Advising and Support

Undergraduate Advice and Support

• Assignment and Degree Completion Plan: You will be assigned a primary academic advisor who is knowledgeable about your concentration and particular interests and will help you plan your coursework to complete your degree in the intended timeframe. Please refer to the Advisor FAQs for additional information.
• Support and Expectations: You should consult with your advisor AT LEAST once a semester preceding registration to ensure that you fulfill your requirements.  In addition, advisors offer help in many ways, such as discussing decisions regarding your academic program, connecting you to the Cali community, understanding the advantages of MSU resources, etc.
• Registration:  Each student is responsible for their own registration. For help with registration see your academic advisor noted in DegreeWorks.
• Responsibility for Meeting Requirements: You are responsible for meeting all the requirements of the university and school. Use the Cali School curriculum roadmaps and NEST, your academic advisor and your faculty mentor, to monitor your progress and also stay in contact with everyone to insure an on-time graduation.
• Cali School and University Rules and Regulations: The Cali School sets rules for meeting music curriculum requirements, summarized in the Cali Student Guide. The university sets general rules and regulations for graduation that are summarized in MSU’s undergraduate catalog online. The rules in the university catalog take effect starting your first semester and will apply to you throughout your university career. 
• Curricular Changes After Enrollment:  Any  changes while you are attending MSU—for instance, if general education course requirements are altered—such changes may not apply to you. Your Degree Audit, available in DegreeWorks on NEST, and advisor will have the most up-to-date record of your outstanding requirements.
• Transfer credits: Music credits undergo a required departmental review, which takes additional time before the courses can be applied to your music degree requirements. See the academic advisor for more information.

Questions?
Letitia Stancu
Jazz Studies, Performance, Recording Arts & Production 
stancul@montclair.edu

Michelle Klemme
Composition, Music Education, Music Therapy 
klemmem@montclair.edu

Graduate Advice and Support

• Assignment and Degree Completion Plan: You will be assigned a Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) advisor. See FAQ’s for advisor information.  Your GPC is knowledgeable about your program and will help you plan your curriculum.  Your advisor will be listed in DegreeWorks on NEST.
• Support and Expectations: See your GPC advisor AT LEAST once a semester preceding registration to ensure that you fulfill your requirements. Feel free to talk about decisions you need to make about your academic program. Advisors offer help in many ways, so take as much advantage of them as possible.
• Registration:  Each student is responsible for his or her own registration. For curricular matters, see your GPC advisor. For technical issues or authorizations, see the undergraduate academic advisors.
• Responsibility for Meeting Degree Requirements:  You are responsible for meeting all requirements of the university and Cali School. Your GPC advisor will help you do this. 
• Applied Music Requirements: Lessons are required for many graduate students. Requirements are listed on-line in NEST, which is where you can find the course number for your particular applied music section. Check with your GPC.

Questions?
Dr. Marissa Silverman
MA Music Education
silvermanm@montclair.edu 

Dr. Brian Abrams
MA Music Therapy
abramsb@montclair.edu

Dr. Aaron Helgeson
MA Composition
helgesona@montclair.edu

Dr. Oscar Perez
MM Performance
Jazz Studies
perezo@montclair.edu

Dr. David Witten
MM Performance
Classical and Artist’s Diploma Certificate
wittend@montclair.edu