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Michael J. Stepniak, Dean
Ruebush Hall, Room 108, (540) 665-4600

Jeffrey Marlatt, Senior Associate Dean and Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs 
Ruebush Hall, Room 108, (540) 665-4600

Ting-Yu Chen, Associate Dean for Student Affairs 
Ruebush Hall, Room 108, (540) 665-4600

Explore the Shenandoah Conservatory on our university website.

Mission Statement

As a community uniquely committed to rigor, nurture and innovation, Shenandoah Conservatory inspires artistic and scholarly excellence, preparing talented students for successful careers in the arts.

Conservatory Admission Requirements

1. Pre-screening and performance audition
2. Portfolio review
3. Writing sample
4. Personal essay
5. Transcript review
6. Personal interview
7. Letters of Recommendation

For specific requirements visit www.su.edu/admissions.

Entrance Examinations

International students applying to master’s and doctoral degrees must take the TOEFL examination and earn a minimum score as published by the Office of Admissions. Complete information regarding the requirements for non-native speakers of English is available from the Office of Admissions.

International students applying to the artist diploma program are not required to demonstrate language proficiency, but are encouraged to submit TOEFL scores to assist the faculty in academic advising.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission.

Diagnostic Examinations

New Conservatory graduate students are required to take diagnostic examinations.  These examinations are designed to assess student preparation for required graduate courses in music literature and music theory.

The following programs are exempt from taking diagnostic examinations: Performing Arts Leadership and Management, Artist Diploma, Master of Music Therapy and Professional Students Program for Music Therapy Certification Eligibility.

Master’s students are required to take a diagnostic in music theory.  Doctoral students must take diagnostic examinations in music literature and music theory.  Choral conducting, collaborative piano and Voice students (Church Music Voice applied emphasis, Vocal Pedagogy Classical emphasis, and Vocal Performance) must also take a diagnostic examination in vocal diction.

Diagnostic examinations in music theory and music literature are typically administered at the beginning of each academic term. Examinations are graded pass/fail.  Two attempts are allowed to pass the diagnostic examination in music theory and music literature. 

Music Theory

The diagnostic examination is divided into three components: diatonic theory, chromatic theory, and form.  Students who do not pass the diatonic portion must enroll in MUTC 503 Theory Review: Diatonic Harmony.  Students who do not pass the chromatic portion must enroll in MUTC 504 Theory Review: Chromatic Harmony. Students who do not pass the portion on musical form must take MUTC 501 Form & Analysis.

If diatonic and/or chromatic are needed, they must be taken in sequence and prior to taking MUTC 501 Form & Analysis.

Remedial courses must be completed within the first year of study.  Students must successfully complete all theory remediation by attaining a minimum grade of C prior to registering for any other graduate level music theory courses.

Music Literature

The diagnostic examination is divided into five components: Medieval & Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century.  Students who do not pass any particular portion of the diagnostic exam must enroll in the respective remedial course(s).  MULT 539 Grad Music History Review I: European Art Music from 1600 to 1900.  MULT 540 Grad Music History Review II: European Art Music from the Medieval, Renaissance, and post-1900 periods.

Remedial courses must be completed within the first year of study. Students must successfully complete all required music literature remediation by attaining a minimum grade of C prior to registering for any graduate-level special topics seminars in music literature.

Vocal Diction

Students will speak song texts in Italian, French and German.  Students will also phonetically spell out several lines of text in French, German and Italian using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Vocal diction remediation must be arranged through the Vocal Division Chairperson.

All required remedial coursework must be completed in the first year of study.  Successful completion of the diagnostic exam(s) and/or required remedial courses are a condition of degree completion.  Remedial coursework does not fulfill degree requirements. 

Transfer of Credits and Degree Deficiencies

The director of advising makes all final decisions regarding transfer credit and curricular deficiencies.  All applied instruction, performance recitals and culminating projects must be completed at Shenandoah Conservatory. 

Degree deficiencies will be identified through a thorough academic transcript review at the beginning of the graduate program.  Successful fulfillment of deficiencies is a condition of degree completion.  Coursework completed to fulfill degree deficiencies does not fulfill degree credit requirements.  Please see the Graduate Policy Manual for more details.

Master’s Degree

A minimum of 30 credits is required in the master’s program.  Shenandoah Conservatory will accept up to 9 transfer credits into a master’s degree program when earned from an accredited institution.  All transfer credit must fulfill curricular requirements or appropriate electives.  Students who enroll in a second master’s degree at Shenandoah Conservatory may transfer up to 9 credits into any additional degree program within the Conservatory. 

Doctor of Musical Arts Degree

The DMA in Pedagogy Voice requires a minimum of 55 credits.  DMA Pedagogy Voice students may transfer up to 10 graduate credits beyond the master’s degree when earned at an accredited institution.

The DMA in Performance requires a minimum of 54 credits.  DMA Performance students may transfer up to 10 graduate credits beyond the master’s degree when earned at an accredited institution.

All transfer credit beyond the master’s degree must fulfill curricular requirements in the DMA Pedagogy or Performance degree. 

Artist Diploma

Transfer credit for applied study is not accepted. All applied instruction and performance recitals for the Artist Diploma program must be taken for credit with Shenandoah Conservatory faculty. Students who wish to transfer from the Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance curriculum into the Artist Diploma program must re-audition and submit all application materials required for the Artist Diploma program. Applied music credits for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance curriculum are accepted as equivalent to study in the Artist Diploma program.

Curricular Practical Training

Students may pursue opportunities and practical experiences on and off campus as a means to enhance and strengthen their professional training and preparation. Experience in performance is an integral part of Conservatory graduate programs of study in music.

Time Limits

Graduate students are expected to make regular and continuous progress toward completion of their program of study. Shenandoah University has set time limits for completion of degrees. For master’s students, the time limit is six years. For doctoral students, the time limit is eight years. Progress is measured from the beginning of the first course at Shenandoah Conservatory applied toward the degree. Students who fail to complete all curricular requirements within the time allowed will have their status and progress re-evaluated. Students who have exceeded curricular time limits for graduate study may face dismissal from the program. Extensions of the terminal date are only given under the most extreme circumstances. Requests for time limit extensions should be directed to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.  

Doctoral Student Residency

Residency is required. This can be achieved by either enrollment as a full-time student during two consecutive terms (fall and spring) or enrollment at Shenandoah over three consecutive terms (for example, spring/summer/fall) with a registration of a minimum of 18 credits completed within those terms. It is anticipated that these registrations include a summer session and individual work on the research document during the fall and spring terms. It is strongly recommended that students plan their approaches to residency with their academic advisors.

Comprehensive and Qualifying Examinations

Oral, qualifying or comprehensive examinations occur at or near the completion of all graduate degree programs. These examinations require demonstration of knowledge in music literature, music history and the area of specialization.

Master’s degree examinations for students in all curricula are comprehensive in content and are administered orally for students in church music, collaborative piano, composition, conducting, pedagogy and performance.  Examinations for students in music education, music therapy and arts management are administered in written format.

Doctoral qualifying examinations are administered in a written format for students in all program areas.  Successful completion of doctoral qualifying examinations is a prerequisite to register for MUPP 853 Career Navigation for the Artist Teacher, dissertation credit (CONR 899), doctoral lecture recital document (CONR 893), and doctoral lecture recital (MUPP 896/898).

Detailed information related to comprehensive and qualifying examinations can be found online in the Graduate Students Canvas Organization and the Conservatory Graduate Policy and Procedure Manual.

Candidacy Status

Students in doctoral programs achieve candidacy upon successful completion of the qualifying examinations.  Candidacy status is not required in master’s degree programs.

Participation in Commencement – Shenandoah Conservatory Procedures

The policy on student participation in commencement ceremonies, colloquially termed “walking,” appears in the Academic Policies section of this catalog. See “Student Participation in Commencement Ceremony.”

Specific implementation for Conservatory students:
Permission to walk must be requested in writing and submitted to the associate dean for student affairs. When time permits, decisions to approve requests are made in conjunction with the Conservatory division chairs. Official “Permission to Walk” forms are available in the Conservatory Office.

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