Admission

Admission to the graduate program is competitive and selective. Those who meet stated minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.

Applicants must submit all of the following items to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education before admission can be considered:

• A completed Admission Application must be submitted no later than February 1 for funding consideration with the Department of Music. Applicants should complete the electronic admissions application.
• A nonrefundable application fee must be submitted with the application via check or credit card. Checks must be made payable to the University of Delaware.
• Applications received without the application fee will not be processed.  Foreign students may utilize either a check or an International Postal Money Order to remit payment in U.S. currency.
• An official transcript of all previous college records must be sent directly from the institution to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. Students who have attended the University of Delaware need not supply a transcript from Delaware. Transcripts issued in a language other than
• English must be accompanied by an official translation into English. If the rank of the student is not displayed on the transcript or diploma, an official letter of explanation and ranking from the institution where the degree was earned is required.
• Applicants must submit at least three letters of recommendation and a statement of professional goals.

International student applicants must demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency in the English language if English is not their first language. This requirement can be met by applicants taking either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Interactive English Language Testing System (IELTS). TOEFL scores more than two years old cannot be validated or considered official. International students must be offered admission to the University and provide evidence of adequate financial resources before a student visa will be issued. The University has been authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. International students are required to purchase the University-sponsored insurance plan or its equivalent.

It is a Delaware State Board of Health Regulation and a University of Delaware mandate that all entering graduate students born after January 1, 1957 give proof of proper immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella. If immunization requirements are not met, the student will not be eligible to register for classes. Specific information may be obtained from the Student Health Service (302) 831-2226.

The entering student is expected to have:

• An undergraduate degree in music, or its equivalent, from an accredited college or university.
• An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• For foreign applicants, an officially reported minimum TOEFL score of 100 (iBT) is required.
• Performance concentration applicants must perform a live audition.  Those unable to visit campus due to geographic constraints may submit a performance DVD in lieu of a live audition at the discretion of the major professor. A video-conference interview is also required for applicants unable to visit in person.
• Teaching concentration applicants must have an interview with music education faculty.
• Applicants must pass the Department's music theory entrance exam prior to enrolling in MUSC 695 (Advanced Analytical Techniques). Applicants must also pass the music history entrance exam in order to enroll in MUSC 611 (Studies in Music History).  Students who fail either exam will be required to complete remedial coursework in that area.

Upon completion of the application, audition and/or interview process, applicants will be informed of their admission status, usually by March 31st of the calendar year.  (Address applications that come in after the February 1st deadline.)

The Department of Music offers competitive Graduate Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships and Tuition Scholarships to qualified full-time graduate students. Assistantships pay full tuition and a stipend and require students to teach or do other work. Tuition scholarships pay up to full tuition and do not have a work-related requirement.

Graduate Assistants (GA)

Graduate assistantships are awarded to students in exchange for work in a variety of capacities as administrative assistants to faculty and/or administrators. Tasks may or may not be related to the student's program. The Department of Music typically awards graduate assistantships based on ten hours of service per week, with the annual stipend adjusted accordingly. Graduate assistants must maintain full-time status by enrolling in a minimum of six graduate credit hours per semester. All graduate assistants are subject to

two evaluations each semester as criterion for renewal of their appointments. Per University policy, graduate assistants on a ten-hour contract may accept remuneration for employment inside or outside of the University.

Teaching Assistants (TA)

Teaching assistants are required to perform teaching and other instructional activities. The Department of Music typically awards teaching assistantships based on ten hours of teaching-related service per week, with the annual stipend adjusted accordingly. Teaching assistants must maintain full-time status by enrolling in a minimum of six graduate credit hours per semester. All teaching assistants are subject to two evaluations for teaching effectiveness each semester as criterion for renewal of their appointments. Per University policy, teaching assistants on a ten-hour contract may accept remuneration for employment inside or outside of the University.

Tuition Scholars

Tuition scholarships provide up to full tuition but do not pay a stipend. There is no work requirement for the tuition scholarship. Tuition scholars must maintain full-time status by enrolling in a minimum of nine graduate credit hours per semester. Per University policy, tuition scholars may accept remuneration for employment inside or outside of the University.

Guidelines for Graduate Students on Fellowship or Assistantship Contracts

Students who are awarded a fellowship or an assistantship for the fall and/or spring semester assume a contract with the University and are expected to give their full-time attention to graduate study in those semesters. Students are classified as "on contract" if paid at least 50% of the U.D. minimum stipend in the fall and/or spring semester and are matriculated as a full-time student. Students who receive no stipend but receive a departmental tuition scholarship of at least 50% in the fall and/or spring semester and are matriculated as full-time students are also classified as "on contract." Students who are classified as research assistants and are paid at least 100% of the minimum stipend in the months of June and July and/or August are classified as "on contract" in the summer months.

• Nine graduate credits or sustaining in the fall and spring semesters is the minimum registration requirement to be classified as a full-time student for those who receive a fellowship.
• Six graduate credits or sustaining in the fall and spring semesters is the minimum registration requirement for students to be classified as a full-time student for those who receive an assistantship. Programs may require that students register in more than six credits if holding an assistantship as stated in the plan of study for that program.
• Three graduate credits in research or sustaining in the 7 1/2-week summer session is the minimum registration requirement for students to be classified as a full-time student for those who receive a 100% research assistantship in the summer.
• Registration is not required in Winter Session for students who are classified "on contract" when the contract is written to include the fall and spring semesters.
• Students classified as graduate or research assistants are required to provide an average of 20 hours of service per week in the winter session as part of their fall and spring award.
• Students who receive 100% of the minimum stipend and a 100% tuition scholarship may not hold additional employment on or off campus. As with any professional appointment, the amount of service may vary from week to week, but the average is usually expected to be no more than 20 hours of service per week for the U.D. minimum stipend. Dean's permission is required for any exception to this "no other employment policy" and must be notified to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education.
• Students who receive less than a 100% minimum stipend and are expected to provide service of less than 20 hours per week may accept additional work on or off campus.
• Students who receive a departmental tuition scholarship only (no stipend) may accept additional work on or off campus.
• Students who are classified as "on contract" are eligible to receive the medical and/or dental insurance reduction benefit.
• Students who withdraw or are dismissed from the University during the time of the contract appointment will become responsible for the tuition in that semester.
• The appointment is for the time period as indicated on the contract form and the unit does not need to report non-renewal to the student.
• Federal and state taxes, if applicable, will be withheld from the stipend check.
• Tuition scholarships are not taxed.
• Attendance at the Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) workshop is required for all first time GTAs. International GTAs must also attend the ELI ITA training program and meet the SPEAK/UDIA score requirements to be eligible for a GTA appointment.
• Students holding assistantships are expected to be at the assistantship site except for times when the University is officially closed or as noted on the contract form in the reporting hours section. Winter session is considered a regular session and graduate and research assistants are required to be at their assignment site during the winter session time period if the contract has been written from 9/1 through 5/31.
• This contract does not provide for payment of the Student fees that are charged by the University each semester unless so noted as part of the contract.
• An offer of continuation of the appointment is contingent upon satisfactory performance of assigned duties each semester, continued academic eligibility in each semester (minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00), compliance with the University's Code of Conduct, availability of funds and stated policies of the program as to the number of semesters that a student is eligible to receive fellowships or assistantships.
• Any exception to the policies stated must be presented in writing by the appropriate departmental/college office to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education for consideration and action.