to the BC-CCM offerings as part of the M.F.A. programs in sonic arts and media scoring. View the complete list of courses.

Enrollment is open for fall 2021. View course schedule here (pdf).

Fall 2018 Media Scoring and Sonic Arts M.F.A. courses* are below. View the course details (pdf).

• MUSC 7015X: Techniques for Recording Music
• MUSC 7331X: Sonic Arts Composition Lessons I
• MUSC 7332X: Sonic Arts Composition Lessons II
• MUSC 7333X: Sonic Arts Composition Lessons III
• MUSC 7334X: Sonic Arts Composition Lessons IV
• MUSC 7341X: Scoring Composition Seminar
• MUSC 7342X: Media Scoring Lessons I
• MUSC 7343X: Media Scoring Lessons II
• MUSC 7344X: Media Scoring Lessons III
• MUSC 7345X: Media Scoring Lessons IV
• MUSC 7353X: Orchestration for Cinema I
• MUSC 7370X: Music Technology for Media
• MUSC 7371: Sound Sculpting Techniques
• MUSC 7372: Sound Synthesis Techniques
• MUSC 7373X: Building Electronic Music Instruments
• MUSC 7375X: Interactive Computer Music
• MUSC 7385: Sound Design
• MUSC 7440X: Music Business for Media
• MUSC 7663X: History and Analysis of Cinema Scores
• MUSC 7740X: Chamber Music (recording session class)
• MUSC 7744: Electroacoustic Ensemble
• MUSC 7870X: Sonic Arts Capstone Seminar
• MUSC 7881X: Music Internship (1 credit)
• MUSC 7882X: Music Internship (2 credits)
• MUSC 7883X: Music Internship (3 credits)
• MUSC 7911X: Independent Study for 1 credit
• MUSC 7912X: Independent Study for 2 credits
• MUSC 7913X: Independent Study for 3 credits
• MUSC U7642X: Seminar in Music Theory: “Computational Musicology: Musical Signal Processing”

*Beginning in fall 2018, all media scoring and sonic arts courses will entail payment of Academic Excellence fees that help fund the music M.F.A. programs. Details on the costs of courses are available upon request.

The PIMA program also offers related courses of interest. More information is available on the PIMA website.