New Graduate Students

Welcome week is one week prior to the start of fall semester.

• ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED - you must be on campus during this entire week.

• Refer to the preliminary schedule for more details. Please note that this schedule is subject to change.

• All students will be notified via email when the Welcome Week schedule is finalized.

Welcome Week Task Checklist (opens a Google doc)

New Graduate Student Slides

International Student Welcome Week Slides

Graduate Assistant Welcome Week Slides

Theory placement exams are required for all incoming graduate students during Welcome Week, with the exception of those in the Music Therapy and Music Education programs.

Music Theory and Ear-Training Placement Exams 

The School of Music requires that all entering graduate students* take the Music Theory and Ear-Training Placement Exams during Welcome Week (the week before the beginning of classes each fall) or at the first available opportunity for those entering their degree programs during a term other than fall. New graduate students in Theory must take additional field-specific exams.

*Entering Music Education MM/Licensure Post-Bacc and Music Therapy MA are not required to take the Music Theory and Ear-Training Placement Exams. 

Music History Requirements 

Beginning Fall 2021, the Musicology Division will no longer give a music history diagnostic exam to entering graduate students in music and will therefore no longer require students to fulfill pre-1750 and/or post-1750 remediation requirements. This new policy also applies to new and continuing students, who will not be required to fulfill these requirements, no matter how they scored on a past diagnostic exam. Please note that degree requirements have not changed: graduate students must take at least one 3-credit graduate course (5xxx-level or above) in Musicology or Ethnomusicology. Students should choose which course(s) to take in consultation with their advisor. Most topics seminars offered by the Musicology/Ethnomusicology Division with the same course numbers (ex. MUS 5950) but different topics also count toward the musicology degree requirements.

Incoming applied students will be assigned to their studio teacher for their Faculty Advisor. Conversely, incoming academic students will be assigned to their Division Head as their Faculty Advisor for their first year in the program:

For MM & DMA students

Typically, your applied studio professor also serves as your faculty advisor.

For MA & PhD students

You will select your own faculty advisor within the first year—this may occur quickly in some cases (especially if you have a potential advisor in your mind based on your/their research interests) or may take longer in others.

For incoming graduate students, course registration will occur during Welcome Week. However, students must contact their faculty advisor prior to Welcome Week to plan course selections and schedule an advising appointment (see the Welcome Week preliminary schedule for the advising dates). 

• Your faculty advisor is the person with whom you should consult regarding your course selections. 

• Before meeting with your faculty advisor, review your degree requirements. 

• To search for classes, visit One Stop Class Search Resources, particularly Schedule Builder. Questions about Schedule Builder may be directed to One Stop.

  • The Theory course offerings are on the intranet (go to Students -> Graduate Degree Planning). 

  • Musicology course offerings are also on the intranet (go to Students -> Graduate Degree Planning). 

Important information regarding course registration

• Register for at least one course prior to the first day of classes to avoid a late fee. 

  • If you don’t know what to register for, we recommend that you at least register for graduate applied lessons, and you can change or add classes afterward as needed. 

  • 6 or more credits = full time graduate student status. Maintaining full time status is especially important for international students, so that they may satisfy their visa requirements. Students must use the Graduate Course Permission Request Form to obtain permission before they can register for School of Music courses. Once requests are processed, students will be notified by the Graduate Student Services and may proceed with course registration. 

  • Questions may be directed to grad-music@umn.edu. 

  • The registration process will be covered more in detail during Welcome Week. 

Incoming DMA and PhD students will likely need to transfer in some of their Master's coursework in order to complete their degrees in a timely fashion. This does not need to occur during Welcome Week. Please contact grad-music@umn.edu to begin this process once fall semester is underway. 

The University charges an annual set of fees from each student to support student services.

• Visit the fee page for more information, and further questions regarding graduate tuition and fees may be directed to One Stop.

Internet ID/University Email

• If you haven’t done so, initiate your UMN internet ID and activate your university email ASAP.

• Check the University Technology Guide for New Students and follow the steps. If you need
  assistance, contact the Technology Help Desk (the university's IT services).

• Check your UMN email daily: this is the university’s and the department’s official means of communication with you.

• Please let us know as soon as you have activated your university email on this Google Form.

• For those students who experience difficulties accessing university email, refer to the following recommendations: ISSS and the GPS Alliance.

Ensemble Auditions

• Auditioned ensembles include University Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, University Band, University Symphony Orchestra, University Philharmonic Orchestra, University Singers, University Women's Chorus, Jazz Ensembles, and Jazz Combos.

• Auditions will typically take place in-person during the first week of classes.

• Auditioned ensembles typically begin rehearsals during the second week of classes.

  • Complete audition information and registration form can be found online. 

Mailing and Contact Address

Update your mailing address and contact information every time there is a change. 

• You can update your information at the My Info tab (on the left) on MyU

UCard 

Obtain your UCard before welcome week. 

• The UCard is needed for building access, library loan, printing on campus, and much more.  

Internet & VPN

• Eduroam is the preferred WiFi network on campus. Connect to it by entering your full University email address (e.g. xxx@umn.edu) and password.
  For troubleshooting, read the guide by the Technology Help Desk.
  For information about the University VPNs, please review this webpage.