Offered in: Chicago

The Interdisciplinary Conservatory, established in 2022, serves as the home for performing arts degree programs that cross traditional boundaries between the Music and Theatre units and/or draw substantially on coursework offered in other colleges across Roosevelt University.

Programs housed within the Interdisciplinary Conservatory include:

• Art, Entertainment, and Media Business (BA)

• Music and Computing (BA)

• Music Composition (BM, MM)

• Music Education (BM)

• Interdisciplinary Performing Arts Industry (BMA)

• Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies (BA)

• Jazz and Contemporary Music (BM)

• Performing Arts Administration (MA)

• Theatre Directing (MA)

• Bachelor of Arts in Music (BA)

• Bachelor of Musical Arts Interdisciplinary Honors (BMA)

For information about graduate degree programs, please consult the university’s Graduate Catalog.

Admission

Admission to Roosevelt University does not constitute admission to the Interdisciplinary Conservatory. Each program within the Conservatory requires specific admissions materials in accordance with program accreditation standards.

Prospective students should contact the CCPA Office of Enrollment and Student Services and consult the CCPA website for detailed information regarding application requirements, auditions, interviews, or portfolio submissions specific to each program.

Entering students (first-year and transfer) typically complete placement examinations to assess prior preparation in musicianship and keyboard proficiency. Based on the results, students are placed into the appropriate level of core sequence courses. Study guides and preparatory materials for placement examinations are provided during the summer prior to matriculation.

Students who are exempted from required courses through placement examination may substitute free electives for those credits.

Transfer credit in music and related disciplines may require validation through proficiency examination, audition, consultation with program faculty, or successful completion of a more advanced course.

Degree requirements

Degrees are conferred upon regular students in good standing who have met the following requirements:

• Completion of at least two academic years in residence (a minimum of 48 semester hours);

• completion of at least 120 semester hours of credit in accordance with the prescribed curriculum for the major field;

• a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (2.7 for Music Education majors);

• grades in core and major courses that satisfy program-specific requirements;

• completion of the University Writing Requirement.

Additional program requirements include:

• Jazz and Contemporary Music: Senior recital in fulfillment of program requirements.

• Composition majors: Senior recital of original works.

• Music Education majors:

  • Choral and instrumental emphases: Senior recital including both solo performance and conducting components.

  • Songwriting and Production emphasis: Individually designed senior project.

  • All emphases: Successful completion of the student teaching internship.

• Bachelor of Musical Arts (BMA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees: Individually designed senior project.

Academic policies

Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance at classes, rehearsals, and lessons reflects the professional standards of the performing arts. The Interdisciplinary Conservatory’s attendance policies are designed to cultivate a strong sense of professional responsibility with respect to all academic and artistic commitments.

Attendance requirements for individual courses are stated in the syllabus. Regardless of grading structure, attendance is an expectation within the Conservatory. Students must notify instructors of unavoidable absences (e.g., illness) and are responsible for completing missed work promptly.

Perfect attendance is expected in applied study (private lessons). If a lesson must be canceled for unavoidable reasons, the student should notify the instructor at least 24 hours in advance when possible. Failure to notify the applied instructor by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the lesson relieves the instructor of any obligation to make up the lesson.

Regularly scheduled lessons that fall on university holidays will be made up; arrangements are the shared responsibility of the student and instructor.

Any student who misses three lessons without proper notification will receive an immediate failing grade for the semester and will not be permitted to present the jury examination. Students who fail to appear for the required jury examination will receive a failing grade in the course.

Because ensemble participation carries responsibility to the director, fellow ensemble members, and the Conservatory, school functions take precedence over outside activities. Students are expected to attend all scheduled rehearsals and performances.

Ensembles

Ensemble participation is a defining element of conservatory training and reflects the collaborative practices of professional musicians. Students in the Interdisciplinary Conservatory are expected to participate each semester in ensembles to which they are assigned by the instructor of record, in consultation with the Program Director and Academic Advisor.

Students enrolled in ensembles as zero-credit participants (by assignment or special permission) receive a grade and must fulfill all requirements equivalent to those enrolled for credit.

Ensemble assignments are made at the beginning of each semester following placement and seating auditions.

Students from other Roosevelt University programs may audition for Interdisciplinary Conservatory ensembles and productions.

Grades

The minimum passing grade for courses within a student’s major is C–. Students who receive a grade below C– in a major course must repeat the entire course.

Please refer to individual program pages for additional minimum grade requirements.

Performance classes and performance attendance

Departmental performance classes, guest lectures, and master classes provide students with essential opportunities to develop experience and confidence in public presentation. Attendance at these offerings is required unless explicitly designated as optional.

The faculty of the Interdisciplinary Conservatory strongly encourage attendance at a broad range of performances. The performing arts constitute a fundamental mode of human communication, and artists engage in this discourse both through performance and through active audience participation. Expectations regarding performance attendance are embedded within individual programs and course syllabi and may include required attendance at both in-house and professional performances.