Regulations and Procedures

Academic Regulations  

Minimum and Maximum Semester Load 

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduates in the Jacobs School of Music are not permitted to enroll in fewer than 14 credit hours or more than 19 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters (more than 10 during the second summer session), including major ensemble(2 credits), except with special permission from the director of undergraduate studies. A student in good standing may petition the director of undergraduate studies to enroll in more than 19 credit hours. Only in very exceptional cases shall the total carried exceed 22 credit hours. Any student taking a music performance course during a fall or spring semester or a second summer session must enroll for at least two hours of credit in that performance course. B.M.E. students in the semester of student teaching are exempt.

Students in their final semester of enrollment may be permitted to enroll in fewer than 14 credit hours, which must include a major ensemble (2 credits). Students should consult other offices in the Jacobs School of Music and the university to determine the effect of part-time enrollment on financial aid, international student status, insurance, and other issues.

Graduate Students

In the fall or spring semester, graduate degree students must enroll in a minimum of 8 credit hours, and diploma students and visiting students must enroll in a minimum of 9 credit hours (including ensemble). With the prior approval of the director of graduate studies, part-time enrollment in one or more academic course(s) is permitted for master’s and doctoral students for a maximum of two semesters before the last semester of the degree. Part-time master’s students may enroll for a maximum of 5 credit hours, and part-time doctoral students for a maximum of 7 credit hours. Part-time enrollment may not include performance (individual studio) study or chamber music and is not available for diploma or visiting students. Part-time students will not be required to enroll in ensemble. Financial aid is not available to part-time students.

Master’s students who are in their final semester of coursework and have fewer than 6 credits of required coursework remaining may register for just those credit hours, plus 2 credits of ensemble, in that final semester. Registration in fewer than 8 credits is not possible if the final requirement is performance (individual studio) study. Master’s students who register in performance study must enroll in a minimum of 8 credits in that semester. Doctoral students who are in or past their final semester of required coursework may enroll in fewer than 8 credit hours. Students should consult other offices in the Jacobs School of Music and the university to determine the effect of part-time enrollment on financial aid, international student status, insurance, and other issues. In the second summer session, the minimum enrollment is 4 credit hours for all diploma and visiting students.

Academic Bulletins

PDF Version

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Previous Bulletins

Students are ordinarily subject to the curricular requirements outlined in the Bulletin in effect at the start of their current degree. See below for links to previous Bulletins.