Residency Policy

CCM provides students with professionally-oriented immersive experiences in order to prepare them to enter directly into performing and media arts careers. Students are expected to enroll continuously full time (fall-spring) while completing the major requirements of the degree.

Students are expected to complete all performance and production requirements while enrolled full time.

Undergraduate students at CCM are not permitted to enroll in fewer than 12 credit hours or more than 18 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters, except with advisor approval. Enrollment in more than 18 credit hours will incur overload fees as required by university policy.

Normally baccalaureate students complete the program in 4 years (8 semesters) of continuous full-time enrollment. Students pursuing double majors or double-degrees should expect to enroll in additional semesters in order to complete the requirements for both majors/degrees.

CCM scholarship awards are not available to students enrolled in fewer than 12 credits. Students should consult other offices at CCM and UC to determine the effect of part-time enrollment on financial aid, international student status, insurance and other issues. 

Graduate students at CCM are not permitted to enroll in fewer than 10 graduate-level credit hours (12 if receiving scholarship) or more than 18 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters, except with advisor approval. Enrollment in more than 18 credit hours will incur overload fees as required by university policy.

Normally MM, MA and AD students complete the program in 2 years (4 semesters) of continuous full-time enrollment. Normally MFA students complete the program in 3 years (6 semesters) of continuous full-time enrollment. Students pursuing double majors or double degrees should expect to enroll in additional semesters in order to complete the requirements for both majors/degrees. 

Normally DMA and PhD students complete coursework requirements in 2-3 years of continuous full-time enrollment depending on the major.

While enrollment in 10 graduate-level credits is considered full time, students receiving CCM scholarship must be enrolled in at least 12 graduate-level credits, as stated in the scholarship award contract. Students should consult other offices at CCM and UC to determine the effect of part-time enrollment on financial aid, international student status, insurance and other issues.

Because of CCM’s rigorous, cohort-based curricula, we do not automatically allow transfer credits to apply to degree-specific courses. Instead, at the discretion of the faculty, CCM may award advanced standing by exam. 

• Advanced Standing may be granted for undergraduate CCM courses required of the major when the student demonstrates the following:
  • the student has previously attained the learning outcomes of the course after having taken a similar credit-bearing college course at another institution;
  • the student can demonstrate through examination acquisition of the skills required of the same course;
  • Undergraduate transfer students must be enrolled full time for a minimum of 4 semesters and must complete at least 50% of the required CCM coursework at CCM.

• Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit for Graduate Students is subject to the rules of the Graduate College.
  • Advanced standing can only be awarded by transferring credit from another institution.
  • The credit being transferred cannot have been used to complete a degree that has been conferred.
  • Advanced standing cannot be granted based on professional experience.
  • Master’s transfer students must be enrolled full time for a minimum of 3 semesters and must complete at least 67% of the degree required credits at CCM.
  • Graduate College rules prevent transfer credit from applying to doctoral degrees.