General Requirements

The Diploma is given upon completion of a minimum of 70 semester hours (s.h.), as outlined below.

A minimum two-year residency is required.

Performance 16 s.h.
Major lesson 16 s.h.
Additional departmental requirements (listed below)
Musical Studies 43 s.h.
Core Studies I, II, III, IV 12 s.h.
Post-Tonal Harmony 3 s.h.
Form 2 s.h.
Keyboard Studies I, II, III, IV 4 s.h.
Supplementary Piano 2 s.h.
Solfege I, II 8 s.h.
Advanced Dictation 2 s.h.
Music History I, II 8 s.h.
Music History Elective 2 s.h.
(Some majors require additional performance and musical studies courses:
See Additional Departmental Requirements, below.)
Career Studies 1 s.h.
Social Entrepreneur 1 s.h.
Liberal Arts
No specific requirements

Additional Departmental Requirements

  • Performance 14 s.h.
    Composition Seminars 12 s.h.
    Supplementary Piano 2 s.h.
    Musical Studies 6 s.h.
    Applied Orchestration 4 s.h.
    Score-Reading 2 s.h.

  • (Major Requirements: P=Piano, O=Organ)

    Performance 10 s.h.
    Chamber Music 4 s.h. (P, O)
    Piano Repertoire Seminar 4 s.h. (P)
    Supplementary Piano 2 s.h. (O)
    Graduation Recital – Required (P, O)
    Organ Class 4 s.h. (O)
    Early Music Performance 4 s.h.
    Musical Studies 4 s.h.
    Keyboard Studies I, II 4 s.h.
    Career Studies 2 s.h.
    Sacred Music Seminar 2 s.h. (O)

  • (Major Requirements: T=Timpani/Percussion, Va.=Viola, Clo.=Cello, Vn.=Violin)

    Performance 22 s.h.
    Chamber Music 4 s.h.
    Orchestra 12 s.h. (age sixteen and older)
    Orchestral Repertoire Class/Sectionals 4 s.h. (string, woodwind, brass, or percussion)
    Performance – Required (T)
    Graduation Recital – Required Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Timpani/Percussion
  • Performance 8 s.h.
    Chamber Music 4 s.h.
    Guitar Seminar 4 s.h.
    Graduation Recital – Required
  • Performance 28 s.h.
    Opera Stagings 12 s.h.
    Diction Coachings 4 s.h.
    Vocal Performance Seminar 4 s.h.
    Vocal Repertoire Coaching 8 s.h.
    Musical Studies 4 s.h.
    History of Singing 4 s.h.

Transfer Process from the Diploma Program to the Bachelor of Music Program

Diploma students who wish to transfer to the Bachelor’s Program must provide all required application documents by September 1 for a first-semester transfer, or by December 1 for a second-semester transfer.

Diploma students may take no more than two one-semester liberal arts courses prior to an official transfer to the bachelor’s program.

The GED will be accepted by Curtis as a supplement to evidence of exceptional academic achievement as part of the application for the bachelor’s program only when prior permission has been obtained from the dean, the registrar, the associate dean of student services, the chair of the liberal arts department, and the chair of the musical studies department. A permission form is available in the registrar’s office.