Timeline for Music Graduate Students

Timeline for Music Graduate Students
This is a timeline for when to do what at a glance. Other rules may apply. Please consult your Graduate Bulletin for guidelines and schedules. Use the proper form for each procedure and keep a record of all Advisory meetings in the DGS office.

The Very First Semester

• Complete Admissions Procedure
• Self Orientation via Internet
• TA Orientation (Required) One week before classes begin
• Crime Check for new TA's
• New Students meet with DGS for advising conference
• Study the Graduate School Bulletin for Academic Rules
• Registration & Drop/Add for classes completed by Day 5 into the Semester
• Mid-semester advising conference with assigned Advisor
• Enroll for next term during Advanced Registration Period
• Complete Conditional Admission Requirements during the first academic year
• Transfer credits with Grade B or higher earned as Post-Baccalaureate or from other Institutions
• Up to 25% of the total credits can be considered into the Master's program
• No credit can be transferred into the Doctoral program
• Make plan to complete foreign language requirement, if needed by program
• International students must register for full time until graduation
• Doctoral students make plan to complete pre-qualifying residency requirement:
• Choose two consecutive semesters of nine graduate credits each or
• Three consecutive semesters of six graduate credits each or
• Twenty-four graduate credits during three consecutive calendar years
• Keep track of your graduate work using the Checklist for your degree program
• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 in order to avoid academic probation
• Always check academic schedule for deadlines

The Following Semesters

• Registration & Drop/Add for classes completed by Day 5 into the Semester
• Mid-semester advising conference with assigned Advisor
• Enroll for next term during Advanced Registration Period
• Doctoral students form and meet with Advisory Committee near the end of second semester
• Put a copy of the official meeting describing all degree requirements in the DGS office
• Make sure you complete all "Incomplete" grades within one year to avoid the "E" grade
• Master's students make sure 50% of course work is at the 600 level or above
• Doctoral students should sign up for courses at the 600 level or above
• Performance requirements include completion of Pre-Recital Hearing form signed by three applied faculty and Recital Approval signed by the Advisory Committee for each recital
• A yearly assessment of your progress is made by your Advisory Committee or by the School of Music Graduate Committee. You will be informed of the results.
• Always check academic schedule for deadlines

The Last Semester of Course Work

• Master's students notify Graduate School of intended degree completion by submitting the "Application for Degree" form, pre-approved by the DGS within 30 days of the start of the semester (within 15 days of the start of the summer session). Earlier application is encouraged.
• Master's students form Final Exam Committee with Advisor's help
• Master's students schedule Final Exam, filing the "Final Master's Degree Examination" form, pre- approved by the DGS, to be received at the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to sitting for the Exam
• Doctoral students plan for taking the Qualifying Exam (QE), to be taken immediately after all the course work is completed
• The pre-requisite conditions to schedule the Final Exam or the Qualifying Exam include:
• All "incomplete" grades removed
• All library or other fines or dues are paid
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher
• All program requirements completed
• Bring your completed Program Checklist to the DGS for degree certification
• If writing a master's thesis, follow the Graduate School Guidelines for Thesis and Dissertation.
• A "Thesis Approval Sheet" must accompany the request to schedule the final exam. Submit the thesis within 60 days of the successful completion of the Oral Exam.
• Have the Graduate School check the document for acceptance, after the DGS signs it.
• Time Limit for the master's degree for students admitted prior to Fall 2005 is eight years with extension up to four years.
• Time Limit for the master's degree for students admitted or readmitted Fall 2005 or later is six years, with extension up to four years.
• Pre-Qualifying time limit for doctoral students admitted or readmitted Fall 2005 or later is five years, with extension up to 3 years.
• Pre-Qualifying time limit for doctoral students admitted prior to Fall 2005 is ten years.
• All extension request to the Graduate School is contingent upon the student's good progress towards the degree and must be petitioned by the advisor and approved by the DGS, and then approved by the Graduate Dean or the UK Graduate Council.
• The Master's Final Exam may be repeated once, after a lapse of 30 days.
• Master's student order Cap and Gown, attend Commencement

The Qualifying Exam and Post-QE Residency

• Doctoral students file the "Request to Schedule Qualifying Exam (QE)", pre-approved by the DGS, with Graduate School within six weeks of the beginning of the semester in order to register for Post-Qualifying Residency Credit for that semester.
• Once the Request for QE is on file, students can take the QE any time during the semester.
• Students work with Advisory Committee to decide dates and times to write and sit for the QE. All members of the Advisory Committee must be present at the oral and final portion of the QE.
• Students schedule QE, filing the "Recommendation for Qualifying Examination" form, pre- approved by the DGS, to be received at the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to sitting for the Exam
• Students not completing the QE successfully must drop the Post-Qualifying credits and retake the QE after a lapse of four months.
• If the degree requirements are not completed within five years after QE, students may petition to extend for one year without retaking the QE.
• Extension longer than one year will require the re-taking of the QE.
• Post-QE extension up to ten years is the absolute maximum allowed to finish the degree.
• Having passed the QE, students schedule a proposal meeting with the Advisory Committee to approve the topic of the dissertation/document.
• File a copy of this approval at the DGS office.
• Make sure you are enrolled for Post-QE dissertation credits continuously until your degree is granted.
• OLD RULE:
• Students completing the QE Summer of 2005 or earlier must take MUS769 for two consecutive terms with 9 credits each or three consecutive terms with 6 credits, continuing with 769 zero credits until the degree completion.
• International students and those on student loan may enroll in MUS 749 (0 credit) for up to six semesters to count as full-time enrollment.
• Students may take 3 credits of other course plus 6 credits of MUS 769 during the first two post-QE terms.
• NEW RULE:
• Students admitted or re-admitted Fall 2005 or later must enroll themselves for MUS767 for 2 credits every fall and spring semesters until degree completion
• Students enrolled in MUS767 is considered full-time and pay in-state tuition. Students need to continue enroll themselves continuously until the degree is completed.
• Students enrolled prior to Fall 2005 but have not taken the Qualifying Exam can choose to follow the Old Rule or the New Rule and keep it. The choice depends on your financial situation.
• Students enjoying free tuition should stick with the Old Rule.
• All extension request to the Graduate School is contingent upon the student's good progress towards the degree and must be petitioned by the advisor and approved by the DGS, and then approved by the Graduate Dean or the UK Graduate Council.

The Completion of the Doctoral Degree

• Follow the Graduate School Guidelines for writing Thesis and Dissertation
• Notify Graduate School of intended degree completion by submitting the "Application for Degree" card, pre-approved by the DGS within 30 days of the start of the semester (within 15 days of the start of the summer session). Earlier application is encouraged.
• Submit "Notification of Intent to Schedule a Final Doctoral Exam" form to initiate the doctoral final exam process, at least eight weeks before the exam is to be scheduled.
• The pre-requisite conditions to schedule the Final Exam include
• All "incomplete" grades removed
• All library or other fines or dues are paid
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher
• All program requirements (recitals, lectures) completed
• Student is currently enrolled in Dissertation Residency 
• The Graduate School appoints an Outside examiner
• Distribute final document to all committee members
• Schedule Final Exam, filing the "Final Exam Recommendation" form, pre- approved by the DGS, to be received at the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to sitting for the Exam.
• A "Dissertation Approval Sheet" must accompany the request to schedule the final exam.
• Final exam is open to the public.
• All voting committee members must be present and remain present during the exam.
• It may be cancelled prior to its official start for substantive reason.
• Submit the thesis within 60 days of the successful completion of the Oral Exam.
• Graduate School checks the document for acceptance, after the Advisor and DGS signs it.
• Get Cap, Hood, and Gown. Attend Commencement

• Celebrate!!!!!