Distinguished Major Applications are due in mid-February of a student's 3rd year. Specific application dates will be announced on this page and sent to all music majors in January before the due date.

Distinguished Major Application - Due February 14, 2025

Recitals

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The Distinguished Major Program allows outstanding music majors to work on large-scale projects during their last two semesters at the University. The project may consist of a thesis, a composition (or set of compositions), a formal recital with program notes, another type of performance or written work, or a project combining different components, such as a thesis essay and a composition. Students may collaborate on a joint project, provided each student’s contribution is equal in scale to the work for an individual Distinguished Major project.   

Majors normally apply to the program during their sixth semester. After a preliminary communication with the Director of Undergraduate Programs, a student will determine a primary advisor and an additional faculty member with whom they consult about their proposal. Students usually work closely with one of their two advisors. The role of the second advisor is variable, to be determined by the student and both advisors. Students should consult one or both advisors regularly throughout the seventh and eighth semesters. When a project is complete, the two advisors jointly prepare a report, describing and evaluating the work and recommending a level of distinction. The reports are then distributed to the advisors of all the projects, the DUP, and additional music faculty. This group reviews the reports and makes the final determination of levels of distinction.

Those applying to prepare a formal DMP recital must be admitted by audition (administered by the Director of Music Performance), to be scheduled after receipt of the initial application and recital proposal.

Coursework for Distinguished Major projects is normally arranged through three credits per semester of Independent Study with one faculty advisor or divided between both advisors in each of the last two semesters at the University. These credits do not count toward music major requirements but do count as College credits: 

• A student working on a thesis or composition normally takes MUSI 4993, at three credits each semester.
• A student preparing a recital normally takes honors-level private performance lessons, MUPF 4930 and MUPF 4940, at two credits per semester, as well as two semesters of academic independent study pertinent to the recital program, MUSI 4993, at one or more credits per semester. Note: students in the Performance Concentration take MUPF 4950 and MUPF 4960, Performance Concentration III-IV, instead of 4930 and 4940.
• For a combination or alternatively conceived project, the Independent Study courses will be determined in consultation with the DUP and the DMP advisors at the time of application. 

Projects are due by the last day of classes in the second semester of the 4th year; a student's committee may set an earlier date of completion. Completed projects may receive the B.A. in Music with Distinction, High Distinction, or Highest Distinction, provided the cumulative GPA at graduation is 3.4 or above (a CLAS rule). Any level of distinction is an unusual honor, showing strong Department admiration for a student's work. The Department awards Highest Distinction only rarely. A completed project that is less than excellent will receive no distinction.  

Please contact the Director of Undergraduate Programs, Prof. Fred Maus (musicdup@virginia.edu) with any questions.

The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found at http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/index.php