Examinations are scheduled by the School of Music.  Students are notified by email when exam information is due.  

2023-2024 Exam Dates:

Fall 2023  Deadlines

• All final/comp exams will be take-home.
• Faculty must send their comp exam questions in PDF format to students and Pauline via email by Friday, October 6.
• The deadline for students to submit exam answers in PDF format to Pauline is Friday, November 3, 12:00pm CST.  Exam submissions received after 12:00pm CST will NOT be accepted; this is a non-negotiable deadline.

Spring 2024  Deadlines  TBA

• All final/comp exams will be take-home.
• Faculty must send their comp exam questions in PDF format to students and Pauline via email by Friday, March 1.
• The deadline for students to submit exam answers in PDF format to Pauline is Friday, March 29, 12:00pm CST.  Exam submissions received after 12:00pm CST will NOT be accepted; this is a non-negotiable deadline.

• The requirements for all master's degrees include a final written examination. Such an examination will not duplicate course examinations. It will be evaluated by an examining committee consisting of at least three members of the graduate faculty, two of whom are from the major area, unless the area consists of only one faculty member. The examination is judged to be satisfactory or unsatisfactory, with two unsatisfactory votes making the committee report unsatisfactory. If the area so recommends, candidates who fail the examination may present themselves for re-examination, but not sooner than the next regularly scheduled examination period in the following session.  The examination may be repeated only once.
• Candidates for doctoral degrees must pass a comprehensive examination, consisting of written or oral parts or both at the discretion of the major area. Admission to the comprehensive examination is granted upon the recommendation of the major area, the filing of the Plan of Study, and the approval of the Dean of the Graduate College. A student must be registered in the Graduate College at the time of the comprehensive examination, which must be passed not later than the session prior to the session of graduation. This examination is intended to be an inclusive evaluation of the candidate's master of the major and related fields of study, including the tools of research in which competence has been certified. For doctoral committees a minimum of four faculty members evaluate the exam. If the student has an approved secondary area, the secondary area advisor must be one of the four members, and will provide questions pertaining to that area. The examination may be repeated only once.  

 The following are degree examination requirements within the School of Music:

• M.A. — Final Examination (see specific area information)
• Ph.D. Composition, Theory — Qualifying Examination
• Ph.D., D.M.A. — Comprehensive Examination (see specific area information)
• Ph.D., D.M.A. — Final Examination, Defense of Dissertation, Thesis Composition, D.M.A. Essay/Thesis

Exam Guidelines and Information:

• Students are NOT allowed to use the Internet, notes, scores, etc., unless approved by the question writer and it is specifically stated on your original question.
• For exam results contact your committee chair.  Results are not given out in the Academic Office.  The Grad College only notifies doctoral students who pass their exams.