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 20 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters (more than 10 during the summer term), including major ensemble (2 credit hours), 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 20 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 summer term must enroll for at least two hours of credit in that performance course.
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 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.
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 10 credit hours (including major 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 major 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 credit hours of required coursework remaining may register for just those credit hours, plus 2 credit hours of major ensemble if required for the degree. In that final semester, registration in fewer than 8 credit hours is not possible if the final requirement includes performance (individual studio) study. Master’s students who register in performance study must enroll in a minimum of 8 credit hours 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.
Certificate Students
Certificate students completing a certificate in addition to a degree must follow the minimum/maximum load requirements for their degree. Students enrolled only in a certificate will follow the load requirements specified for that certificate.