Academic Policies

Mary Pappert School of Music Repeating Courses Policy

The Mary Pappert School of Music follows the Duquesne University Repeating Courses Policy for all programs.

Ensemble Credit Policy

Large Ensembles Code Type

Subject Code/Course # Course Name Minutes/Week Student Course Credit Faculty Load Credit DU Registrar Code
MUEN 125/
GMNS 525
Symphony Band 220 0-1 4 LGE
MUEN 130/
GMNS 503
Wind Symphony 220 0-1 4 LGE
MUEN 132/
GMNS 504
Duquesne Symphony Orchestra 265 0-1 4 LGE
MUEN 134/
GMNS 511
Jazz Ensemble 220 0-1 4 LGE
MUEN 135/
GMNS 514
Jazz Workshop 220 0-1 4 LGE
MUEN 139/
GMNS 539
Pappert Chorale 200 0-1 4 LGE
MUEN 143/
GMNS 543
Voices of Spirit 230 0-1 4 LGE

Small Ensembles Code Type

Subject Code/Course # Course Name Minutes/Week Student Course Credit Faculty Load Credit DU Registrar Code
MUEN 122/
GMNS 522
Duquesne Chamber Orchestra 110 0-1 2 SML
MUEN 144/
GMNS 505
Opera Workshop* 110 0-1 2 SML
MUEN 145/
GMNS 576
Vocal Jazz Ensemble 110 0-1 2 SML
 

*See voice tally sheet for specific ensemble requirements and restrictions.

Other Ensembles Code Type

Subject Code/Course # Course Name Minutes/Week Student Course Credit Faculty Load Credit DU Registrar Code
MUEN 118/
GMNS 512
Recording Studio Ensemble 170 0-1 3 OTHER

Chamber Ensembles Code Type

Subject Code/Course # Course Name Minutes/Week Student Course Credit Faculty Load Credit DU Registrar Code
MUEN 105/
GMNS 515
French Horn Ensemble 50-100 0-1 1 CME
MUEN 107/
GMNS 507
Brass Choir 50-100 0-1 1 CME
MUEN 108/
GMNS 521
Trumpet Ensemble 50-100 0-1 1 CME
MUEN 112/
GMNS 506
Percussion Ensemble 50-100 0-1 1 CME
MUEN 114/
GMNS 519
Flute Choir 50-100 0-1 1 CME
MUEN 115/
GMNS 517
Trombone Choir 50-100 0-1 1 CME
MUEN 116/
GMNS 513
Jazz Guitar Ensemble 50-100 0-1 1 CME
MUEN 117/
GMNS 518
Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble 50-100 0-1 1 CME
MUEN 120/
GMNS 520
Classic Guitar Ensemble 50-100 0-1 1 CME
MUEN 136/
GMNS 536
Saxophone Ensemble 50-100 0-1 1 CME
MUEN 146/
GMNS 544
The Dukes Music 50-100 0-1 1 CME
MUPF 217/
GMPF 514
Piano Ensemble 50-100 0-1 1 CME

Chamber Ensembles coded courses meet 50 minutes/week if enrollment is 5 or fewer students. If enrollment is 6 or more students, Chamber Ensembles coded courses meet 100 minutes/week.

Chamber Music Class Code Type

Subject Code/Course # Course Name Minutes/Week Student Course Credit Faculty Load Credit DU Registrar Code
MUPF 212/
GMPF 532
Chamber Music—String 100 0-2 1 CMS
MUPF 214/
GMPF 533
Chamber Music—Brass 50-100 0-2 1 CMS
MUPF 216/
GMPF 531
Chamber Music—Woodwind 100 0-2 1 CMS

Note: Some of the ensembles listed above require an audition for entrance. Specific degree programs may also require additional ensembles. Please refer to the degree tally sheet for details.

Degree Recital Policies and Procedures

Students should refer to the syllabus for their specific recital to find the requirements related to repertoire, program length, and any other area-specific requirements. The recital scheduling process is found at duq.edu/recitals.

Applied Lesson Policy

Every music major will receive 14 weeks of lessons and perform a jury or recital each semester. The following formula is used for both Undergraduate and Graduate Applied Lessons:

Two Credits=14, 60-minute weekly lessons (840 total minutes), plus a jury or recital
One Credit=14, 30-minute weekly lessons (420 total minutes), plus a jury or recital

Graduate Requirements

  • Performance Majors (Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Organ, Voice, Piano): four semesters on primary instrument, two credits per semester
  • Performance Majors (Collaborative Piano): four semesters of applied piano, plus four semesters of collaborative piano (1 credit/semester)
  • Performance Majors (Percussion): four semesters of 14, one-hour, weekly lessons for two credits plus 14, 30-minute, weekly lessons for one credit

Additional Applied Study Options (with the permission of the instructor, Area Coordinator, Department Chair, and Dean)

  • Graduate Performance—Jazz Emphasis majors may take two credits of lessons, dividing those into two, 1-credit lessons each in classical and jazz.
  • Graduate Performance majors may take two credits of lessons, dividing those into two, 1-credit lessons each in classical and jazz. (See procedure below regarding dividing lessons.)
  • Graduate Organ and Sacred Music majors may take four semesters of 1-credit lessons in applied piano.
  • Graduate Voice majors may take up to two additional credits of piano (one credit maximum/semester) upon successful completion of group piano classes.
  • In exceptional cases, Piano and Voice majors may take an additional 1-credit of lessons in jazz in addition to their 2-credit lesson on their primary instrument. These requests must be approved in advance of registration by the individuals mentioned above.
  • Requests not covered by the above situations must be submitted to the Associate Dean for formal approval, once the instructor, Area Coordinator, and Department Chair have given their approvals.

Students interested in dividing 2-credit lessons into two, 1-credit lessons each in classical and jazz, must first submit a Division of Applied Lessons Form to the Performance Department Chair. The chair will then discuss the request with the applied instructor, the faculty advisor, degree Program Director or appropriate chair, and the Jazz Area Coordinator. The student will be notified in writing whether the request is approved or not.

Incomplete (“I”) Grades

An incomplete grade ("I") is a temporary grade given when neither a passing nor failing grade can be determined because of incomplete coursework due to extreme and unforeseen extenuating circumstances. To be considered for an I grade, the student should have completed a majority of coursework and attended a majority of classes in the course. Upon assigning the I grade, the instructor should provide the student with a delimited set of coursework requirements to complete to be assigned a final grade. As such, it should be unnecessary for students to attend the same class in a subsequent semester in order to make up incomplete work.

For all music courses, students must request an I grade by completing the Incomplete Grade Request Form which can be found on the Student Success page on DORI (duq.edu/MusicStudents). Prior to completing this form, students should review the full Incomplete Grade Policy in the University Catalog. The student, with specific guidance from the course instructor, must fill out the entire form and then gain approvals from all individuals as listed in the table at the end of the form. These approvals should be obtained through an email that is sent from the student to all parties with the form attached, with each faculty member or administrator using the “reply all” feature. Students will not be granted an incomplete grade without prior approval from all individuals (instructor of the course, faculty advisor, Department Chair/Program Director, Associate Dean). Once email approvals from the instructor, faculty advisor, and Department Chair/Program Director are obtained, the Associate Dean may require a meeting with the student. The Associate Dean will “reply all” with a final decision regarding an Incomplete grade.

The timing of an Incomplete Grade request should ideally occur prior to the start of final exams, although unforeseen extenuating circumstances may prevent that. For any music course, instructors are not permitted to enter an I grade for any student unless the form is completed and submitted appropriately. The only exception to this is if extenuating circumstances prevent a student from completing the form. In that case, the instructor must communicate via email with the Associate Dean with a cc to the student regarding the need to enter an I grade and include the following:

  • Student name
  • Course name
  • Reason for I grade, including any documentation supporting unforeseen extenuating circumstances
  • Student’s current grade in the course
  • List of assignments/work to be completed, including original due dates and new due dates
  • Date the instructor will submit the final grade for the student whether or not all work is completed (date must be before deadline indicated on university calendar)
  • For these exceptions, the Associate Dean will respond to the faculty member and student with a final decision regarding an Incomplete Grade for the course.

Restrictions on Time

Master of Music Degree Students

A full-time student normally takes fifteen credits per year, which is divided into one semester of seven credits and one semester of eight credits. A minimum of seven credits is needed for full-time status.

See the Duquesne University policy on Degree Completion (Statute of Limitations)

Master of Music in Music Therapy Students

Students have a 6-year window to obtain the degree. After 6 years, students have the option to appeal for a one-year extension; students can make two such appeals.

Artist Diploma Students

Artist Diploma students will be enrolled full time for four consecutive semesters, or two academic years of study.

Residency

Course requirements are met in residence. Certain programs include online/distance courses.

Transferred Graduate Credit

Master of Music Degree Students

With the approval of the Chair of Performance, a maximum of six graduate credits taken at an accredited institution may be accepted toward the master's degree. Official transcripts and catalog course descriptions from the institution must be submitted for evaluation. Note: Courses that were taken at the undergraduate level at Duquesne or another institution may not be used to satisfy graduate-level courses.

Artist Diploma Students

The program consists of 30 credits taken at Duquesne University. No credits may be transferred from any other institution.

Please see the Academic Policies section of the University Catalog for all other academic policies and procedures.


Program Goals and Outcomes

The goal of the Mary Pappert School of Music is the development of a well-rounded professional musician who is well-equipped to contribute to the contemporary musical world.

To meet that goal, the Mary Pappert School of Music aims to develop in each student the highest caliber of individual performance informed by current music scholarship. See the Music School's Academic Policies for more information.

General Goals for all Graduate Degree Programs

The School of Music has a common body of knowledge and skills for all graduate degree areas. These fall broadly into the following categories: Professional Competence, Musicianship, Creativity and Scholarship, and Pedagogy and Communication. The chart below demonstrates how these school-level goals link to the Dimensions of a Duquesne University:

Category 1: Professional Competence Duquesne Dimensions
1A Develop advanced capacities to work independently and make effective artistic and intellectual judgments and professional decisions in the area of specialization. (NASM)
  • Understanding and Knowledge
  • Intellectual Inquiry and Communication
1B Demonstrate professional competence in the area of specialization before peers and faculty. (NASM)
  • Understanding and Knowledge
  • Intellectual Inquiry and Communication
1C

Display professional dispositions as defined by the individual degree areas.

  • Ethical, Moral, and Spiritual Development
  • Leadership and Service
  • Diversity and Global Mindedness

 

Category 2: Musicianship Duquesne Dimensions
2A Develop critical frameworks that inform their understanding of musical materials, practices, and how music participates in cultural discourse, as well as the potential to apply these frameworks to their areas of specialization.
  • Understanding and Knowledge
  • Intellectual Inquiry and Communication
  • Diversity and Global Mindedness
2B Engage in creative research through the production and/or presentation of projects in performance, analysis, composition, musicology and/or interdisciplinary scholarship.
  • Understanding and Knowledge
  • Intellectual Inquiry and Communication

 

Category 3: Creativity & Scholarship Duquesne Dimensions
3A Demonstrate the ability to think deeply, creatively, and critically about musical, philosophical, pedagogical, and other related problems in the area of specialization.
  • Understanding and Knowledge
  • Intellectual Inquiry and Communication
  • Diversity and Global Mindedness
3B Produce scholarly and creative works within their major field of study.
  • Understanding and Knowledge
  • Intellectual Inquiry and Communication
Category 4: Pedagogy & Communication Duquesne Dimensions
4A Demonstrate an understanding of pedagogical principles in the area of specialization.
  • Understanding and Knowledge
  • Intellectual Inquiry and Communication
4B Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and effectively about the profession.
  • Understanding and Knowledge
  • Intellectual Inquiry and Communication