Candidacy rules are in place in the event that there are fewer openings in the program than applicants. Over the years, the candidacy rules have excluded an average of less than 2% of applicants, and in many years all applicants have been awarded candidacy.
Once the first four core courses from the curriculum list (and other requirements from the right sidebar) are completed, a student must apply for and be awarded candidacy to continue in the program. See right side bar for candidacy forms and go to the candidacy page for more details. Once a student is awarded candidacy, they will register for the sub-core and elective courses for their chosen concentration. See the sub-core and elective courses for each concentration in the curriculum page.
- The department will open a limited number of candidacy slots in each concentration, each year.
- Candidacy will be granted into one concentration only, Music Business or Audio Production & Technology. Changing concentrations will require a reapplication to candidacy.
- 85% of available slots in each concentration will be awarded based on the following candidacy formula:
- (cum GPA x 3) + (math grade x 3) + (core RIM GPA x 4) + (total hrs earned x .05). This formula includes the weighted numbers for cumulative GPA, the required mathematics course (College Algebra) grade, the core RIM courses GPA, and total hours earned. Download the excell file to calculate your score.
- 15% of available slots in each concentration will be awarded based on a faculty committee recommendation on an appeal application.
- Candidacy is granted three times per year, after the end of the fall, spring and summer semesters.
- Appeal applications are accepted after formula slots have been announced, early in the spring semester, summer session 1 and fall semester.
- Available slots are evenly divided between the fall and spring semesters. Initial numbers will be 100 total for Production & Technology and 120 total for Music Business. This means that each semester, 42 slots in P&T will be awarded based on the candidacy formula, and 8 slots will be awarded on appeal. In Music Business 51 slots will be awarded based on the formula, and 9 slots will be awarded on appeal each semester. Additional numbers are granted in the summer.
- Students who are completing candidacy requirements during the semester may apply for candidacy. However, no provisional candidacy will be granted. Students advanced to candidacy may register for candidacy prerequisite courses at the beginning of the next semester if any openings remain. Most students will have to wait for the following registration period for access to most candidacy prerequisite courses.
- If at all, possible candidacy awards based on the candidacy formula will be announced before the beginning of the spring semester, for fall applications, and before the beginning of summer session 2, for spring applications. Awards based on appeal will be announced before the beginning of summer and fall priority registration for fall applications and before the beginning of spring priority registration for spring applications.
- Students who do not achieve candidacy by appointment or appeal may reapply the following semester.