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 may reduce credit to 2 credit hours). Entrance audition, freshman jury, upper-division examination, senior recital. I500 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 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]
- M395 Contemporary Jazz and Soul Music (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 (required for jazz bass majors: O322 or O324)
- O323 Jazz Improvisation 3 (3 cr.)
- O324 Jazz Improvisation 4 (3 cr.), required for jazz majors excluding jazz percussion majors (required for jazz bass majors: O322 or O324)
- O325 Rhythm Section Literature and Performance Practice (2-2-2-2 cr.), required for jazz bass, guitar, percussion, and piano majors
- O330 American Popular Song Performance (2 cr.), required for vocal jazz majors
- O400 Jazz Performance (1-1 cr.), required for jazz trumpet majors
General Education
See "General Education Requirements" under Curricula for Bachelor's Degrees in Music in this bulletin.
To Complete Degree
Free music or non-music electives as needed to bring the total credit hours to 120, excluding I400 and major ensemble.