Undergraduate Program Policies

Students taking courses with MUSHL and MUSTH prefixes that are required in the music major must have grades of C or better in all prerequisite courses. The grade of CR may not be elected by music majors in courses that fulfill major requirements. In accordance with Hunter College policy, a course may not be taken more than twice without permission of the department. A = outstanding work B = good work with occasional signs of superior quality C = competent, adequate work D = inferior work that barely fulfills course requirements F = failure CR = credit without letter grade. This grade may not be elected by music majors in required major courses. NC = no credit. This grade may be elected by submitting a written request BEFORE the final examination date. Majors may elect NC if they plan to repeat the course. IN = incomplete; some required work or final examination missing. This grade requires approval of the Department Chair and may be given only for valid reasons, such as a documented illness or personal emergency. Students must request it in writing on the appropriate departmental form as soon as possible after the emergency arises. Requests must be accompanied by documentation of the valid reason for not completing course requirements on time. Failure to complete the course requirements on time under any other circumstances will result in grades of zero for the missed requirements, including the final exam, and, therefore, a lowered final grade. A student who receives a grade of IN must complete the work for the course no later than the seventh week of the following semester; otherwise the IN will automatically be changed to FIN.

In order to be admitted to a course, a student must have a grade of C or higher in all prerequisite courses. Exceptionally, a student who receives a D may be given permission to continue in sequence if recommended by both the instructor and the undergraduate adviser.

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated at Hunter College. Students engaging in plagiarism or "cheating" will have formal disciplinary charges brought against them which could result in a course failure, notation on their transcript, and suspension from Hunter. As defined in the Hunter College Undergraduate Catalog, plagiarism is the borrowing of ideas, terms, statements or knowledge of others without clear and specific acknowledgment. Additionally, copying or obtaining another's answers to questions on examinations or assignments is also a form of academic dishonesty commonly known as "cheating."

A student who receives a grade of F, D, or NC in a course may repeat the course once. Courses may not be repeated more than once. A student who receives unsatisfactory grades twice in the same required course will be dropped from the major. Courses in which a student has received a grade of C or higher may not be repeated.

Unless authorized by the Dean's or Provost's office, only those with valid Hunter College IDs or valid IDs from other units of CUNY may attend classes in the Music Department.

It is imperative that students attend class the first day or notify instructors that, despite their absence, they are taking the course. A student who fails to attend or give notice on the first day may be dropped from a class to make room for others.

The Music Department urges instructors to begin class on time, lock the classroom door, open the door once for all latecomers ten minutes after the start of class, and then admit no further latecomers into the room. This policy is meant to prevent the disruption of class by perpetual latecomers, not to impose undue hardship on students. A student who knows that he or she must arrive late for some reason should discuss the problem with the teacher.

To receive credit for MUSPF 401, MUSPF 402 or MUSPF 431 (Instruction in Instrument or Voice), students must study with a Music Department faculty member or department-approved Performance Associate (teacher). Enrollment is limited to declared Music majors and minors with satisfactory academic records who are making reasonable progress toward the completion of the major or minor. For part-time students, private lessons cannot count for more than 50% of the total credits in any given semester, unless all other degree requirements have already been fulfilled. Except under extraordinary circumstances, students will not be allowed to register for lessons during late registration period. All students enrolled in private instruction must participate in a Hunter ensemble. In addition, we ask that students serve as ushers at departmental concerts or serve as student representatives on departmental committees. Teacher assignments are made by the Music Department. Because funding for private lessons is limited, the Music Department cannot promise to offer lessons to all students who meet the requirements for receiving them.

Students accepted into the B.Mus. program must enroll at Hunter and begin taking private lessons (MUSPF 431) within 12 months of the date of the audition. If they wish to enroll later, they must repeat the audition. Once they begin the program, they must remain in it without interruption and take private lessons (MUSPF 431) every semester until they have completed the graduation recital. Exceptions to this policy require prior permission from the Undergraduate Adviser. Students who fail to register for lessons during a given semester without permission will be withdrawn from the program.

All music majors except those in the 25-credit program are expected to participate in a Hunter College performing ensemble, either for credit or on an auditor basis, each semester that they are in full-time attendance. All music majors, including those in the 25-credit program, enrolled in private instruction must participate in a Hunter ensemble. Requests to be exempt from these requirements must be stated in the comment box on the Teacher Assignment Form.

Declared music majors, music minors, and non-majors enrolled in music courses are the only students eligible to use Department practice rooms. To arrange for the use of the practice rooms, students should contact the department office. They should be prepared to supply proof of their declared music-major status or registration in a music course.

a. Students wishing to receive transfer credit for courses in music theory, musicianship (ear training and sight-singing), music history, or ethnomusicology must take a placement examination. For placement exams, contact the adviser directly. b. Transfer credits in music performance are normally accepted without examination. All transfer credits for courses required in the music major must, however, be approved by the Undergraduate Adviser.

The Music Department does not give credit for life experience prior to the student's enrollment at Hunter College. Students who have acquired significant knowledge outside of an academic context may, however, receive credit by departmental examination.

a. A student wishing to receive credit for an individual study project must submit a written proposal to the Policy Committee of the Music Department no later than the twelfth week of the preceding semester. Permission to register for this course is conditional on approval of the proposal by the committee. Forms for these proposals may be obtained from the Undergraduate Adviser. Enrollment is limited to music majors and music minors. b. Individual study credit is not given for teaching.

To qualify for departmental honors in music, a student must have a 3.5 grade point average in major courses and complete an honors project, taken under the course number MUSTH 491 or 492. The project may be a research paper, an original composition, or a recital and must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) and a faculty advisor no later than the last day of the semester before the work will begin. During the semester prior to the honors project students should identify the appropriate full-time faculty member who will serve as the advisor and share their project plans for feedback. Once the advisor has been determined and approved by the DUS, the student will submit the honors project by the above deadline and register for the following semester of honors project (MUSTH 491 or 492). Honors projects will be completed in one semester and will be adjudicated by the advisor and a first reader (to be determined by the DUS) with expertise in the area of study.

The use of all electronic devices is forbidden in music department classes, rehearsals and concerts, unless allowed by the individual professor for instructional purposes.