Music, Jazz Studies (BA)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Arts with Emphasis in Jazz Studies

Unit: Music 
Academic Plan Code(s): MUSIBA_JAZ

Program Information

The Bachelor of Arts in Music with Emphasis in Jazz Studies degree is aimed at introducing students to elements of jazz within the context of a liberal arts program. The outcome of the degree is to prepare students to develop skills in performing and improvising music in a variety of jazz styles on primary and secondary instruments, and to have an understanding of a variety of performance techniques in jazz, and an appreciation of the jazz tradition through the study of and performance with jazz masters.

Degree Summary

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While not included in the School or Program coursework requirements, students are expected to take MUH 214 and MUH 205 to satisfy some of the General Education requirements.

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Departmental Admission Requirements

Students in this unit are admitted directly into their degree program.

General Education Requirements

All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Program/Major Requirements

Upper Division Assessment

All students enrolled in a music degree program will be reviewed at the approximate midpoint of the selected program in order for students to achieve Upper Division status. Students must meet the standards of this review to register for 400-level courses in music. Both the elements and standards of the review are established by the faculty and include credit for MUS 242 or Analysis (MUS 347 for BA General; MUS 349 for BA Jazz Studies; MUS 350 for BA Music & New Media); MUS 361 ; 4 semesters of Applied Instrument at the course numbers required for the degree; Piano Proficiency Examination; MUS 97 , with grade of S for 4 semesters; Ensemble participation; cumulative 2.5 GPA (good standing); minimum of 48 credit hours completed; pass ENGL 101 or ENGL 105; and 3 additional General Education/Cardinal Core courses.

Additional specific elements and standards appropriate to specific degree programs in jazz studies (including jazz performance, music education and music therapy with  tracks in jazz studies, and the BA in jazz studies), music composition, music education, music history, instrumental and vocal performance, pedagogy, music theory, and music therapy are required of students in order to achieve Upper Division status and to continue in the degree program.  Specific degree requirements are determined by the concentration and area faculties and are outlined in the Undergraduate Student Handbook.

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Students are required to take MUH 214 and MUH 205.

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Students majoring in music may take MUH courses as music electives with the exception of the cardinal core courses  MUH 205 /MUH 214 and MUH 204.

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Students who do not pass the computer-based Fundamentals Test prior to the beginning of the fall semester are required to enroll in MUS 91 for 0 credit concurrently with MUS 141.  Students who do not pass MUS 141, and students who enter the School of Music in January and do not place into MUS 142, must enroll in MUS 92 for the spring semester. Credits for MUS 92 do not count toward the degree.

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Students also have the option of completing an Analysis course: MUS 349 Jazz Analysis for BA Jazz Studies.

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Jazz students take 6 1-hour courses of Jazz Major Ensemble plus 2 1-hour courses of non-Jazz Major Ensemble.

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The Piano Proficiency Examination is required for applied piano majors.

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If the applied area is piano, Piano Class is replaced with 2 hours of music electives. The Piano Proficiency Examination may be taken in lieu of two semesters of Piano Class.

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Students may substitute 1 hour of elective providing they pass the Jazz Piano Proficiency.

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Music electives in any Bachelor of Music degree should be chosen from courses in Music History, Music Theory/Composition, Music Education, Music Literature, Music Pedagogy, Music Therapy, Jazz, a secondary applied area, or a non-required ensemble. Courses beyond the degree requirement in the student’s major applied area or in the required major ensemble(s) are not appropriate.

For the Bachelor of Arts degree, in addition to the electives listed for the Bachelor of Music, applied music courses beyond the required four semesters are acceptable as music electives. MUH courses will not be accepted as music electives. School of Music students may count up to two one-hour Physical Education courses toward the general elective requirement.

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Non-music electives which include 18 hours in one area of concentration. At least 9 hours in the area of concentration, and a total of 12 of the 31 hours, must be at the 300-level or above. The student may choose to pursue a second major or take a minor in a non-music area. School of Music students may count up to two one-hour Physical Education courses toward the general elective requirement.

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Students must complete a 1-credit hour module in Term 1 and a 1-credit hour module in Term 2 the same semester that they are registered for MUS 241 Musicianship 3.

Flight Plan, Even-Year Starts

The four-year plan of study listed below is applicable for students who begin their academic programs in the fall semester of even-numbered years (e.g., 2020, 2022, 2024, etc.).
 

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Select the appropriate report.
   1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
   2. To create a What-if report, click on "What-if Advisement Report."
   3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.

Flight Plan, Odd-Year Starts

The four-year plan of study listed below is applicable for students who begin their academic programs in the fall semester of odd-numbered years (e.g., 2021, 2023, 2025 etc.).