Living learning communities (LLC) and themed communities (TC) are specialized residential communities within our halls that foster connections between a student's experiences inside and outside the classroom, prioritizing shared interests, academic pursuits, or lifestyles. While each on-campus residence hall maintains its unique identity, LLCs and TCs have a deliberate focus on specific topics or courses, facilitated by dedicated staff and/or faculty, with the majority of students being placed in one of these communities.
Students who engage in LLCs and TCs frequently experience elevated levels of academic achievement, exhibit higher graduation rates, and find it easier to establish meaningful connections with their peers. Here are detailed descriptions of the LLCs and TCs currently available:
Core Music LLC
In the Core Music LLC, students are enrolled in a shared Ear Training I course during the fall semester, creating an opportunity for collaborative learning with their fellow floormates. In addition to resident assistants (RAs) on each floor to aid students in their college transition and provide support and resources, this LLC also provides dedicated core music tutors (CMTs) who work closely with the students. CMTs offer personalized one-on-one tutoring, organize weekly group tutoring sessions within the community, and facilitate programs that encourage student interaction and active engagement with the course material.
Healthy Living LLC
The Healthy Living LLC provides a substance-free environment for students who are dedicated to holistic wellness and interested in promoting healthier choices through programming and education. While this is not a space exclusively for those choosing abstinence around using substances, an important aspect of this LLC is the focus on community care, and this includes mindfulness that members may be exploring sobriety or navigating recovery. By joining this community, students commit to refraining from introducing harmful substances into the living environment, including alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription medication abuse, regardless of age.
This community recognizes the significance of leading a healthier lifestyle for academic success, personal growth, overall well-being, and a sense of community. Healthy Living LLC members have the opportunity to develop a well-balanced life through workshops and programs focused on mental wellness, stress management, nutrition, physical activity, and more. The Healthy Living LLC is supported by the Office of Student Wellness Promotion and Services.
Social Justice LLC
The Social Justice LLC is designed for students who have a keen interest in exploring subjects like privilege, power dynamics, identity, systems of oppression, and driving social change. Within this community, residents will have diverse learning opportunities, including film screenings, attending performances, engaging in service projects, interacting with guest speakers, participating in article discussions, and attending workshops. Additionally, they will actively participate in dialogues with staff, faculty, and members of the Boston community, equipping themselves with the necessary tools to create positive change both within and beyond the Berklee community. This LLC is supported by a staff member from the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
First-Generation Student LLC
The First Gen LLC is available to incoming students who identify as "first generation." Berklee defines this as “any student whose parent(s) or guardian(s) did not complete a bachelor’s degree, and/or the student has no current contact with their parent(s) or guardian(s), regardless of degree completion.
As a component of Berklee's RISE initiative, this LLC offers resources, events, and support systems specifically tailored to assist first-generation students in navigating the Berklee experience more smoothly. By providing these resources, the First Gen LLC aims to alleviate some of the challenges associated with being a first-generation student, enabling participants to concentrate on their academic and artistic endeavors.
Africana Studies LLC
The Africana Studies LLC provides an opportunity for first-year Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee students to reside together, sharing a common interest in Black creative expression and civic engagement. Within this community, students can collectively celebrate, explore, and affirm the Black student experience at Berklee and the wider Boston community. Students who are interested in this LLC must also complete a separate application, which will be linked on the housing preference form.
Special Interest Themed Communities
Special interest TCs are designed to cater to students seeking a purposeful living environment where their roommates, floormates, and peers share common interests, passions, and goals. By residing in the same residence hall as individuals with similar career ambitions, classes, and objectives, students have the chance to build robust social networks while transitioning to life at Berklee. Residents in these communities receive proactive support and guidance from dedicated staff members who organize intentional experiences, programs, and outreach efforts centered around the specific themes of these communities.
Berklee is offering the following TCs for the 2023–2024 academic year:
- Health Education and Business
- Composition and Production
- Performance and Design
