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    Dec 13, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Jazz Studies (instrumental, arranging or vocal emphasis), BM


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The jazz studies degree’s primary purposes are (1) to prepare students for successful careers as jazz performers, composers/arrangers and educators; (2) to cultivate students’ knowledge of and appreciation for the jazz tradition and the broader musical traditions from which it has grown; (3) to encourage students’ creative efforts, and to share the results of students’ efforts on the university, local, regional, national and international levels by means of performances and recordings; and (4) to integrate undergraduate instruction in jazz studies with the rest of the undergraduate curriculum in the College of Music and the university.


Click here to view the general Bachelor of Music  requirements within the College of Music  section.

Degree requirements

Hours required and general/college requirements


A minimum of 129 hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Music degree as specified in the University Core Curriculum  in the Academics  section of this catalog and the College of Music Degree Requirements .

Major requirements


For certain jazz studies classes that form part of a sequence (e.g. theory or improvisation), a course grade of C or better may be required in order to move to the next course in the sequence. See course descriptions for individual course prerequisites.

Minor


None required.

Electives


9 hours (or as many as needed to complete the requirements for the degree).

Other requirements


  • All non-keyboard majors must enroll in Keyboard Skills classes each long term/semester until Jazz Secondary Piano Proficiency is passed.
  • Keyboard majors must pass OpenScore/Transposition Exam.
  • To enroll in upper division coursework in their emphasis majors must complete MUJS 2370  with a grade of C or higher.
  • A minimum 2.75 GPA in all music courses is required.
  • Students majoring in jazz studies must also abide by the policies and procedures set forth in the Jazz Studies Student Handbook.
  • Students will complete Africana Studies Certificate with HIST 3240 HIST 3250 MUET 3060 , and MUJS 3070 .

Supplemental information


Completion of the University Core Curriculum (required):

See University Core Curriculum requirements . Some courses required on degree plans may be used to fulfill requirements under Communication, Mathematics, Life and Physical Sciences, American History, Government/Political Science, Creative Arts, Language, Philosophy and Culture, Social and Behavioral Sciences and Core Option (Component Area Option) Courses. 

  • Communication (6) — ENGL 1310  and ENGL 1320  recommended.
  • Mathematics (3) — MATH 1580  recommended.
  • Life and Physical Sciences (6) — met by PHYS 1270  and an additional laboratory science course.
  • Language, Philosophy and Culture (3) — met by MUET 3030 .
  • American History (6) — met by HIST 2610  and HIST 2620 .
  • Government/Political Science (6) — met by PSCI 2305  and PSCI 2306 .
  • Creative Arts (3) — met by MUET 3060 .
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (3).
  • Core Option/Component Area Option Courses (6) — met by MUJS 3070 and MUMH 3520 .
  • Proficiency examinations (required):
    • Piano Proficiency Examination.
    • Successful completion of the Upper Division Examination in applied lessons (MUAC and MUAM).

Africana Studies certificate (required):

The following courses, which are required for the Bachelor of Music in jazz studies, also meet the criteria for the Africana studies certificate offered through the Department of History :

Therefore, by virtue of completing the requirements for the jazz studies, BM, students will also receive the Africana studies certificate from the Department of History.

Commercial Music minor (optional):

The structure of the jazz studies, BM, allows students to complete the commercial music minor (18 hours) without exceeding the 129 degree hours. The minor is optional but can be pursued within the jazz studies, BM, in the following manner:

Four-year degree plan (example)


The following four-year plan is one example of a variety of ways in which you can complete your chosen degree in four years, and will serve as a guide for you to design your pathway to degree completion. Variations will depend on whether you need to take prerequisites or have college credit from exams or dual enrollment.

Year 1

Semester 1 Semester 2
HIST 3240 - African American History and Culture to 1865  3 hours  HIST 3250 - African American History and Culture Since 1865   3 hours  
MUAG 1011 - Keyboard Skills for Music Majors  1 hour  MUAG 1012 - Keyboard Skills for Music Majors  1 hour 
MUJS 1131 - Jazz Performance Fundamentals I   2 hours   MUJS 1132 - Jazz Performance Fundamentals II   2 hours  
MUTH 1400 - Theory I   2 hours   MUTH 1500 - Theory II   2 hours  
MUTH 1410 - Aural Skills I   1 hour   MUTH 1510 - Aural Skills II   1 hour  
Life and Physical Sciences core   3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences core   3 hours
Concentration Lower Level Lessons 2 hours Concentration Lower Level Lessons 2 hours
Ensemble for all Jazz      1 hour Ensemble for all Jazz        1 hour
Total      15 hours Total      15 hours

 

Summer 1
PHYS 1270 - Science and Technology of Musical Sound   3 hours   
Life and Physical Sciences core   3 hours 
Total 6 hours

 

Year 2

Semester 1 Semester 2
MUET 3060 - African-American Music   3 hours    MUJS 1014 - Keyboard Skills IV (for Jazz Studies Majors)   1 hour   
MUJS 1013 - Keyboard Skills III (for Jazz Studies Majors)   1 hour    MUJS 2370 - Jazz Improvisation   2 hours   
MUJS 2360 - Jazz Improvisation   2 hours    MUJS 2500 - Theory IV (for Jazz Studies Majors)   2 hours   
MUJS 2400 - Theory III (for Jazz Studies Majors)   2 hours    MUJS 2510 - Aural Skills IV (for Jazz Studies Majors)   1 hour   
MUJS 2410 - Aural Skills III (for Jazz Studies Majors)   1 hour   MUJS 3070 - History of Jazz   3 hours   
Communication core   3 hours Communication core   3 hours
Concentration Lower Level Lessons 2 hours Concentration Lower Level Lessons 2 hours
Ensemble for all Jazz 1 hour Ensemble for all Jazz 1 hour
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

 

Year 3

Semester 1 Semester 2
MUAE 3100 - Introduction to Digital Audio Workstation Techniques   3 hours    MUCM 3550 - Jazz Chamber Music   1 hour  
MUCM 3550 - Jazz Chamber Music   1 hour    MUJS 3370 - Advanced Jazz Improvisation II   3 hours   
MUJS 3360 - Advanced Jazz Improvisation I   3 hours    MUJS 3470 - Jazz Lecture Series   1 hour   
MUJS 3610 - Jazz Arranging   3 hours    MUJS 3620 - Jazz Arranging   3 hours   
Government/Political Science core   3 hours MUMH 3520 - Issues in Western Music History   3 hours   
Concentration Upper Level Lessons 2 hours Government/Political Science core   3 hours
Ensemble for all Jazz 1 hour Concentration Upper Level Lessons 2 hours
    Ensemble for all Jazz 1 hour
Total 16 hours Total 17 hours

 

Year 4

Semester 1 Semester 2
MUET 3030 - Music Cultures of the World   3 hours    MUCM 3550 - Jazz Chamber Music   1 hour  
American History core   3 hours MUJS 3470 - Jazz Lecture Series   1 hour    
Concentration Upper Level Lessons 3 hours MUJS 3800 - Conducting Jazz Ensembles   2 hours   
Ensemble for all Jazz 1 hour MUJS 4720 - Jazz Senior Recital Capstone   3 hours   
Music History Elective from Menu 3 hours American History core   3 hours
Elective 3 hours Ensemble for all Jazz 1 hour
    Elective 3 hours
Total 16 hours  Total 14 hours 

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