Academic Procedures

Undergraduate students receiving a mark of “I” or “X” in a course must make up the deficiency within the first four weeks of the next term of enrollment, unless otherwise stipulated by the instructor. If the student is not in residence subsequent to receiving the mark, credit will be allowed only if the deficiency is made up within a calendar year of the official termination of the course.

An incomplete grade may be assigned to a Graduate student only if the unfinished part of work is small, the work is unfinished for reasons acceptable to the instructor, and the student’s standing in the course is a “B” grade or higher. The student and the instructor should discuss the incomplete prior to its conferral. A grade of “I” can be changed to a letter grade only if the incomplete work is made up within the first four weeks of the second full term following the term from which the “I” is given, unless otherwise stipulated by the instructor. If the grade of “I” has stood for two full terms, credit can be earned only by re-electing the course, and completing all coursework and examinations. The grade average will be based on hours or work completed. An incomplete which has been made up according to the above procedure will appear on the student’s transcript as an “I” with the letter grade next to it. A grade of “X” (Absent from Examination) will be recorded as “I”. An “I” grade cannot be used to extend the grace period for presentation of a recital without enrolling.

Students may register for classes during the previous term, beginning on their assigned enrollment appointment date viewable in Student Center under Student Business on Wolverine Access.

Students register for classes under Backpack/Registration in Student Center on Wolverine Access. Using the “add” tab, students browse or search for classes to add to their Backpack. To finalize enrollment and reserve a spot in a course, students must select the course from their Backpack, click “Proceed to Step 2 of 3,” then click “Finish Registering.” A green checkmark will be displayed for each course that was successfully added to the student’s schedule. If enrollment in a course was unsuccessful, a red “x” will be displayed, accompanied by a description of the error.

Upcoming dates and additional information regarding Early Registration and Backpack can be found on the U-M Office of the Registrar’s Academic Calendar page.

Private lessons/independent study: When searching for private lessons and/or independent study courses in Wolverine Access, students should always check the box labeled “Include Independent Study Classes” to ensure that all applicable courses are displayed.

Instructor consent: Some courses require instructor consent to enroll. Students interested in joining such courses should contact the instructor of the course directly for permission to enroll.

Waitlisting a course: If a class is full or closed and a waitlist is available, students may add themselves to the waitlist by checking the box labeled “Waitlist Okay if Class is Full” and registering normally. Note: This box cannot be checked directly from the Backpack and must either be checked as the course is added to the student’s Backpack or from the Backpack by first clicking on the course number to show the details of the course.

Overriding a time conflict: Students can override class time conflicts by checking the box labeled “Override Time Conflict” and registering normally. Note: This box cannot be checked directly from the Backpack and must either be checked as the course is added to the student’s Backpack or from the Backpack by first clicking on the course number to show the details of the course.

With approval by the appropriate departments and the SMTD Director of Student Affairs, Students may change the program or degree they are pursuing or add a second program or degree within SMTD. PLEASE NOTE: In some cases an audition is required before a student can change or add degree programs.

Students should email smtd-advising@umich.edu to request a Degree Status Change form and should include any details of their desired degree/concentration change in their email.

Students may apply to a dual degree program (Multiple Dependent Degree Program) with another academic unit within U-M beginning in the Fall term of the Sophomore year. Some programs may require a separate application and admissions process with the other school prior to declaring a dual degree. Students who have been admitted to both the School of Music, Theatre & Dance and another academic unit within U-M must complete and submit a Dual Degree Status (MDDP) form in order to finalize their status as a  dual degree student.

All dual degree students will have an academic advisor in both units and must earn both degrees simultaneously upon graduation. Dual degree programs require a minimum of 150 credits for graduation.

Current recognized dual degree programs include:

• SMTD and the College of Literature, Science and Arts
• SMTD and LS&A Honors
• SMTD and the Residential College
• SMTD and the College of Engineering
• SMTD and the School of Information
• SMTD and the School of Art and Design
• SMTD and the School of Natural Resources
• SMTD and the School of Kinesiology
• SMTD and the Ross School of Business

Students should email smtd-advising@umich.edu for more information about adding a dual degree or to request a Dual Degree Status (MDDP) form.

Undergraduate Students

High School Dual Enrollment Transfer Credit: High school students who dually enroll for courses at accredited institutions of higher education may receive credit for work taken at these institutions towards undergraduate degree programs at SMTD. College or university credits earned in either on-campus or off-campus programs are eligible for consideration at SMTD.

Acceptance of courses and credits deemed suitable for transfer to the University of Michigan for degree programs in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance is determined in accordance with guidance and evaluation from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and SMTD faculty. Among factors influencing the determination of acceptability are 1) accreditation status of the institution that offered the course, 2) comparable academic quality, 3) student performance in the course, 4) the basis for student evaluation, and 5) the relationship of the course to other course offerings by SMTD. SMTD’s determination is subject to the overall transfer credit policies of the University as a whole.

SMTD will assess whether individual courses meet our standards for being awarded transfer credit. Students interested in petitioning for the acceptance of transfer credit for any course taken outside of the University of Michigan are encouraged to retain course documents such as the course syllabus along with samples of their work to facilitate SMTD’s evaluation.

While SMTD supports students in making full use of potential transfer credits, SMTD retains the ultimate responsibility and right to determine if individual courses fully meet its standards and expectations, as set by SMTD faculty, for awarding transfer credit.

The evaluation of potential transfer credits is separate and independent from admissions procedures and decisions. Only students who matriculate in an SMTD program can use transfer credits to fulfill SMTD degree requirements.

SMTD advising staff can offer advice and insight into the potential of courses for transfer credit and will facilitate credit transfer evaluations.

Transferring credit completed prior to enrollment: Some or all credits completed by undergraduate transfer students at another college or university may be accepted for transfer. The Undergraduate Admissions Office evaluates non-music academic credits and the SMTD evaluates all professional credit. Previous courses may grant equivalent course credit if they correspond closely to a U-M course, or grant departmental credit in a general subject area.

Transferring credit from another institution while enrolled in the SMTD: College credits earned for courses taken elsewhere will generally be accepted for transfer credit if they correspond to a U-M course offering and they have been taken for credit with an earned grade of “C or better. Courses in music and dance that have been applied to a degree completed elsewhere are not applicable toward the completion of a degree in the SMTD. The final decision on the acceptability of transfer credit is made by the SMTD. Acceptable course credits earned in other institutions are recorded on the student’s academic record at U-M, but grades earned in those courses are not transferred or recorded by the University. This system assumes that a student’s original transcript will carry the previous academic record adequately. Thus, only grades earned at U-M are used in computing the final grade point average. Consequently, the transcript of each institution that the student attends constitutes the basic record of academic achievement.

A maximum of 75 hours of transfer credit can be applied toward a bachelor’s degree in the SMTD. A maximum of 62 hours may be transferred from an accredited two-year college. Students who have transferred 62 credit hours or more may only transfer additional hours from a four-year accredited college.

No more than 15 hours of extension or correspondence credit earned in other fully accredited institutions will be accepted. A student may present work from the Academic Outreach Program of the University, however, to a maximum of 30 hours. Of these 30, not more than 15 hours may be taken in correspondence study. A maximum of 30 semester hours may be accepted for correspondence credit earned while in military service. This may include work taken through USAFI in which there was a satisfactory end-of-course test. Each application for transfer credit is considered individually. Adjustment of transfer credit is made at the request of a student after enrollment in the SMTD.

Masters Students

With the permission of the Associate Dean, up to six credit hours earned at another institution may be transferred to a student’s graduate record, provided:

• The courses were not used to meet the requirements of another degree.
• The courses were approved for graduate credit at the institution offering them, and that institution is accredited to offer graduate degrees.
• A grade of “B” or higher was received.
• The courses were completed not more than five years prior to the term of initial enrollment in the graduate division of the SMTD and not more than six years prior to the awarding of the graduate degree sought in the SMTD.
• Written approval of the student’s major department is provided.
• The student has completed at least eight hours of work in the graduate division of the SMTD with an average grade of “B” or higher. Extension credit from other institutions will not be transferred.