Jazz Studies: Composition - Bachelor of Music

Program Total Credits: 126

Students enrolled as majors in Composition take private lessons with our faculty who work professionally in contemporary classical, jazz, and commercial (radio, TV, film, industrial) and pop idioms. Monthly workshops featuring guest composers representing a variety of musical genres present students with an inside look at their creative processes and techniques. Additional courses include Jazz Ear Training, Jazz Theory, MIDI and Music Technology, Arranging, Orchestration, Music History, Business of Music, and ensembles. Student compositions are read or performed by our ensembles, and frequent performances of students’ music highlight the school’s concert schedule. Composition students can also elect an option to take additional study on an instrument or voice. The University’s creative environment encourages collaborations with film, animation, dance, theater, and multimedia students.

Freshman Year Credits: 30

Fall Credits: 15

MUPF 8XX - Ensemble Credits: 1 cr

LACR 101 - First-Year Writing I Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MULS 131 - Applied Major Instruction – Composition Credits: 3 cr, 1 hr
MUSC 101 - Music Theory I Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MUSC 111 - Musicianship I Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MUSC 121 - Class Piano I Credits: 1 cr, 1 hr
MUSC 161 - Music Technology Survey Credits: 1 cr, 1 hr

Spring Credits: 15

MUPF 8XX - Ensemble Credits: 1 cr

LACR 102 - First-Year Writing II Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MULS 132 - Applied Major Instruction – Composition Credits: 3 cr, 1 hr
MUSC 102 - Music Theory II Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MUSC 112 - Musicianship II Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MUSC 122 - Class Piano II Credits: 1 cr, 1 hr
MUSC 162 - Music Technology Survey Credits: 1 cr, 1 hr

Sophomore Year Credits: 34

Fall Credits: 16

MUPF 8XX - Ensemble Credits: 1 cr

MULS 231 - Applied Major Instruction – Composition Credits: 3 cr, 1 hr
MUSC 203 - Jazz Theory I Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MUSC 205 - Jazz Ear Training I Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MUSC 223 - Class Jazz Piano I Credits: 1 cr, 1 hr
MUSC 460 - Introduction to MIDI and Electronic Technology Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs

Select one course from the following two:

LACR 210 - Texts & Contexts: Perspectives on the Humanities Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
LACR 22X - Scientific Inquiry Foundation Track (SIFT) Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs

Spring Credits: 17

MUPF 8XX - Ensemble Credits: 1 cr

MUCP 361 - Orchestration I Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MULS 232 - Applied Major Instruction – Composition Credits: 3 cr, 1 hr
MUSC 204 - Jazz Theory II Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MUSC 206 - Jazz Ear Training II Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MUSC 224 - Class Jazz Piano II Credits: 1 cr, 1 hr

Select one course from the following two:

LACR 210 - Texts & Contexts: Perspectives on the Humanities Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
LACR 22X - Scientific Inquiry Foundation Track (SIFT) Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs

Junior Year Credits: 31

Fall Credits: 16

MUPF 8XX - Ensemble Credits: 1 cr
Liberal Arts Credits: 3 cr
Electives Credits: 6 cr

MULS 331 - Applied Major Instruction – Composition Credits: 3 cr, 1 hr
MUSC 451 - Jazz History Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
Also fulfills Liberal Arts discipline history requirement.

Spring Credits: 15

MUPF 8XX - Ensemble Credits: 1 cr
MUCP XXX - Composition Elective Credits: 3 cr
Liberal Arts Credits: 6 cr

MUCP 331 - Jazz Arranging I Credits: 2 cr, 2 hrs
MULS 332 - Applied Major Instruction – Composition Credits: 3 cr, 1 hr

Senior Year Credits: 31

Senior Recital may be completed in either term.

Fall Credits: 15

MUPF 8XX - Ensemble Credits: 1 cr
Liberal Arts Credits: 6 cr

MULS 431 - Applied Major Instruction – Composition Credits: 3 cr, 1 hr
MUSC 351 - Music History I Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
Also fulfills Liberal Arts discipline history requirement.

Select one course from the following two:

All undergraduate music students must take either Business of Music (MUSC 481) or Careers in Music (MUSC 482). Students who take both may apply one toward elective credits. This requirement may be completed in either semester.

MUSC 481 - Business of Music Credits: 2 cr, 2 hrs
MUSC 482 - Careers in Music Credits: 2 cr, 2 hrs

Spring Credits: 16

MUPF 8XX - Ensemble Credits: 1 cr
Electives Credits: 3 cr
Liberal Arts Credits: 6 cr

MULS 400 - Senior Recital Credits: 0 cr, 0 hrs
MULS 432 - Applied Major Instruction – Composition Credits: 3 cr, 1 hr
MUSC 352 - Music History II Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
Also fulfills Liberal Arts discipline history requirement.

Liberal Arts Distribution

Note all Liberal Arts courses are 3.0 credits.

Liberal Arts Elective Credits: 15 cr

LACR 101 - First-Year Writing I Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
LACR 102 - First-Year Writing II Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
LACR 210 - Texts & Contexts: Perspectives on the Humanities Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
LACR 22X - Scientific Inquiry Foundation Track (SIFT) Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
LAPI 8XX - Liberal Arts Period Interpretation - Pre-20th Century Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
LAPI 9XX - Liberal Arts Period Interpretation - 20th Century Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MUSC 351 - Music History I Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MUSC 352 - Music History II Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
MUSC 451 - Jazz History Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs

Note

N.B. All composition majors are required to successfully complete one year of Chorus, which may be taken as ensemble or elective credits.