During the fourth semester (generally at the end of the sophomore year) of applied studio instruction students are evaluated and assessed by the music faculty regarding their performance on their primary specialization. This evaluation is part of the jury or progress and skills exam and is meant to determine likelihood of the student completing leveling requirements on their area of primary specialization.

Recommendations are made by the faculty for approval, probationary status, or denial to continue with the current primary specialization. Students may not enroll in 3000-level applied studio instruction until they have passed the qualifying exam. Probationary status may require additional private instruction at the previous level, a meeting with the music faculty, or deferral of approval until standards have been met. Students who demonstrate that they have met competencies are approved by the music faculty for further upper division private instruction. Students who, after probationary status and remediation, do not pass the qualifying exam will need to change their primary area of specialization (this will require an audition as well as beginning on that new specialization at the 1000-level) or will be asked to find a more suitable major.

Students will receive a letter from the coordinator detailing the results of their qualifying exam within two weeks of completing the exam. A copy of this letter will also be placed in the student’s permanent file and will be given to the student’s advisor for placement in the advising file.