Admission Procedures Admission Eligibility Admission Requirements Appeal of Graduate Admission

Transfer Residency Requirement Academic Policies Degree Requirements

The University of North Georgia (UNG) offers a 33-semester-hour Master of Music (MM) degree, with a specialization in performance. The MM program is designed to prepare students for music careers in both the private and public sectors. Graduates of the program will be equipped with advanced musical training, thus enabling them to apply comprehensive musicianship in a variety of settings.

For additional program information, contact the Master of Music Program, Department of Performing Arts, 706-864-1423, or write to Master of Music Program, Department of Performing Arts, John L. Nix Mountain Cultural Center, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001.  

Graduate Studies’ Admission Procedures

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Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Studies or from the UNG Graduate Studies’ website www.ung.edu/graduate/MM. Applicants must pay a one-time, non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Studies, the applicant is notified and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program.  Upon review, a letter from the MM program will be sent to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.  

Applicants who are currently in the last semester of undergraduate work will be evaluated based on their completed academic work and their current course enrollment. Formal admissions decisions for these students cannot be made until the baccalaureate is conferred. 

Students who are admitted, but do not enroll with the cohort must apply to the program by submitting a new application to Graduate Studies for readmission. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply to the program by submitting a new application to Graduate Studies. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned. Materials are kept for one year for incomplete application files and for three years for completed application files.

MM Admission Eligibility

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1. Baccalaureate in music or music education from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
2. Satisfactory audition.

Auditions and transcripts of applicants will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Applicants who are deficient in one or more foundation content areas will be considered for admission to the program with Foundations. The Foundations program provides a method for students to remedy assessed areas of weakness prior to starting the MM program. 

Evaluation of Credit/Audition for Meeting Foundation Requirements

The MM Admissions Committee will evaluate student auditions and previous academic credit for meeting the foundation requirements listed below. Diagnostic exams also may be used to tailor curriculum requirements for admitted students. The following areas may be assessed:

• Music Theory
• Music History
• Aural Skills

Foundation requirements may be completed through a combination of undergraduate courses taught by UNG, or another regionally accredited school, or by successfully passing exams on the topic. Students completing foundation requirements through courses at other universities should seek guidance from the MM program coordinator regarding the appropriateness of the selected courses. 

The admission letter for students admitted to the Master of Music Program with Foundations will indicate foundation topics that must be satisfied prior to starting the program. The MM program coordinator will meet with each student individually to address options for completing foundation requirements. 

Students enrolled in undergraduate foundation coursework necessary for enrollment in the MM program may be eligible for financial aid for any semester in which they are enrolled in at least six semester hours of required prerequisite courses. Students meeting these criteria are eligible for loans for one consecutive twelve-month period.

MM Admission Requirements

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1. Graduate Studies application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education previously attended documenting completion of a baccalaureate in music or music education. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution and state a cumulative calculated grade point average.
4. Three UNG recommendation forms.
5. Performance audition: Students will be required to perform two pieces in contrasting styles. The pieces will be evaluated based on NASM standards and should reflect the performance level expected of students performing an undergraduate senior recital.
6. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.
7. UNG Certificate of Immunization showing proof of immunizations as required by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia should be submitted to Graduate Studies, grads@ung.edu, before registration.

Types of Admission

There are three types of admission to the MM program:

• Regular MM Admission.
• Provisional MM Admission.
• Regular MM with Foundations Admission.

Applicants’ grade point averages, recommendations, and auditions are used to select applicants for admission to the MM program. 

	Admission to MM Program with Foundations	Admission to MM Program
Regular	Students with identified content area weaknesses who supply all necessary application materials and who meet admissions requirements.	Student with no identified content area weaknesses who supply all necessary application materials and who meet admission requirements.
Provisional	No provisional status for MM program with Foundations is available.	Students who have the potential to be successful in the MM program, but do not meet admission requirements.

Provisional Admission

Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit. A provisionally admitted student should schedule an appointment with the MM program coordinator for individual advisement to determine the total number of semester hours the student may enroll under provisional status. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the completion of the first semester. A provisionally admitted students who earns a grade of C or lower in any MM course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the MM program. A students removed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Studies a letter of appeal addressed to the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters and a new application for readmission.

Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.  

Non-Degree Admission

An individual who is interested in taking graduate courses in music, but who does not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as a non-degree graduate student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the MM program coordinator before enrolling in courses and may register for no more than a total of nine semester hours of graduate credit.

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Studies application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education previously attended documenting completion of a baccalaureate in music or music education. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation done by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution and state a calculated cumulative grade point average.
4. Performance audition.
5. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.
6. UNG Certificate of Immunization showing proof of immunizations as required by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia should be submitted to Graduate Studies, grads@ung.edu, before registration.

A non-degree admitted students who earns a grade of C or lower in any graduate course taken while holding a non-degree status will not be allowed to continue in the MM program. A students removed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Studies a letter of appeal addressed to the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters and a new application for readmission.

A non-degree student wishing to apply for admission to the MM program must notify the program coordinator, submit a new application to Graduate Studies, and meet all program admission requirements. All elective credit to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the MM program coordinator.

Non-degree admitted students are not eligible for financial aid. 

Transient Student Admission

An individual currently enrolled at a regionally accredited college or university as a graduate student in good standing may apply to UNG as a transient student. Permission to take courses does not indicate or imply subsequent admission into the MM program. Transient admission is for one semester only and for a maximum of six semester hours. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the MM program coordinator before enrolling in courses. Requests will be considered on a space-available basis.

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Studies application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Letter of good standing or transient permission form documenting that the student is in good standing and should indicate the course(s) the student is being allowed to take at UNG.
4. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.
5. UNG Certificate of Immunization showing proof of immunizations as required by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia should be submitted to Graduate Studies, grads@ung.edu, before registration.

An Individual who wishes to return to UNG as a transient student for a subsequent semester must apply to Graduate Studies for readmission.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

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A candidate whose application is denied has the right to appeal the decision. An appeal must be made in written form to the Master of Music, Department of Performing Arts, John L. Nix Mountain Cultural Center, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001. The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal. A student whose appeal is accepted will be admitted provisionally. Provisional students are not eligible for financial aid. Students may not appeal for regular admission.

MM Transfer Residency Requirement

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To be awarded a Master of Music degree, students must earn a minimum of 24 semester hours applicable to the degree in residence. In addition, no more than nine semester hours of transfer credit may be applied towards meeting the MM degree requirements. All course requirements, including transfer credit, must be completed within a six-year period. The MM program coordinator and the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters must approve all transfer credit. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of C or lower was earned.

MM Academic Policies

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Satisfactory Progress

MM students progress through the program of study as long as a minimum of a B is earned in each graduate course. Students who earn a grade of C or lower in a course must repeat the course with a grade of B or higher before advancing in the program. 

Incomplete Grades

The MM program adheres to the uniform grading system in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog. No degree will be conferred on a student who has an unresolved Incomplete or In-progress grade remaining on his/her transcript.

Academic Standing Policy

MM students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following:

1. Probation – A student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.
   b. Student earns a U or any other grade of C or lower.
   
   No student may be a candidate for the degree or complete capstone requirements while on probation due to a grade point average below a 3.0. Probation will be removed when the student’s grade point average reaches 3.0 or higher. In cases where the student is placed on probation due to a low grade, probation will be removed when the course is repeated and the grade is S or B or higher and the overall grade point average is 3.0 or higher. Students who are on probation may not register until advised.
    
2. Suspension – A student will be placed on suspension for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student earns two grades of C or lower (including U’s).
   b. Student has already served three consecutive semesters on academic probation.
   
   No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will not be recognized for transfer credit. The period of suspension will consists of two semesters. A student who has been suspended must reapply to Graduate Studies by submitting a letter addressed to the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters presenting a rationale for readmission to the program and a new application for readmission. The student may petition for readmission as a probationary student. The student will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters and the MM program coordinator.

Academic and Professional Integrity Policy

At any point in the program, the program faculty or MM program coordinator may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The plan should be signed by the student and the MM program coordinator with copies forwarded to the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. 

Academic Integrity

The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.

Professional Integrity

The Master of Music program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog.

MM Degree Requirements

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Graduation requirements for the Master of Music include:

1. Completion of 33 semester hours with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher with no grade of C or lower.
2. Completion of 24 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence with no more than 12 semester hours of transfer credit.
3. Completion of all degree-related course requirements, including any transfer credit, within a six-year period.