General Academic Policies
General Academic Policies
The University of Maryland School of Music serves as an advocate for the art of music in American culture. In creating the next generation of artist-citizens, the School is fiercely dedicated to the highest standards of artistic and scholarly excellence; diversity in curriculum and programming; robust engagement with our region, nation, and world; entrepreneurial thinking and problem solving; and the creation of an inclusive, open, and welcoming community.
The School of Music is organized into eight academic divisions: Piano, Strings, Conducting & Ensembles, Voice & Opera, Winds & Percussion, Music Education, Music Theory & Composition, and Musicology & Ethnomusicology. Each division has a faculty coordinator who, in addition to other duties, oversees scheduling, teaching assignments, divisional examinations, and juries. All matters pertaining to student issues and curricula fall under the purview of the Associate Directors for Undergraduate and Graduate Studies. The School of Music is part of the College of Arts and Humanities and is governed by the policies and regulations of the College and University (as well as those of the Graduate School). The requirements and policies detailed here do not supersede those of higher administrative structures.
It is the responsibility of every student to become familiar with all applicable policies, requirements, and deadlines as articulated by the division, the School of Music, the College of Arts and Humanities, the Office of Undergraduate Studies or the Graduate School (as appropriate), and the University of Maryland. Questions should be raised and addressed as early as possible to avoid any delay in fulfilling requirements. The School of Music will seek to provide timely and correct advice, but adherence to academic policy is ultimately the responsibility of the student.
The School of Music expects its students to be familiar with the University’s Code of Academic Integrity and to uphold the highest standards of academic honesty. The range of penalties for academic dishonesty includes expulsion from the University.
The School of Music offers three undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Arts (BA), the Bachelor of Music (BM), and the Bachelor of Music Education (BME). It also offers two undergraduate minors: one in Music Performance and the other in Music and Culture. At the Graduate level, the School of Music offers four degrees: the Master of Arts (MA), the Master of Music (MM), the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA). School of Music students are admitted into specific degree programs. Requests to change from one degree program to another must be made to the appropriate division coordinator, who may require a new jury, audition, or interview. Final decision of whether or not to approve a change in degree program rests with the Associate Directors.
Students seeking admission to School of Music degree programs must apply to and be admitted by both the School of Music and the University of Maryland. Admission to many School of Music degree programs requires the performance of an on-campus audition. For audition schedules, as well as other School of Music admission requirements and policies, consult with the School of Music’s Office of Admissions.
Students seeking admission to undergraduate degree programs (BA, BM, BME) as well as the music minors, must apply to and be accepted by the University of Maryland. For additional information on undergraduate admission requirements and policies consult with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Students seeking admission to graduate degree programs (MA, MM, Ph.D., DMA) must apply to and be accepted by the University of Maryland Graduate School. Requirements for Graduate School admission include a completed or expected undergraduate degree from an accredited program and a combined undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0. Students who are admitted to graduate study while in the final semester of their undergraduate program must submit a completed transcript showing their earned undergraduate degree by the end of their first semester of graduate study. For additional information on Graduate School requirements and policies consult with the Graduate School. The School of Music expects the earned undergraduate degree to be in an area relevant to the planned graduate degree. Exceptions to these policies require the approval of the Associate Director for Graduate Studies and may result in provisional admission, which may require the completion of undergraduate-level courses.
As the course work and other requirements of the School of Music demand that students read, write, and speak in English, all students must have a thorough command of the language prior to admission.
Undergraduate applicants whose native language is not English must meet the English language proficiency requirements laid out by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Graduate applicants whose native language is not English must meet the English language proficiency requirements laid out by the Graduate School and the School of Music to demonstrate that they can read, write, and speak English at the graduate level. All non-native English speaking students, even those who have earned performance-centered degrees at English language institutions, must take and submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). All graduate students must demonstrate internet-based (IBT) TOEFL scores equal to or exceeding the following:
Reading: 26
Listening: 24
Speaking: 22
In addition to meeting the above requirements, students applying for MA or MM degrees must submit an overall TOEFL score of 92 or higher. Students applying for a Ph.D. or DMA degree must submit an overall score of 100 or higher. Contact the School of Music admissions office for minimum scores on other TOEFL formats and other examinations.
It is the responsibility of the student to make certain that this language requirement is satisfied. In some cases, foreign-born students who have already completed a non-performance degree in the United States may have the TOEFL test waived. They may, however, be required to take the Maryland English Institute (MEI) English Proficiency Test. International students being considered for teaching assistantships must also pass a verbal test administered by MEI and receive a certificate of competency. Students who fail this verbal test are not permitted to teach for the University, and are required to take and pass special remedial courses as recommended by MEI before they are permitted to teach. MEI evaluations are conducted in early or mid-August of each year. For more detail regarding the test for teaching assistants, see the MEI website.
All applied lessons are taken under the course prefix MUSP, and all MUSP courses require the payment of an applied music fee per course per semester. This fee is $600.00 for courses in the principal and major series (those applied lessons taken by students majoring in music) and $300.00 for courses in the minor series (those applied lessons taken by students whose major is not music and those seeking the minor in music). This fee helps to fund adjunct salaries, piano tuning, and access to practice rooms. All student teachers must pay a $750 student teaching fee during the semester in which they undertake full-time student teaching. This fee helps to defray the cost of K–12 mentor teachers. All graduate students seeking degrees in musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, or music education are assessed a $200.00 program fee each semester. This fee helps to defray the cost of guest lecturers, student travel, and research fellowships. All of these fees are in addition to University of Maryland tuition and fees.
Offers of admission assume matriculation into the following fall semester. Any delay of matriculation requires the written approval of the appropriate Associate Director. Admitted students who delay their matriculation by more than one semester must reapply, repeat any entrance audition, and meet any new requirements for admission. The School of Music does not generally accept applications for the spring semester, and all applicants must meet the posted deadlines for application. Undergraduates who enter UMD with another primary major have one academic year to declare their music major.
The School of Music may offer merit-based financial aid upon a student’s acceptance into a degree-granting program. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment or failure to make satisfactory progress toward the School of Music degree to which the student was originally admitted may result in termination of all School of Music financial aid.
Applicants for undergraduate degree programs are automatically considered for merit-based financial aid at the time of admission. The Assistant Director for Admissions and Financial Aid, in consultation with a faculty committee on financial aid, determines merit awards based on institutional needs and resources. For most programs, individual auditions play the greatest role in determining merit-based aid, however, other factors—including academic profile—are considered. To remain eligible for merit-based aid, an undergraduate student must:
remain a degree-seeking student in the School of Music and make satisfactory progress toward that degree each semester,
register for and successfully complete a minimum of twelve credit hours each semester,
maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average in required music courses each semester,
receive positive recommendations each semester from the appropriate applied studio teacher and ensemble director,
participate fully every semester in a School of Music major ensemble or accompanying activity as assigned.
Failure to meet any of these requirements may result in the immediate termination of any School of Music financial aid.
In addition to School of Music merit-based aid, there are a variety of scholarships offered through the College of Arts and Humanities, each with its own criteria. Most deadlines are between March and May for funding the following August. For descriptions of each scholarship, consult with the College of Arts and Humanities. For additional information on need-based financial aid consult with the Office of Financial Aid.
Applicants for graduate programs may elect to be considered for graduate assistantships at the time of admission. Assistantships are awarded based on the expectation of continuous service for the years specified in the award letter. If a graduate assistant takes a leave of absence or fails to maintain satisfactory progress in the degree program, the remainder of the assistantship will be forfeited. During each semester a graduate assistant must successfully complete a minimum of five and an average of eight credits, make satisfactory progress towards their degree, and receive positive recommendations from appropriate divisional faculty.
In addition to School of Music assistantships, there are many graduate assistantships available across the University. For more information, consult with the Graduate School.
In the areas of performance and composition, students may indicate their preferred applied teacher during the application process. While specific studios cannot be guaranteed, these preferences are taken into consideration. Once assignments are made, any request to change applied instructors must be made to the division coordinator. Under most circumstances, changes to studio assignments will be made only with the written consent of the affected instructors and only in light of studio availability. All requests must be made at least one semester in advance and are rarely approved for the final academic year of work. Students seeking the undergraduate minor in music are generally not assigned to adjunct studios, and will instead study with either a full time member of the faculty or with a graduate teaching assistant.
Because music is an applied skill, instructors may require attendance at classes, rehearsals, and lessons. Attendance may be used in the calculation of grades in music courses.
The most efficient way to address questions and resolve disputes is to make use of the School’s administrative structure. Academic issues should be brought first to the student’s major teacher or advisor, then to the division coordinator, and finally to the Associate Director of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies, as appropriate. Exceptions to School of Music policies and requirements are made only under rare circumstances, and requests for exceptions must come to the appropriate Associate Director with letters of support from the student’s advisor and division coordinator.
Questions about course content and grades fall under the purview of the course instructor. Grades are given at the sole discretion of the instructor. Grade disputes may be brought to the attention of the coordinator of the division in which the course is taught and then to the appropriate Associate Director.
In order to participate in the University or School of Music commencement exercises, undergraduate students must have completed all degree requirements prior to the last day of the semester. Graduate students who have completed all degree requirements, including (if applicable) the successful completion of a thesis or dissertation defense, by the appropriate deadlines and who will be able to deposit their final documents (thesis or dissertation) before the beginning of the next term (winter or summer) may take part in the School of Music ceremony (eligibility for the campus commencement is determined by the University).