Academic and Curricular Policies

The Juilliard School strives to create and support a professional environment that is conducive to the artistic, educational, and personal development of its students. All members of the Juilliard community (students, faculty, and staff) share the responsibility for maintaining such an environment. Academic policies and procedures exist in order to provide for the fair and orderly administration of all enrollment services.

Students admitted to the educational programs of The Juilliard School are held to high professional standards in preparation for successful careers in the performing arts. To that end, they must possess aptitude, abilities, and skills in the following six areas, and be able to perform independently described functions in each area:

1. Behavioral and Social Attributes
2. Communication Skills
3. Intellect, Instinct, and Imagination
4. Motor and Sensory Skills
5. Observation and Self-Awareness
6. Performance and Rehearsal Discipline

I. BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES:

1. To demonstrate a professional standard of behavior for rehearsal and classroom work, including, but not limited to: the fulfillment of attendance requirements, preparedness, punctuality, concentration, cooperation, and seriousness of purpose and demeanor
2. To be able to handle stress and to function in a competitive and high-intensity learning environment
3. To demonstrate empathy, integrity, honesty, good interpersonal skills, curiosity, confidence, and an openness to change
4. To adapt to an ever-changing environment, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of challenges and uncertainties, which are inherent in the training and the artistic process, as well as in the profession
5. To accept relevant suggestions and criticism in a professional manner, and to utilize this feedback in the development of their artistic process
6. To acknowledge, consider, and discuss opposing points of view and opinions
7. To develop negotiating skills and an ability to compromise, all of which are vital to the collaborative artistic experience
8. To maintain health and diet habits that will allow them to be consistently alert and responsive, and to develop endurance and strength
9. To demonstrate respect for and appreciation of the geographic, cultural, economic, and ethnic diversity of the Juilliard community and the broader artistic community
10. To demonstrate respect and advocacy for all the arts

II. COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

1. To speak in English effectively and sensitively with faculty, staff, and fellow students
2. To read and write effectively in English in order to comprehend material and to complete written assignments—quizzes, exams, essays, and term papers—in a coherent, grammatically accurate manner
3. To demonstrate familiarity with the vocabulary of their discipline
4. To articulate coherently their artistic ideas
5. To be able to perceive and interpret nonverbal communication

III. INTELLECT, INSTINCT, AND IMAGINATION:

1. To comprehend, interpret, retain, and integrate thoroughly and reliably, information they receive from instruction, including classwork, homework, and the rehearsal process
2. To analyze and discuss technical concepts in the discipline, as well as to solicit help in understanding these concepts, if needed
3. To assimilate traditions of the performing arts with training that may be verbal, visual, aural, intellectual, or physical
4. To learn and execute advanced time management skills in order to meet the expectations of rigorous academic and performance schedules
5. To be able to learn and/or memorize texts, musical scores, physical movements, choreography, etc., specific to the major discipline within the time frames specified by classroom and/or rehearsal requirements
6. To develop the emotional resources required to implement imaginative and intellectual abilities
7. To cultivate an innate rhythmic sense

IV. MOTOR AND SENSORY SKILLS:

1. To possess, maintain, and advance a sophisticated level of motor function and ability consistent with a high level of advanced training and performance in their area of specialization (for example, digital dexterity at various levels is essential for all instrumentalists—the specific demands dictated by the nature of the sound production, i.e., demands for keyboard instruments are different from those for stringed instruments, etc.; aural and visual acuity are necessary for specific performance and ensemble work)
2. To comprehend, interpret, and retain, thoroughly and reliably, information and skills they receive from instruction, including classwork, homework, and the rehearsal process, and to be able to work independently and cooperatively on those skills to deepen and refine them
3. To develop the emotional and physical resources required to implement imaginative and intellectual abilities
4. To recognize their unique creative and expressive capabilities and to develop the ability to integrate those qualities within an ensemble.

V. OBSERVATION AND SELF-AWARENESS:

1. To observe and learn from teachers as well as from classmates
2. To assimilate traditions of the performing arts with training that may be verbal, visual, aural, intellectual, or physical
3. To re-evaluate their technique, to explore new approaches to training, and to eliminate old habits that interfere with their progress
4. To comprehend, interpret, and retain, thoroughly and reliably, information and skills received from classwork, homework, and the rehearsal process, and to be able to work independently on those skills to deepen and refine them
5. To recognize their unique creative and expressive capabilities and to develop the ability to integrate those qualities within an ensemble.

VI. PERFORMANCE AND REHEARSAL DISCIPLINE:

1. To be able to work independently in the development of technical skills, transforming raw talent and natural gifts through dedicated practice into the realization of artistic potential
2. To develop and demonstrate the skills and self-discipline necessary for meeting the rigors of rehearsal and performance schedules, including thorough preparedness
3. To perform at a professional level in their major discipline in public venues
4. To perform with a significant level of technical skill and expressive ability in both solo and ensemble settings, and in all curricular assignments pertaining to required rehearsals and performances
5. To adapt to an ever-changing environment, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties and stresses, which are inherent in the educational and the artistic process, as well as in the profession

Registration Procedures and Policies

Registration
Students must register in person during the registration periods listed in the Academic Calendar (on the Juilliard Web site) and pay enrollment deposits and tuition according to the schedule of payments outlined in the Juilliard catalog. Students must meet payment dates in order to proceed with registration. All students are expected to register on time and to begin classes as scheduled. Returning students who notify the Office of the Registrar of  a late arrival and arrive on the notified day may be permitted to register but will be charged a late registration fee of $50.  Returning students who arrive late without notification may be permitted to register, but will be charged an additional late arrival penalty of $100. No returning student will be permitted to arrive after the end of the add/drop period.  Please note that new students are not permitted to arrive late.

Absences incurred by late arrival are unexcused unless the late arrival is due to an approved professional leave.

Schedule Changes
No additional cancellations or changes in your class schedule will be considered official until it is recorded by the registrar. Schedule changes may be made only during the first two weeks of classes in each semester. Music students make changes in the Registrar’s Office. Dance and drama students make changes in their respective division offices.

Adding Classes
Classes may be added only during the first two weeks of a given semester. You are responsible for subject matter already covered in any class to which you have been admitted late.  Any missed classes due to late enrollment are considered absences.

Dropping Classes
Classes may be dropped only during the first two weeks of a semester. After the initial two-week period, students may withdraw from non-required classes (grade of “W” recorded) through the 10th week of the semester. Withdrawal forms will be available in the Registrar’s Office. All withdrawal forms must have the instructor’s signature and must be turned in to the Registrar’s Office by the deadlines listed in the academic calendar in the front of this catalog. No withdrawals will be allowed after these dates. No student may withdraw from a required course without the permission of the Scholastic Standing Committee.

Change of Class Section
All requests for change of class section must be made in the Registrar’s Office and will not be permitted after the first two weeks of classes in a given semester.

Credit Limit
All students are expected to be full time. A minimum course load of 12 credits per semester is considered full-time in all programs. International students must maintain a full-time course load to retain F-1 or J-1 student status benefits.

The maximum normal credit load per semester is 21 credits. Any schedule containing more than 21 credits per semester is considered an overload and must be approved by the registrar, vice president for academic affairs, or division director. Overloads dictated by curriculum requirements will be confirmed at the time of registration.

Transfer Credit
Students enrolled in the bachelor’s degree programs may receive transfer credit for liberal arts electives as described below. Exemption from other requirements is evaluated only through placement examinations. Graduate students are not eligible for transfer credit.

A maximum of 12 elective credits in liberal arts may be transferred from an accredited college or university. The following guidelines apply: 1) the course must be taken during the student’s college years - courses taken while in high school are not eligible; 2) the course must be an eligible elective as determined by the registrar; 3) the grade must be at least C; and 4) the student must provide the registrar with an official transcript.

Students who are approved for coursework at Barnard or Columbia through the cross-registration program may satisfy up to 12 liberal arts credits in this way. NOTE: Approved transfer students who have already received the maximum of 12 transfer credits may satisfy six of their remaining 12 credits through the cross-registration program.

Juilliard does not grant credit for high school A.P. (Advanced Placement) courses. Since the liberal arts requirement for a Juilliard bachelor’s degree is minimal (one course per semester), it is important that this requirement be fulfilled with courses taken during residency at Juilliard so that students are able to participate in an interdivisional learning experience.

Juilliard Bachelor of Music students who have been permitted to take graduate courses during their undergraduate years and have received satisfactory grades may make written request to the Registrar for up to four credits to be applied toward the Juilliard Master of Music degree upon acceptance to that program.

Transfer Status
(Undergraduate Music Students Only)

Undergraduate students who have transferred from another college will be evaluated to determine their class standing after their initial enrollment at Juilliard. Several factors are used in this process, including placement test results and transfer credit granted for liberal arts courses.  All transfer students are required to spend at least two full-time years enrolled at Juilliard.  A student with two or more years of study at another institution may be eligible for third-year status.  A student with only one year of study elsewhere may be eligible for second-year status.  Final determination is made by the major teacher and major department after the first-year jury.

Change of Program
Students who wish to change to a program of study other than the one to which they were officially admitted or are currently registered must apply to the Scholastic Standing Committee. Applications are available in the Registrar’s Office. There is a $25 application fee. Approved changes are certified in writing by the registrar. Please note: Such changes must be for programs within the same academic level, i.e., undergraduate programs (bachelor’s degree, diploma); graduate programs (master’s degree, graduate diploma). All other program changes are by audition and application is made through the Office of Admissions.

Change of Major Teacher (Music Division Only)
A change in major teacher is permissible only between academic years or, in some instances, between semesters. Only in the most extraordinary circumstances is such a change possible during a semester. Permission to change teachers is granted by the dean. Teacher change forms may be obtained in the Dean’s Office.

Double Major (Music Division Only)
Music students who wish to major in two different fields of study must take auditions and be admitted to each department. Since the curricular requirements for both departments must be followed, an additional year of study may be required. Students with double majors receive 15 hours of private instruction in each major per semester and are assessed an additional tuition charge for that purpose. Permission for a double major must be granted by the dean and both departments.

Secondary Applied Study
Students who wish to pursue studies in a secondary applied field must make application to the dean after they arrive at Juilliard. There is an additional fee for secondary studies that entitles the student to 15 hours of private instruction for the academic year. Students who wish to have 30 hours of private instruction for the academic year will be assessed a higher fee.

Change of Major (Music Division Only)
Music students who wish to change their major field must audition for that purpose and will be subject to the application dates and fees specified in the catalog.

Application to Graduate Programs
Music students wishing to enter graduate programs, specifically, the Master of Music, Graduate Diploma, Doctor of Musical Arts, or Artist Diploma, must obtain and submit a complete application to the Office of Admissions by December 1 and audition during the February-March entrance audition period. This audition will serve as the graduation jury for all majors except Voice.

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