Graduate Division

Diploma Programs in Performance

The Artist Diploma and Performer Diploma programs are intended for the outstanding performer and are designed to concentrate study in appropriate repertoire. The diploma programs are administered by the director of graduate studies.

Admission Requirements

Artist Diploma: performance ability equivalent to that required for acceptance into a major international competition. Students must pass both a departmental audition and a school-wide audition for the Jacobs School of Music Artist Diploma Committee. More information about the audition process can be found at https://intranet.music.indiana.edu/degrees/graduate-diploma/diploma-programs/ADAudition.shtml. Admission to this program does not require a high school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma, but one of these must be earned before the Artist Diploma can be granted. Students without a GED or high school diploma who do not pass the school-wide audition (during the first semester of enrollment) in front of the Jacobs School of Music Artist Diploma Committee cannot continue in the program beyond the first semester.

Performer Diploma: performance ability equivalent to a high Master of Music graduation level. Students must hold a U.S. high school diploma or the equivalent. Students who have completed at least three years of study at a university, college, or conservatory and earned a degree, diploma, or certificate, are eligible to enter the Performer Diploma at the graduate level. Students who have not completed a college level credential but who hold a high school diploma (or GED) may enter the Performer Diploma as an undergraduate student.

For additional information, see "Admission Requirements" in the Graduate Division section of this bulletin.

General Requirements

Students enroll in major-level lessons and in major ensemble each fall and spring semester. Some diploma programs require enrollment in additional courses such as chamber music, orchestral repertoire, or chamber music literature. Over the course of their program, diploma students also enroll in 6 credit hours of other music courses; perform one recital (Performer Diploma, Solo Performance; Performer Diploma, Chamber Music; Performer Diploma, Collaborative Piano), pass one examination (Performer Diploma, Orchestral Studies), or perform four recitals (Artist Diploma); and meet a language requirement. Voice students and collaborative piano students have additional requirements in language grammar and diction. The minimum enrollment each fall and spring semester is 10 credit hours. There are no enrollment requirements during the summer term. No transfer of credit is accepted toward the requirements of any diploma program.

Grade Requirements

Students in all diploma programs must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to graduate; a grade of B or higher in each major ensemble enrollment; a grade of C or higher in each course that is to count under the heading “Music Courses”; and a grade of A- or higher in all other required courses, including lessons and recitals.

Language Requirements

Language Proficiency requirements may be met by coursework taken no more than ten years prior to matriculation.

Voice and historical performance voice students must demonstrate knowledge of French, German, and Italian grammar equivalent to two semesters at the college level with a grade of C or higher in each, and proficiency in diction in each language by examination or by passing a Jacobs School of Music diction course. Students must take all three diction examinations in their first semester of enrollment; with voice department permission, they may take specific examinations for a second time in their second semester of enrollment. Diction examinations are given prior to the beginning of each semester. For any examination not passed, students must pass the appropriate Jacobs School of Music diction course with a grade of C or higher.

Instrumental students whose first language is English must demonstrate knowledge of the grammar of one non-English language equivalent to two semesters at the college level with a grade of C or higher in each. International students whose first language is not English and who have met the minimum TOEFL score requirements for admission to a diploma program will have the language requirement for instrumental students waived.

All collaborative piano students must satisfy the language requirement for instrumental students and must demonstrate proficiency in English diction. Additional diction requirements in French, German, and Italian apply as described below:

  • Students with a Vocal Collaboration Emphasis must demonstrate proficiency in diction in each of the three languages.
  • Students with an Instrumental Collaboration Emphasis must demonstrate proficiency in diction for one of the three languages.
  • Students with a Balanced Collaboration Emphasis must demonstrate proficiency in diction for two of the three languages.

Proficiency is demonstrated by examination or by passing a Jacobs School of Music diction course. Students must take all diction examinations in their first semester of enrollment; with voice department permission, they may take specific examinations for a second time in their second semester of enrollment. Diction examinations are given prior to the beginning of each semester. For any examination not passed, students must pass the appropriate Jacobs School of Music diction course with a grade of C or higher.

Time Limits

Students may enroll for a maximum of four fall-spring semesters and must complete all requirements within five years from the date of first enrollment. Additional semesters of enrollment within the five-year time limit are possible only through recommendation by the student’s performance instructor and approval by the director of graduate studies.

Time limits will be suspended for the duration of any officially recognized military leave. See Military Leaves in the "Regulations and Procedures" section of this bulletin.

Students who do not complete their requirements within the prescribed time limit must be readmitted to the program by passing the regular department admission audition and, in the case of the Artist Diploma, the school-wide Artist Diploma audition. In addition, they must meet current requirements, and satisfy any other curricular changes required by the major field department and the director of graduate studies. If a student is readmitted to the program, the term of readmission is one year.

In addition, any course taken more than five calendar years prior to the date of readmission must be revalidated. See "Graduate Revalidation Procedures" in this bulletin for information on how coursework and proficiencies may be revalidated. The following requirements cannot be revalidated and must be completed again if originally completed more than five calendar years prior to the date of readmission: recitals (including any replaced by an opera role) and the PD Orchestral Studies Exam.

Enrollment will be limited to the number of semesters required to complete the remaining requirements as determined by the director of graduate studies. Students must meet current enrollment requirements.

Academic Bulletins

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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.