Undergraduate Division

Bachelor of Music Degrees

Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies

Admission Requirements

See "Admission Requirements" in the Undergraduate Division section of this bulletin.

Major Ensemble

X40 University Instrumental Ensembles (2 cr.) (instrumentalists) or X70 University Choral Ensembles (2 cr.) (vocalists) each fall and spring semester.

Chamber Ensemble

O450 Jazz Chamber Ensemble (1-1-1-1 cr.)

Performance Study

Minimum of 3 credit hours each semester until senior recital is passed (students who have completed 24 credit hours and the senior recital and who wish to continue performance study may reduce credit to 2 credit hours). Entrance audition, freshman jury, upper-division examination, senior recital. I300 Studio Masterclass (0 cr.) and/or I301 Departmental Masterclass (0 cr.) may be required in connection with performance study (varies by studio).

Secondary Piano and Keyboard Proficiency

The sequence of piano courses required for all jazz majors who are not jazz piano majors is:

  • P111 Piano Class 1, Music Majors (2 cr.)
  • P121 Piano Class 2, Music Majors (2 cr.)
  • P201 Jazz Piano Class 1 (2 cr.)
  • P202 Jazz Piano Class 2 (2 cr.)

Entering students take an examination placing them into the appropriate course in the sequence. Continued study is required each semester until the keyboard proficiency examination, administered by the jazz department, is passed. The keyboard proficiency examination is also required of jazz piano majors.

Core Music Courses

27 credit hours

  • Music Fundamentals Online or equivalent
  • T132 Musical Skills I (1 cr.)
  • T151 Music Theory and Literature I (3 cr.)
  • T152 Music Theory and Literature II (3 cr.)
  • T231 Musical Skills II (1 cr.)
  • T232 Musical Skills III (1 cr.)
  • T251 Music Theory and Literature III (3 cr.)
  • T252 Music Theory and Literature IV (3 cr.)
  • T331 Musical Skills IV (1 cr.)
  • T351 Music Theory and Literature V (3 cr.)
  • M401 History and Literature of Music I (4 cr.)
  • M402 History and Literature of Music II (4 cr.)
  • Or equivalent honors courses

A grade of C or higher is required in T132 Musical Skills I, T231 Musical Skills II, T232 Musical Skills III, and T331 Musical Skills IV.

Jazz Major Courses

25-33 credit hours

  • E470 Pedagogy of Jazz (2 cr.) (instrumentalists) or E482 Methods and Materials for Teaching Vocal Jazz (2 cr.) (vocalists)
  • M393 History of Jazz (3 cr.)
  • O311 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory (1 cr.)
  • O316 Jazz Arranging 1 (2 cr.)
  • O317 Jazz Arranging 2 (2 cr.)
  • O318 Styles and Analysis of Jazz 1 (2 cr.)
  • O319 Styles and Analysis of Jazz 2 (2 cr.)
  • O321 Jazz Improvisation 1 (2 cr.)
  • O322 Jazz Improvisation 2 (3 cr.), required for jazz majors excluding jazz percussion majors
  • O323 Jazz Improvisation 3 (3 cr.)
  • O324 Jazz Improvisation 4 (3 cr.), required for jazz majors excluding jazz percussion majors
  • For jazz piano and percussion majors, 6 credit hours selected from:
    • O322 Jazz Improvisation 2 (3 cr.)
    • O324 Jazz Improvisation 4 (3 cr.)
    • O450 Jazz Chamber Music (1 cr.)
    • A100 Foundations of Audio Technology (3 cr.)
    • A330 Modern Recording Studio Techniques (3 cr.)
    • A331 Production Techniques for Music Majors (3 cr.)
    • M413 Advanced Topics in Latin American Music (Variable Topic: History and Performance of Latin American Music)
General Education

See "General Education Requirements" under Curricula for Bachelor's Degrees in Music in this bulletin.

To Complete Degree

Music or non-music electives as needed to bring the total credit hours to 120, excluding I400 and major ensemble.

Academic Bulletins

PDF Version

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Previous Bulletins

Students are ordinarily subject to the curricular requirements outlined in the Bulletin in effect at the start of their current degree. See below for links to previous Bulletins.