General Guidelines for Registration (for Graduate Students)

Having trouble registering? Call the Enrollment Helpline: (608) 262-0920

1. When do I need to register?

New students can register starting the first Monday in July.

The deadline for fall registration is the first Friday in September, but you may wish to register now for your first semester. If you find that your first and second course choices are closed, do not despair! It is often possible to get into courses after the semester begins.

You should see the DGS (Director of Graduate Studies) and/or your major professor to plan out your course loads for future semesters during Welcome Week.

The following steps will help you get started with registration. Further questions about course requirements will have to wait until Welcome Week, when you are on campus. The DGS and faculty are happy to assist you with course selection and registration but can do so ONLY in person, not by telephone or email. If you would like to contact your major professor, you may do so, but many of our faculty are engaged in research, performing, or traveling during the summer months and may not be immediately available.

Enrollment Helpline: 608 262-0920 / webenroll@em.wisc.edu

2. What course numbers do I need to look for?

Music courses can be found in the timetable under TWO categories:

MUSIC courses have the prefix 660 and include all academic courses and ensembles.

MUSIC PERFORMANCE courses have the prefix 664 and include all private lessons and recitals.

Access the Schedule of Classes by going to my.wisc.edu and logging into the My UW Student Center. Most (but not all) courses numbered 300 or higher count for graduate credit. Examples are Mus Perf 664-501 (Masters Piano) or Music 660-513 (Survey of Opera). Vocal Performance majors whose letters of admission indicate the need to satisfy a language requirement should consult their major professor about enrolling in language courses at the 100 or 200 level.

3. Which courses should I take in my first semester?

MASTER of MUSIC (M.M.)

  • Students in M.M. Music Education and M.M. Composition will work especially closely with major professors in course selection. If you do not know who your major professor will be, contact a faculty member in your area of study or stop by the Graduate Office when you arrive, and we will help you find the proper person to contact.
  • Students in performance should register for lessons with their major professor under the appropriate course numbers (664-501 through 547 masters level instruction). Be sure to register in the appropriate section (the section that mentions your major professor– for example, 664-532 Advanced Conducting – IND 40 Prof. B. Taylor).
  • Will there be space in my teacher’s studio for me to enroll for my applied study? Yes, if you already informed us that you are planning to attend UW-Madison in the Fall.
  • Ensembles: Some programs require participation in an Ensemble (e.g. Chamber Music, Opera, Choir, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble). We recommend that you WAIT to register for Ensembles until after auditions are held at the beginning of classes. These will determine placement in specific class sections. You will be able to add those courses once you are on campus.
  • Voice majors: Some required courses (660-467 & 468 Language Diction; 660-749 Seminar in Vocal Pedagogy; 660-346 Repetoire: Vocal; 660-792 Seminar in Voice Literature) are offered ONLY every two years. Please consult with your major professor to determine whether you need to register for these courses now.

MASTER of ARTS (M.A.)

  • Students in M.A. programs will work closely with their major professors in course selection. If you do not know who your major professor will be, contact a faculty member in your area of study or stop by the Graduate Office when you arrive and we will help you find the proper person to contact.
  • Students in musicology should register for Music 660-619 – Music Research and Materials in your first semester. Students in music theory and ethnomusicology should consult with your major professor about when/if you need to register for 660-619. If you find that your first and second course choices have no seats remaining, do not despair; it is often possible to get into courses after the semester begins.

DOCTOR of MUSICAL ARTS (D.M.A.)

  • We recommend that all Performance majors beginning Doctoral programs register for Music 660-619, Music Research and Materials in their first year.
  • You should register for lessons with your major professor under the appropriate course numbers (664-701 through 747 for doctoral level instruction). Be sure to register in the appropriate section (the section that mentions your professor as instructor — for example, 664-701 Doctoral Level-Piano IND 29 = Prof. C. Taylor).
  • Will there be space in my teacher’s studio for me to enroll for my applied study (lessons)? Yes, if you already informed us that you were planning to attend UW-Madison in the Fall.
  • Ensembles: Some programs require participation in an Ensemble (e.g. Chamber Music, Opera, Choir, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble). We recommend that you WAIT to register for Ensembles until after auditions are held at the beginning of classes. These will determine placement in specific class sections. You will be able to add those courses once you are on campus.
  • Voice majors: Please note that some required courses (660-767 & 768 Language Diction; 660-749 Seminar in Vocal Pedagogy; 660-346 Repetoire: Vocal; 660-792 Seminar in Voice Literature) are offered only every two years; please consult with your major professor to determine whether you need to register for these courses now.

DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D.)

  • Students in Ph.D. programs will work closely with major professors in course selection. If you do not know who your major professor will be, contact a faculty member in your area of study or stop by the Graduate Office (Room 5554) when you arrive and we will help you find the proper person to contact.
  • Students in musicology, music theory, and (on the advice of your major professor) ethnomusicology should register for Music 660-619 – Music Research and Materials in your first semester. If you have already taken a graduate-level bibliography course elsewhere, you will need to submit the syllabus and written work to the instructor after you arrive on campus to petition for course equivalency credit using the appropriate form. If you find that your first and second course choices have no seats remaining, do not despair; it is often possible to get into courses after the semester begins.

4. What other courses do I need to take?

MASTER of MUSIC (M.M.)

We recommend that you take at least one course in music history or theory in your first semester, but no later than your third semester, in order to prepare you for your comprehensive exams in your final semester. Consult the Graduate Student Resources page for a list of applicable courses. If you find that your first and second course choices are closed, don’t worry! It is often possible to get into courses after the semester begins. You should see the DGS and/or your major professor to plan out your course loads for future semesters during Welcome Week.

DOCTOR of MUSICAL ARTS (D.M.A.)

Make an appointment to meet with your major professor and the DGS during Welcome Week. You will be working closely with both throughout your time at UW-Madison, and they will have valuable advice for your course selection. All DMA student majors have course requirements in Music History and Music Theory. We strongly recommend that you view the Music History/Music Theory course list and register for one of the fall course offerings. If your choices are already full and you have no other options, see the Director of Graduate Studies at the beginning of the Fall semester to map out your plans for future semesters. Most DMA programs also have language requirements; we strongly recommend that you fulfill these as early as possible in your course work. You should consult with the DGS or your major advisor during Welcome Week to assess your language skills and to identify the courses you will need to take now and/or in future semesters.

ALL OTHERS

Students in M.M. Music Education, M.M. Composition, and all M.A. and Ph.D. programs will work closely with major professors in course selection. If you do not know who your major professor will be, contact a faculty member in your area of study or stop by the Graduate Office when you arrive and we will help you find the proper person to contact.

5. Whom can I contact for advice?

Students in M.M. Music Education, M.M. Composition, and all M.A. and Ph.D. programs will work especially closely with major professors in course selection. If you do not know who your major professor will be, contact a faculty member in your area of study. We recommend that you meet with your advisor at least once a semester, preferably before you register.

Students in Music Performance meet with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for course and career advising. The DGS will be holding advising hours for new students during Welcome Week. We recommend that you meet with your advisor at least once a semester, preferably before you register.

You may also view all of the requirements for your degree on the specific area page.

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What if I have trouble logging in with the ID and registration password provided by UW-Madison?
You should have received (from UW-Madison) a contact address if you have difficulty with the registration process. The School of Music is not equipped to assist you with questions concerning the Registrar’s Office.

2. What if I cannot register for any of the Fall music courses I would like to take?
Make sure that you have tried a first, second, and perhaps third choice. If you find that courses are full, you should see the Director of Graduate Studies during Welcome Week. We can assist you ONLY in person, not by telephone or email.

3. I can’t enroll for this course! The computer system says I need to have the instructor’s consent. What should I do?
Contact the instructor by email or phone. Many of our faculty are engaged in research, performing, or traveling during the summer months and may not be immediately available, so be patient. You may need to wait and attend the first day of that class in order to receive permission to enroll in the course.

4. Should I contact the Director of Graduate Studies or the Graduate Office if I have questions about course requirements?
Further questions about course requirements will have to wait until Welcome Week, when you are on campus. We will not be able to answer detailed emails and telephone inquiries until that time. If you would like to contact your major professor, you may do so, but with the understanding that many of our faculty are engaged in research, performing, or traveling during the summer months and may not be immediately available.

5. Will courses I have taken at another institution count towards requirements at UW-Madison?
Possibly, although there is a limit of 6 credits that can be transferred. Once you are on campus, any potential course waivers need to be addressed directly with the Director of Graduate Studies and the UW-Madison professor in charge of the correlative course offered on our campus. PLEASE NOTE: You will normally have to supply the syllabus and your written work for any of these courses, so be sure to collect all materials and bring them with you to Madison.

6. Do I need to enroll as a full-time student in order to receive financial aid?
If you will be supported with financial aid originating from the School of Music or College of Letters and Sciences (TA/PA/Fellow), you need to enroll full-time each semester (generally a minimum of 8 credits). If you will be supported with funding from some other source, we recommend that you address this question to the appropriate person, as rules vary widely.

7. What is the maximum number of credits for which I can enroll?
The UW-Madison Graduate School limits enrollment to 15 credits. Occasionally a student needs to take more than 15 credits to meet requirements. (Examples: A vocal performance major who needs to take French 101 (4 credits), or an Ethnomusicology major who needs to take a seminar in East Asian studies that is only offered every fifth semester.) The Director of Graduate Studies must discuss this with you and must sign a Credit Overload Request Form, which is then reviewed for approval at the Graduate School.

8. Why are so many courses already full?
Since the registration period for continuing students began some months ago, those students have already had a chance to enroll for courses. You may wish to revisit the registration process in a few weeks, just in case someone has withdrawn from a course, thus creating a space for you. Do not despair – you will have plenty of opportunities to meet your requirements in subsequent semesters.

9. Will there be space in my teacher’s studio for me to enroll for my applied study?
Yes, if you have already informed us that you are attending UW-Madison in the Fall.