The project must be completed three weeks before the end of classes in the student s final semester. Students receive at least 3 hours of credit each semester of their final year for work on their project. Note that credit for the Distinguished Major project does not count toward the requirements for the major, and that credit for performance instruction, including lessons in preparation of a Distinguished Major recital, cannot count toward graduation beyond the first 8 credits. Before submitting an application for the Distinguished Major Program, students select a committee of three faculty members. Each committee includes the main advisor for the project, or two main advisors if the project combines different areas such as performance and composition.
Every committee includes at least one member of the academic faculty.
Students should choose the faculty carefully to offer a well-rounded academic and musical perspective in planning and carrying out the project. After completion of the project, the committee meets without the student to discuss the evaluation of the student's work. After this meeting, the committee members provide the Academic Faculty with a report on the project. Committee members also meet individually with the student, after completion of the project, to give detailed responses to the student's work. Students are responsible for giving a copy of the completed work to the Music Library.