Transfer Students

Students wishing to transfer to the Conservatory must show evidence of a satisfactory academic record at all institutions of higher education and secondary schools attended and are required to submit official transcripts from all of them.

The level of an undergraduate transfer student is determined by the faculty at the time of the student's audition based on musical ability.

Only undergraduates may transfer credits from another institution. Transfer students admitted to the Conservatory will receive transfer credit for courses in the general education area and music electives completed at other accredited institutions, provided the student received a grade of C or better and the course is ruled an appropriate substitute for a Conservatory course. The Conservatory does not grant transfer credit for Musicianship, Music Theory, Music History, Basic Phonetics or Lyric Diction courses or major instrument studies completed elsewhere. Students may receive credit by examination for these required Conservatory courses, based upon the results of placement examinations administered at the time of registration. Not more than 36 credits of non-music courses will count toward the total credits required for graduation. Transfer students may petition the Academic Affairs Committee for permission to use more than 36 non-music credits as graduation requirements.

The Conservatory will also grant credit for certain AP and CEEB exams. Please contact the Transfer Student Advisor for more information.

Students who have already earned a Bachelor of Music or Music Diploma from the Conservatory and are admitted into a new Bachelor of Music degree program may transfer credits taken during their previous degree for identical course requirements and general education courses if they received a grade of C or higher. This excludes ensemble requirements, PRF 352 Piano Forum, PRF 402 Composition Seminar and PRF 462 Vocal Performance Lab. Any other exceptions may be approved by submitting a petition to the Academic Affairs Committee.

Students who have earned a Bachelor of Music or Music Diploma from the Conservatory and are admitted into a Master of Music degree program may transfer credits taken during their previous degree if the course is identical to a degree requirement in the new program. This excludes ensemble requirements, PRF 352 Piano Forum, PRF 402 Composition Seminar and PRF 462 Vocal Performance Lab. Any other exceptions may be approved by submitting a petition to the Academic Affairs Committee.

Graduate Students–Applicants for the Master of Music degree and Artist Certificate programs are expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in music from an accredited college, university or conservatory. In exceptional cases, a student who has a degree in an area other than music and who has had excellent audition results may be considered. The Conservatory will not accept any transfer credit at the graduate level.

Students who have earned a Master of Music from the Conservatory and are admitted into a different Master of Music degree program may transfer credits taken during their previous degree if the course is identical to a degree requirement in the new program and up to six credits of graduate seminars. This excludes ensemble requirements, PRF 352 Piano Forum, PRF 402 Composition Seminar and PRF 462 Vocal Performance Lab. Any other exceptions may be approved by submitting a petition to the Academic Affairs Committee.

Students may not apply transfer credits for the Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Performance or Professional Studies Diploma in Instrumental Performance programs.

Questions? Please contact:

Ruby Pleasure, International and Transfer Student Advisor
50 Oak Street, Room 606
San Francisco, CA 94102
rap@sfcm.edu
415.503.6228