Program Overview
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact: Dana B. Landry, M.M., Director of Jazz Studies
Location: Frasier Hall 108
Telephone: 970.351.2993
Fax: 970.351.1923
Website: arts.unco.edu/music
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
The Bachelor of Music is a professional degree in music. It supports the development of skills, concepts, and sensitivity essential to a professional musician. It also prepares students for advanced study in music.
Program Admission Requirements:
- Students planning to major in music are required to submit an application for admission to the School of Music. An audition is required for all applicants to music degree programs; for some graduate programs, an interview may be conducted in lieu of an audition. Current School of Music admission guidelines and audition requirements are available at: arts.unco.edu/music/apply/.
- Students meeting the general admission requirements of the University may be accepted as undeclared majors. However, students may only be designated as music majors upon successful completion of the School of Music application and audition process.
Program Requirements:
- In all MUS courses, a student must receive C- or better to fulfill degree requirements.
- Any student receiving lower than a C- in a MUS prefix class for the second time in the same class will be placed on probation. If the student receives lower than a C- a third time in the same class, the student will be removed from the major.
- Students are required to take MUS 100 8 times, based on degree. This is not tied to lessons.
- After students have fulfilled the requirements for applied lessons in their degree, additional applied lessons will be at the discretion of the studio teacher and Director.
- All students in applied lessons must enroll in a major ensemble. Students that do not have a major ensemble required for the duration of the degree program should follow their degree requirements.
- Any student receiving a grade below a C- in applied lessons will be placed on probation. A second semester of a grade below a C- in applied lessons will result, upon consent from the area, in removal from the major.
- The junior recital must demonstrate performance skills in jazz. The senior recital must demonstrate performance and compositional skills in jazz and may not be performed until the successful completion of three semesters of MUS 436.
- A minimum of 30 non-MUS prefix credits must be taken for the degree.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 74 required major credits.
Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
MUS 143: Musical Styles and Context (3) is recommended to partially fulfill Arts & Humanities requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
AFS 100: Introduction to Africana Studies (3) or AFS 101: Development of Black Identity (3) are recommended to fulfill the U.S. Multicultural Studies and History requirements.
ANT 245: Introduction to Ethnomusicology (3) is recommended to fulfill the Social & Behavioral Sciences and International Studies requirements.
Select any course (3) from Arts & Humanities and another course (3) from any area listed below to fulfill the LAC Curriculum minimum of 15 credits.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 74 credits
Take all of the following:
Jazz Ensembles — Choose appropriate option below:
Instrumentalists (12 credits)
Vocalists (12 credits)
Additional Required Credits (If applicable):
Vocalists (2 credits)
Pianists, guitarists, bassists, and drummers (1 credit)
| MUS 342 | Jazz Rhythm Section Workshop | 1 |
Remaining Major (2-4 credits)
Take 2-4 credits of MUS-prefix courses.
3. University-Wide Credits — 15 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 15 credits.
*Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.
Four Year Plan
This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.
Year 1 – 29 credits
Fall Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 113 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 114 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing I | 1 |
| MUS 181 | Jazz and Latin Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 160 | Class Piano I | 1 |
| MUS 236 | Individual Instruction in Jazz | 2 |
| | Jazz Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | or | |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 115 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 116 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing II | 1 |
| MUS 143 | Musical Styles and ContextLAA1 | 3 |
| MUS 161 | Class Piano II | 1 |
| MUS 236 | Individual Instruction in Jazz | 2 |
| | Jazz Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | or | |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Year 2 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| AFS 100 | Introduction to Africana StudiesLAH1LAMS | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 213 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS 214 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing III | 1 |
| MUS 236 | Individual Instruction in Jazz | 2 |
| MUS 262 | Class Jazz Piano | 1 |
| | Jazz Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | or | |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Major Elective | 2 |
| | Instrumentalists take the following: | |
| MUS 223 | Jazz Improvisation I | 2 |
| | Vocalists take the following: | |
| | University-Wide Elective | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
| ANT 245 | Introduction to EthnomusicologyLAB3LAIS | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 215 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUS 216 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV | 1 |
| MUS 236 | Individual Instruction in Jazz | 2 |
| | Jazz Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | or | |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Major Elective | 2 |
| | Instrumentalists take the following: | |
| MUS 328 | Jazz Improvisation II | 2 |
| | Vocalists take the following: | |
| MUS 327 | Analysis of Jazz Styles | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Year 3 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 344 | History of Jazz | 2 |
| MUS 436 | Individual Instruction in Jazz | 2 |
| | Jazz Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 2 |
| | Instrumentalists take the following: | |
| MUS 346 | Arranging | 2 |
| | Vocalists take the following: | |
| MUS 223 | Jazz Improvisation I | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 436 | Individual Instruction in Jazz | 2 |
| MUS 443 | Topics in Jazz History | 2 |
| | Jazz Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 4 |
| | Instrumentalists take the following: | |
| MUS 327 | Analysis of Jazz Styles | 2 |
| MUS 347 | Advanced Arranging | 2 |
| | Vocalists take the following: | |
| MUS 328 | Jazz Improvisation II | 2 |
| MUS 460 | Survey of the Music Business | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Year 4 – 29 credits
Fall Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 436 | Individual Instruction in Jazz | 2 |
| MUS 441 | Standard Latin and Jazz Repertoire | 1 |
| | Jazz Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 2 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | Instrumentalists take the following: | |
| MUS 342 | Jazz Rhythm Section Workshop | 1 |
| | or | |
| MUS 460 | Survey of the Music Business | 2 |
| | Vocalists take the following: | |
| MUS 346 | Arranging | 2 |
| | Major Elective | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Jazz Ensemble: Take MUS 421/MUS 425 (Instrumentalists/Vocalists)
Pianists, guitarists, bassists, and drummers: Take MUS 342; Woodwind and brass: Take MUS elective
Spring Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 436 | Individual Instruction in Jazz | 2 |
| | Jazz Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | Instrumentalists take the following: | |
| | University-Wide Elective | 2 |
| | Vocalists take the following: | |
| MUS 347 | Advanced Arranging | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Advising Notes –
- This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete your bachelor’s degree in 4 years. You will meet with the School of Music Retention Coordinator and your faculty advisor every semester to track your progress.