Jazz Studies, B.M.

Bachelor of Music Degree

The Bachelor of Music degree offers six specialized majors: performance, composition, music industry, music education, jazz studies and music theatre. All music majors must complete the General Education program and a 30 credit hour core program of music courses common to all the majors’ curricula. The remaining hours are specified under each of the various majors and concentrations.

All undergraduate music majors must perform on the primary instrument in one assigned ensemble each semester when one or more of the following indicators applies:

They are enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours on campus.
They are enrolled for applied lessons on the primary instrument.
They have not completed all of the requirements in the music major.
They are not enrolled in an off-campus internship or in student teaching.

While students are required to participate in only one ensemble each semester, they are encouraged to take advantage of the many performance opportunities offered by the School of Music by participating in more than one ensemble. For information regarding the ensemble audition process, see the Undergraduate Music Student Handbook.

If piano is the primary instrument, see the specific requirements in the Undergraduate Music Student Handbook.

All music students should enroll in class piano each semester until they meet the keyboard skills requirements appropriate to their specific degree or concentration. Graduating seniors must participate in assessment activities including assessment day, as represented by MUS 220 .

Another vital aspect of the programs is attendance at recitals and concerts. Attending these events contributes to the breadth of students’ knowledge of music literature. Hearing performances also allows students to observe performing techniques from the student to the professional levels. Consequently, undergraduate music majors must attend a minimum of 10 recitals per semester for six semesters, totaling 60 attendances during their degree studies. Students must continue to register for MUS 195 until they fulfill this requirement.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

General Education courses 35-41 Credit Hours ¹
Core music program courses 30 Credit Hours
Major concentration courses and electives 54-62 Credit Hours

Total: 123-133 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

Major Requirements

Required Courses

MUS 141. Music Theory I 3.00
MUS 142. Music Theory II 3.00
MUS 143. Aural Skills I 1.00
MUS 144. Aural Skills II 1.00
MUS 195. Recital Attendance 0.00 (six semesters)
MUS 206. Introduction to Global Music 3.00 ¹
MUS 220. Assessment Tests – School of Music 0.00
MUS 241. Music Theory III 3.00
MUS 242. Theory IV 3.00
MUS 243. Aural Skills III 1.00
MUS 244. Aural Skills IV 1.00
MUS 317. Basic Conducting 2.00
MUS 373. Music History 3.00
MUS 374. Music History 2.00
MUS 375. Music History 3.00

Choose one of the following: 1 Credit Hour

MUS 101. Keyboard Skills II 1.00 (required for music industry majors and prerequisite for MUS 202 -MUS 303 )
MUS 303. Keyboard Skills IV 1.00 (all music majors except music industry; must be passed prior to student teaching)

Total: 30 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ MUS 206 will count for the Music Core and also for the General Education , Cluster Two , Part 2 if desired. There will be a specific music major section of MUS 206 offered once each academic year.

Recommended Schedule for First Year Majors

The first year of study shares a common curriculum for all concentrations. The year is devoted to courses from the basic music core requirements, General Education courses, ensemble participation and applied study in the major applied area.

First Year

First Semester

MUS 141. Music Theory I 3.00
MUS 143. Aural Skills I 1.00
MUS 195. Recital Attendance 0.00
WRTC 103. Critical Reading and Writing 3.00
Applied music major course 2 Credit Hours
Music ensemble course 1-2 Credit Hours
General Education courses (from Cluster One ) 6 Credit Hours

Choose one of the following (According to placement decision): 1 Credit Hour

Total: 15-16 Credit Hours

Second Semester

MUS 142. Music Theory II 3.00
MUS 144. Aural Skills II 1.00
MUS 195. Recital Attendance 0.00
Applied music major course 2 Credit Hours
Music ensemble course 1-2 Credit Hours
General Education courses (MUS 206 and final course from Cluster One ) 6 Credit Hours

Choose one of the following: 1 Credit Hour

Total: 14-15 Credit Hours

Additional Information

For a recommended eight-semester outline of curricular requirements for each major concentration, see the School of Music’s Undergraduate Music Student Handbook.

Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies

Coordinator: Dr. Charles Dotas
Phone: (540) 568-6180

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

General Education courses 38-41 Credit Hours ¹
Core music program courses 30 Credit Hours
Major concentration courses and electives 60 Credit Hours

Total: 128-131 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

Major Requirements

Courses

Additional requirements: Admission to the Jazz Studies program by successful completion of Level 4 in applied music study (primary instrument) and jazz performance audition, no sooner than end of second year as approved music major.

MUS 146. Jazz Theory and Ear Training 2.00
MUS 305. Jazz Keyboard Skills 1.00
MUAP 300. Applied Music Lesson (Undergraduate) 1.00 - 3.00 (Jazz Study, Level 5-8) ²
MUS 345. Small Ensemble Jazz Arranging 3.00
MUS 346. Large Ensemble Jazz Arranging 3.00
MUS 356. History of Jazz in America 3.00
MUS 395. Junior or Senior Half Recital 0.00 ³
MUS 440. Jazz Improvisation Laboratory II 2.00 ⁴
MUS 495. Senior Graduation Recital 1.00
MUED 473. Jazz Ensemble Procedures and Techniques 2.00
MUAP 355. Jazz Chamber Ensemble 1.00 (in addition to major ensemble requirement) ⁵
Applied music study (primary instrument), Level 1-4 8 Credit Hours ⁶
Ensembles (one each semester) 8 Credit Hours ⁷
Approved jazz electives 5 Credit Hours ⁸

Total: 60 Credit Hours

Footnotes

² Applied Jazz Study (3 credit hours) taken after acceptance into the Jazz Studies program. Applied Jazz Study (2 credit hours) recommended for students interested in preparing for the Jazz Studies audition. Student must be enrolled in Applied Jazz Study during the semesters in which the Half Recital and Graduation Recital are presented.
³ Presented at the end of the junior year, jazz repertoire.
⁴ MUS 440  is a corequisite with Applied Jazz Study and can be repeated each semester.
⁵ Students accepted into the Jazz Studies program must enroll in MUAP 355  each semester until graduation.
⁶ To be taken during the first and second years. Students accepted into Jazz Studies program may continue applied music study (in addition to applied jazz study) with consent of primary applied instructor.
⁷ Prior to acceptance into Jazz Studies program, ensemble placement determined by primary instrument applied faculty and Ensemble Committee. Students accepted into the Jazz Studies program must enroll in MUAP 347. Jazz Ensemble  (or MUAP 348. Jazz Band  with jazz studies coordinator permission) each semester until graduation. Students in the Jazz Studies program are encouraged to continue participation in additional School of Music ensembles.
⁸ Approved electives include: MUS 446. Jazz Composition , MUS 480. Advanced Seminar in Musicological Topics  and MUS 485. Advanced Jazz Topics Seminar .