Jazz Studies, B.A.

Offered by Music .

Students in the Jazz Studies, B.A. are mentored by an accomplished professional faculty and take private music lessons with some of the most renowned musicians in the Baltimore/Washington area. Students have the opportunity to record on state-of-the-art equipment and perform in a variety of ensembles in venues both on and off campus. Students receive a solid grounding in jazz theory, history, and performance practice, preparing them for graduate school and careers as full-time players and teachers.

University Requirements

Completion of Minimum University Requirements for an Undergraduate Baccalaureate Degree .

Minimum 120 credits and minimum GPA of 2.0
Completion of 45 upper-level credits, the residence requirement, the Writing Intensive requirement, and the General Education requirement

Major Requirements

Minimum 89 credits
Minimum grade of ‘C’ in courses applied to the major, except where otherwise indicated
The Jazz Studies, B.A. is available only for instrumentalists, not for vocalists.

Course Requirements

Music Core (26 credits)

Complete the following, including MUSC 179 and MUSC 211 with a minimum grade of ‘B’:

Additional Music Requirements (31 credits)

Complete the following:

MUSC 221 - Jazz Theory and Aural Skills (3)
MUSC 222 - Jazz Arranging (3)
MUSC 325 - Jazz Composition (3)
MUSC 326 - Theory V: Post-Tonal Analysis (3)
MUSC 338 - Survey of Jazz (3)
MUSC 480 - Topics in Music, Art and Society (3)
Upper-Level Electives in Music (non-performance) (3)

Recital Preparation

Complete 8 credits from the following:

MUSC 191 - Recital Preparation (1)

Music Repertoire

Complete 2 credits from the following:

MUSC 112 - Music Repertoire (1)

Private Lessons and Recitals (24 credits)

Private Lessons

Complete 12 credits from the following:

MUSC 193 - Private Lessons for Music Majors (3)

Advanced Private Lessons

Complete 6 credits of the following:

MUSC 390 - Advanced Private Lessons for Music Majors (3)

Recitals

Complete the following:

Ensembles (8 credits)

Complete 8 ensemble courses over 8 different semesters selected from the following:

Four-Year Academic Pathways

The Four-Year Academic Pathways webpage offers helpful sample pathways for students eager to explore their academic options and stay on track for a four-year graduation. These pathways provide a starting point for students to plan how to complete their degree in four years. However, it’s important to remember that these are just samples. In consultation with their academic advisor, each student will create an individualized degree plan that reflects their unique academic background, interests, and career goals.

Students must develop their personalized degree plan by the time they’ve earned 45 credits and regularly update it with their advisor as their goals and academic journey evolve. This approach ensures that students make thoughtful, strategic choices that set them up for success throughout their time at UMBC.