Undergraduate Policies & Regulations

Undergraduate Grading Policies

Pass/No Pass Grading

A student may take 5 non-major units per quarter on a P/NP basis. Students in good standing who are enrolled in at least 12 units may take certain courses on a Passed/Not Passed (P/NP) basis. Students must achieve a “C” or better to warrant a Pass grade. Any grade earned that is less than a “C” will result in a Not Pass. Courses taken to satisfy a major requirement MUST be taken for a Letter Grade, unless a course is only offered on a Pass/No Pass basis.

Students may repeat up to 16 units of graded coursework in which a grade of C-, D+, D, D-, F, NP, or U is earned. A course may be repeated only once. Although only the second grade earned (for better or worse) will be computed into your GPA, both grades will remain on your transcript. Courses taken for a letter grade MAY NOT be repeated P/NP. NP grades may be repeated for a letter grade or P/NP. Once students have used the allowed 16 units of repeat credit, or they do not have enough units left to repeat a course, they may still repeat a course in which they received a C- or below. However, both grades will be averaged into their cumulative GPA; the first grade will not be removed.

If a student discovers an incorrect posted grade, the student must initiate a change of grade with the instructor of the course. Change of grade forms are only available to faculty.

The instructor may assign the grade Incomplete (I) when work is of passing quality but is incomplete for a good cause (such as illness or other serious problem). It is the student’s responsibility to discuss with the instructor the possibility of receiving an Incomplete as opposed to a non-passing grade. If a grade of I is assigned, students may receive unit credit and grade points by satisfactorily completing the coursework as specified by the instructor. Students should not re-enroll in the course; if they do, it is recorded twice on the transcript. Unless a petition to extend the deadline of incomplete work is granted, if the work is not completed by the end of the next full term in residence, the I lapses to an F, NP, or U as appropriate. Once a grade of I is assigned, it remains on the transcript along with the passing grade students may later receive for the course.

Quarterly Registration, Non-Attendance, and Withdrawals

Declaring Non-Attendance

Students may declare nonattendance if they are not planning to attend UCLA for a term and have not paid registration fees for that term. Students can declare nonattendance through MyUCLA. Students who complete a term (fall, winter, spring) and do not register the following term, may return to UCLA the subsequent term as a continuing student without submitting a readmission application, and are eligible to register and enroll in advance. Students who do not register for two or more consecutive quarters need to reapply formally to UCLA in order to be considered for readmission.

Students may request cancellation from a term AFTER having paid fees but BEFORE the first day of classes; in this case students will receive a full refund minus some administrative charges. To cancel registration, students should meet with their academic advisor and go to the Registrar’s Office, 1113 Murphy Hall, and fill out a Cancellation of Registration Petition. All students who wish to withdraw from the University once instruction begins must file a Withdrawal Notice form. Failing to attend classes, neglecting courses, or stopping payment on checks tendered for registration does not constitute notice of withdrawal. A fine is assessed if any payment for registration fees is returned by a bank for any reason, including stopped payment or insufficient funds. Students who withdraw from the School for more than one quarter must apply for readmission, and in some instances, re-audition into their studio.

To return to the University after an absence of more than one term, students must complete the following steps.

Step 1: Readmission Application

The readmission application for UCLA can be found online here. Do keep in mind that the readmission application must be submitted ahead of the posted deadline for the quarter in which you are requesting to return. Applicants may find the readmission application deadlines online here.

Step 2: Supplemental Materials

The School of Music requests that applicants submit supporting documentation as part of the readmission application to ensure a successful return to the university, if approved. To facilitate review of the application, applicants should ensure to send the following materials via email at the time of reapplication:

  1. 1-page personal statement to provide more context for the readmission request
    1. Specifically, a personal statement should answer the following question: “What steps have you taken to ensure that, if allowed to return to the University, you would be able to successfully complete your remaining degree requirements within the degree time given to you?”
  2. Current official transcripts (if applicable) from your current institution or any institutions you’ve attended since leaving UCLA

Reduced Units

An undergraduate student who has received approval from the dean of the College/school to be enrolled in 10 or fewer units may be eligible for a one-half reduction in the tuition portion of registration fees and a one-half reduction in nonresident supplemental tuition, if applicable. Students must consult with the College or school for eligibility requirements.

If a student enrolls in or receives credit for more units than approved, a bill is issued for repayment of the amount by which fees were reduced.

Assessment of reduced fees is based on total enrolled units. An undergraduate student must be enrolled in 10 or fewer units as of Friday of the third week of the term. Except for these qualified and approved part-time students, there is no reduction in the student services fee, tuition, nonresident supplemental tuition, IEI fee, student union, or Undergraduate Students Association fees.

Submission Deadline

To obtain approval, submit the fee reduction request to by Friday of the second week of the term.

Please see the steps below to request to Exit the School of Music. Please note that by completing the steps below, you acknowledge that you will not be able to return to the School of Music as a major without reapplying during the normal admissions cycle.

 

Step 1: Complete the School of Music Exit Interview.

Step 2: Once the above step is completed, please complete an Undergraduate Program Change Petition. On the petition, obtain a signature from your new academic advising unit, noting your acceptance to their major and/or school. If you are planning to switch into “Undeclared”, you do not need to obtain a signature. Please submit your completed petition to osa@schoolofmusic.ucla.edu and allow 8 – 10 business days for your petition to be reviewed. If approved, we will return the petition to you and note your approval to Exit the School of Music.

Please note that being Cleared to Exit the School of Music does not mean your record has been updated. Please reach out to your new advising unit and/or the Center for Academic Advising in the College (CAAC) in order to begin any additional steps they require in order for your record to be updated.

Step 3: Please notify your instructors if you are taking any School of Music coursework. It’s helpful for instructors who may know you or have worked with you to know that you are no longer enrolled at the School, in case they reach out in the future.

 

Depending on the point in the quarter that you complete this process, your record may not be updated until the following quarter. If you are cleared to exit the School of Music, but will not be recoded until the following quarter, the School of Music will remain your advising unit until you are officially recoded to your new program. In this case, please direct all administrative questions, e.g. petitions, to your School of Music advisor.

Students who are Cleared to Exit the School of Music and do not have their record updated to their new program or “undeclared” by the end of the following academic quarter will have a “hold” placed on their record. Please contact the Office of Student Affairs if you have any questions.

MAXIMUM UNITS FOR GRADUATION

A maximum of 216 units is permitted for all students, regardless of the number of majors or minors completed. Undergraduate students who graduate within their time to degree [Spring or Summer of their fourth year (for direct entry admits) or Fall of their third year (for transfer admits)] may exceed the 216 unit maximum without petition.

Students who will not be graduating within their time to degree (whether they are within or exceeding unit maximum) must file a petition requesting to exceed their time to degree. We encourage students to speak with an Academic Advisor to discuss their academic plans and the petition process in detail. Approval of this petition is not guaranteed, and in some cases, the School may propose an alternate plan.

Please note that students exceeding their time to degree and/or unit maximum without School approval will be in violation of university regulation and ineligible for a degree from UCLA.

Additional information regarding unit calculations

  • Students with advanced placement (AP) or international baccalaureate credit (IB) may exceed the unit maximum by the amount of that credit.

Minimum Academic Progress

Expected Progress

School of Music students are expected to complete a minimum of 14 units each academic quarter in order to maintain timely degree progress. Accordingly, students who complete at least 45 units over a three-term period (one academic year) and maintain at least a 2.0 term and cumulative GPA are making expected progress.

Based on unit progress

  • An undergraduate student who fails to pass at least 40 units during any three consecutive academic terms shall be on academic notice.
  • Students on academic notice who fail to meet minimum progress by the end of the next two consecutive academic terms will be subject to dismissal from the University.

Based on grades

  • Students will be placed on academic notice if their term (not including summer)/overall GPA falls below 2.0 but is above or equal to 1.5. Students placed on academic notice will have two consecutive academic terms to bring their overall GPA back to 2.0. Students placed on academic notice who do not bring their overall GPA to 2.0 or above within two consecutive academic terms, or whose term GPA once again falls below 2.0 the next academic term, will become subject to dismissal.

Based on unit progress

  • An undergraduate student who fails to pass at least 32 units during any three consecutive academic terms shall be subject to dismissal.
  • An undergraduate student who fails to clear academic notice after two consecutive academic terms will be subject to dismissal.
  • Students on subject to dismissal will be placed on a contract for two consecutive academic terms written to assist them in satisfying minimal progress to degree. Students who fail to meet the terms of their contract will be dismissed from the University.

Based on grades

  • Students placed on academic notice who do not bring their overall GPA to 2.0 or above within two consecutive academic terms, or whose term GPA once again falls below 2.0 the next academic term, will become subject to dismissal.
  • Students whose academic term or cumulative GPA falls below 1.5 is subject to dismissal, even if it’s the student’s first quarter of residency.
  • Students on subject to dismissal based on grades will be placed on a contract for two consecutive academic terms written to assist them in satisfying minimum GPA requirements.
  • Students who fail to meet the terms of their contract will be dismissed from the University.

Student Responsibility

Course Registration

With the guidance of Student Affairs Officers, students are ultimately responsible for their quarterly course registration. This includes registering in courses that correspond to their degree requirements and meeting the School of Music’s enrollment deadlines.

With proper planning, School of Music majors can study abroad during their time at UCLA. If you are planning to participate in a UCEAP Study Abroad Program, you will need to complete a Clearance for UCEAP Form in order to be cleared to Study Abroad.

Students hoping to complete University, GE, major, or minor requirements with Study Abroad coursework should check if their proposed courses have been preapproved for course credit. If courses have NOT been preapproved for course credit, submitting Academic Petitions may be required. Please note that approval of a Clearance to Study Abroad form does not constitute course credit and additional steps may be needed. Students can also refer to the CAAC Transfer Course Credit Database for more information.