Chapter II.1
Academic Policies for all Undergraduate Degrees

Mission

The School of Music offers comprehensive undergraduate training in music performance, education, theory, and composition within the context of a liberal arts college and a research university. It awards three undergraduate degrees and two minors. The curriculum leading to the degree Bachelor of Arts (BA) is designed for qualified undergraduate students whose interests include a broad liberal arts experience or who wish to double major in both music and another subject. The curriculum leading to the degree Bachelor of Music (BM) is designed for qualified undergraduate students with extensive pre-college training and potential for successful careers in professional music. The curriculum leading to the degree Bachelor of Music Education (BME) is designed for qualified undergraduate students with potential for successful musical careers in the K-12 school system. The curriculum leading to the minor in Music Performance is designed for students pursuing other majors who wish to enhance their knowledge of music and its performance. The minor in Music and Culture is designed for students who wish to enhance their knowledge of music’s interaction with various world cultures. 

Advising 

The School of Music provides an academic advisor to all students. In consultation with this advisor, students will develop a four-year plan based on the models provided in this handbook. This plan serves as an agreement between the student and the University and acts as a guide through the program. Any deviation from the four-year plan must be approved by the academic advisor.

Students are expected to schedule their advising appointments in advance of all deadlines, should arrive at their advising sessions prepared, and must assume ultimate responsibility for all decisions regarding their degree progress. A pre registration advising session must be held in the middle of each semester for the following semester’s registration (additional advising with a College of Arts and Humanities advisor may also be required). Students should come to these sessions with their programs planned in order to speed the registration process. Students are encouraged to consult with their undergraduate advisor frequently for answers to specific questions or help with individual problems. Any exceptions to degree requirements must be approved in writing by the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies.

All BA, BM, and minor students are advised by Gideon D'Addio (gdaddio@umd.edu). BME students may choose to advise with Gideon D'Addio or their respective advisors listed here: students following the choral/general education track are advised by Prof. Kenneth Elpus (elpus@umd.edu). BME students following the instrumental track are advised by Prof. Stephanie Prichard (sfp@umd.edu).

Once advised (and after all registration blocks have been cleared) students may register online or in person at the Mitchell Building.  Please note that students seeking in person registration must first complete the Registration Request Form.

Advanced Placement and Transfer Credit 

Students who earn a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Music Theory exam may be granted credit for MUSC 140 (music theory for non-majors). Students who earn a score of 5 may elect to convert credit for MUSC 140 into credit for MUSC 150 (the first semester of music theory for music majors) pending the results of the School of Music Theory Placement exam. 

Requests for music transfer credit will be considered by the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies only after the student is accepted into the School of Music. If music theory courses are transferred, the student must take the School of Music Theory Placement Test, which is given immediately prior to each fall semester.

Minimum Credits 

All undergraduate degrees require at least 120 credit hours (approximately 40 courses). Some degrees and concentrations may require additional credit hours. 

Grading Options and Minimum Grades

Courses taken to satisfy General Education and/or major requirements must be taken for credit and for a letter grade (such courses may not be taken pass/fail or audited). While a minimum grade of D- is required for all General Education courses, a minimum grade of C- must be earned in all courses required by the major. If a grade falls below the minimum the course must be repeated or with the advisor’s permission another course may be substituted. The Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies along with the College of Arts and Humanities advising office must approve all courses attempted more than twice. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for both the cumulative GPA and the GPA in required major courses. 

Satisfactory Progress and Benchmarks

All students seeking an undergraduate degree in the School of Music are required to make satisfactory progress toward that degree. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress may result in termination from the program.

In order to maintain satisfactory progress, applied music lessons must be completed in consecutive semesters. Waiver of this policy requires the written permission of the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies. Under special circumstances, such as childbearing, adoption, illness, and dependent care, students may apply for a leave of absence. 

In order to maintain satisfactory progress, students must also complete a series of benchmark requirements no later than the approved semester. For benchmarking purposes, the School of Music determines class standing by the semester of applied lessons (i.e., sophomore year = 200-level lessons; junior year = 300-level lessons):

1. By the end of the freshman year, all majors must have successfully completed four credits of lessons and two credits of major ensembles. 

2. By the end of the sophomore year, all majors must have successfully completed MUSC 150: Theory of Music I and MUSC 151: Theory of Music II. 

3. By the end of the sophomore year, all students seeking the BME degree must have successfully completed the Praxis I examination. 

4. By the end of the junior year, all majors must have successfully completed MUSC 250: Advanced Theory of Music I and MUSC 251: Advanced Theory of Music II. 

Failure to meet these benchmarks may result in termination from the program.

Degree Program 

Student-initiated requests for a change of degree program (between the BA, BM, BME, and the undergraduate minor) must be presented to the appropriate division coordinator no less than two weeks prior to that semester’s jury (earlier requests are encouraged). For movement into the BM or BME degree, the divisional faculty will make a recommendation to the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies (usually following the semester’s jury). Movement from the BM or BME to the BA can usually be accomplished prior to the jury. All changes between degree programs must be approved by the division and the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies; students must also meet with an ARHU advisor to finalize the degree change for major updates.

Application for Diploma 

University policies require that students be enrolled in the major program from which they plan to graduate when registering for the final fifteen credits of the degree. Students simultaneously completing two majors or two degrees must have advance approval from the appropriate deans. Forms for the double major or double degree must be completed and filed at least two semesters prior to the expected date of graduation

An application for diploma must be completed and submitted before the end of the two-week schedule adjustment period at the beginning of the final semester. 

APPLIED MUSIC

Lesson Tracks 

Applied lessons are taken under the prefix MUSP (which carries the applied music fee). Lessons in the Major Series track are limited to Bachelor of Music students with a concentration in performance or composition. Lessons in the Principal Series track are limited to Bachelor of Music students with concentrations in Music Theory, Bachelor of Music Education students, and to students seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. Each course in each series must be taken in sequence and all lessons are taken for two credits each semester except for MUSP 420, which is taken for four credits.

Fourteen private lessons plus assigned independent practice time are required for each course. The grade for applied lessons is calculated from the weighted scores of the studio grade, jury grade, and recital attendance (according to policies set by each division). The jury grade is designed to evaluate a student’s overall performance ability and is based not only on technique and musicianship, but on stage presence and comportment as well. 

Initial registration for all new music majors, both freshman and transfer, is MUSP 109 (Principal Series) or 119 (Major Series). Transfer students are evaluated for higher placement after one semester of study. MUSP 109, 119, 208, 218, 409, and 419 may be repeated upon recommendation of the faculty following a jury examination, but only one successful attempt in each course may be applied towards baccalaureate degree requirements. In the MUSP 208 or 218 semester music majors must demonstrate, in lessons and the jury, readiness to move into Junior Standing. 

Degree Recitals

Each performance division has its own policies regarding degree recitals, which are performed as part of MUSP 420 for BM students, as part of MUSP 410 for BME students, and as part of MUSP 305 for BA students (when applicable). (Other degree recitals may be required.) In most performance programs, BM students must complete a full recital during the final semester of applied lessons, while BME students complete a half recital during the final semester of applied lessons. Some programs also require a junior recital. Recitals are not generally required of students seeking the BA degree. Any student wishing to give a recital that is not required by their degree program is responsible for any associated fees. The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center provides this guide to Degree Recital Scheduling. 

Elective Lessons

Permission to take lessons outside of a degree program or to continue lessons beyond the required number of semesters is granted only under rare circumstances and requires the approval of the instructor, division coordinator, and the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies. To be considered for elective lessons, submit an Elective Lessons Application. Students enrolled in elective lessons are required to concurrently participate in a School of Music Major Ensemble. 

Noon Recitals

The Noon Recital series provides an opportunity for students to perform before an audience of their peers. Attendance at Noon Recitals is a requirement for all MUSP courses and affects the grade for those courses. Registering for an MUSP course automatically blocks out a seventy-five-minute time slot so that students may attend and participate in the Noon Recital series (Tuesdays, 12:30–1:50 for all programs except jazz, which holds its series on Fridays, 12:00–1:15). This time slot may not be used for lessons or other courses. Individual divisions have varying requirements regarding these recitals, and it is the student’s responsibility to know and conform to those requirements. Only the division coordinator can excuse a student from any portion of the Noon Recital requirement.

Ensemble Participation

All students enrolled in applied lessons are required to concurrently participate in an approved School of Music Major Ensemble appropriate to their program of study (piano students may fulfill this requirement by participating in a vocal ensemble or by playing on a secondary instrument). While students are welcome to participate in non-required ensembles, participating in two large ensembles in a single semester does not waive the requirement for future semesters. The following major ensembles have been approved for the satisfaction of program requirements: 

Large Ensembles for Instrumentalists

Orchestra MUSC 229A or MUSC 229R as assigned by the string faculty
Wind Orchestra MUSC 229D
Wind Ensemble MUSC 229E (Most freshmen wind and percussion students enroll in this ensemble.)
Jazz Ensemble MUSC 229J  (Satisfies the major ensemble requirement for jazz majors only. Music education instrumentalists may satisfy one semester of their major ensemble requirement with MUSC 229J, sections 0101 or 0201. Music majors whose specialization is not jazz may take Jazz Ensemble as an elective.) 

Ensembles for Vocalists

University Chorale MUSC 329A
Chamber Singers MUSC 329B
Tenor & Bass Chorus MUSC 329M
Treble Chorus MUSC 329W
Opera Chorus MUSC 329O*

*Elective ensemble – does not satisfy major ensemble requirement unless approved by the Director of Choral Activities

Auditions for ensembles are held during the first week of classes. Contact the appropriate office to schedule an audition time. 

Strings, Winds & Percussion   Orchestral Office         Mark Wakefield mwake@umd.edu            301-405-5572

Voice                                           Choral Office     Lauri Johnson    umchoirs@umd.edu           301-405-5571 

Jazz                                              Jazz Studies Office         Mark Williams     mwill81@umd.edu        

In addition to the major ensemble requirement, students seeking an instrumental BM degree are also usually required to participate in one small ensemble per semester of lessons. 

Small Ensembles for Instrumentalists

Chamber Music—Strings MUSC 129A sec 0101 for all strings except harp; sec 0701 for harp only
Chamber Music—Woodwinds MUSC 129B sec 0101
Chamber Music—Brasses MUSC 129C
Percussion Ensemble MUSC 129P
Jazz Combos MUSC 229Z (Satisfies small ensemble requirement for jazz majors only.)

Performance Attendance (MUSC 099)

All undergraduate music majors are required to register for MUSC 099 (0 credits) for a fixed number of semesters. While registered for MUSC 099, students are required to attend six performances per semester.  Three of the six performances must be events outside of the student's division. Acceptable events for MUSC 099 include: student degree recitals, musical events sponsored by the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, faculty solo and chamber recitals, School of Music opera, band, chorus, orchestra, or world music ensemble performances, School of Music honors recitals, chamber music recitals, and performances and master classes presented by visiting artists or ensembles. Noon Recitals and divisional studio classes may not be used to fulfill MUSC 099 requirements.

Grading for MUSC 099 is pass/fail. Students earning the BM and BME degrees are required to take and pass six semesters of MUSC 099. Students earning the BA degree are required to take and pass four semesters of MUSC 099. For transfer students, the 099 requirement is adjusted as follows: 

Entering Class Standing Required number of semesters

BM/BME BA

mid-year freshman 5 3

entering or mid-year sophomore 4 2

entering junior 3 1

mid-year junior 2 0

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Music Theory 

All music majors are required to take a minimum of four semesters of music theory. All BM and BA students must complete an additional semester of Musical Form (MUSC 450). The timing of the music theory sequence is governed by the benchmarks described above. Permission to take MUSC 150, 151, 250, or 251 after a benchmark year (or to repeat any course for a third time) must be approved by the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies and by the College of Arts and Humanities. Transfer students with prior college-level courses in music theory as well as freshmen with Advanced Placement music theory credit, must take the music theory placement test at the beginning of their first semester to assess the appropriate placement level. 

Music History & World Music

All music majors must take three semesters of music history in the sequence MUSC 260, 360, and 361. Prior to starting this sequence, students must have passed Theory II (MUSC 151). Any request to begin the music history sequence without this prerequisite or to take the courses out of order requires the approval of the division coordinator for Musicology & Ethnomusicology as well as the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies. MUSC260: Global Music also counts in the General Education program as a Humanities <HU> course and as an Understanding Plural Societies <UP> course. All BM and BME students are required to take a 400-level ethnomusicology or musicology course of their choosing. Course offerings vary in subject and change each semester. Students can find the current offerings on Testudo or from the Undergraduate Academic Advisor. 

Requirements for Students Seeking the Bachelor of Arts

The College of Arts and Humanities requirements described below apply only to students seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree, and not to students seeking the Bachelor of Music or the Bachelor of Music Education degree. Consult the College of Arts and Humanities Student Affairs Office for more information.

Upper Level Requirement 

Forty-five credits (out of the total 120) must be upper level, including 12 within the major. Any course taken at the 300 or 400 level (whether within or outside one’s major) counts toward this requirement. Students pursuing a BA in Music should attempt to take all elective courses at upper level in order to satisfy this requirement. 

Global Engagement Requirement

The ARHU Global Engagement Requirement extends the college’s long-standing commitment to international education, and is part of a larger effort to enhance cross-cultural learning for all of our undergraduate majors. All BA students must demonstrate language proficiency in at least one foreign language via the options listed at https://arhu.umd.edu/academicsadvising/global-engagement 

Requirements for Students Seeking the Minor in Music 

The School of Music offers two minors: the Minor in Music Performance and the Minor in Music and Culture; Students interested in the Minor in Music Performance should contact Gideon D'Addio at gdaddio@umd.edu and students interested in the Minor is Music and Culture should contact Dr. William Robin at wrobin@umd.edu.

The College of Arts and Humanities also offers a Minor in Arts Leadership aimed at providing students with the opportunity to acquire the practical and strategic skills to become leaders in the arts. Learn more in the academic catalog or contact the Arts Leadership minor advisor, Susan Miller in TDPS at smille13@umd.edu.