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University of Montana Catalog 2025-2026

Music B.A. - Instrumental Jazz Studies

General Degree Requirements

To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information. 

Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page

Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.

Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.

Bachelor of Arts - Music; Instrumental Jazz Studies Concentration

  • This major has a minimum cumulative institutional GPA requirement of 2.75. 
  • Students must complete 51 Credits of non-music (MUSI, MUSE, MUST) courses.

Course Requirements

First Year Seminar
Complete the following course:
MUSI 194Seminar1
Applied
Complete all of the following courses:
MUSI 195Applied Study I2
MUSI 295Applied Study II2
Music Theory
Complete all of the following courses:
MUSI 105Music Theory I2
MUSI 106Music Theory II2
MUSI 205Music Theory III2
Aural Perception
Complete all of the following courses:
MUSI 140Aural Perception I2
MUSI 141Aural Perception II2
MUSI 240Aural Perception III2
Keyboard Skills
MUSI 135AKeyboard Skills I1
MUSI 136AKeyboard Skills II1
Assessment
Complete the following assessment, which is required to advance to upper-division study:
MUSI 296Upper-Division Required Performance0
Literature, Form, Analysis
Complete the following course:
MUSI 130LHistory of Jazz3
Ensembles Requirement
Students must enroll in a minimum of one qualifying ensemble each semester while registered as a full-time student, resulting in at least 8 semesters of ensemble participation to satisfy degree requirements. Qualifying ensembles are determined by a student’s auditioned principal instrument in consultation with their faculty mentor and academic advisor.
Lower-Division
Complete 4 credits from the following courses: 4
Orchestra: UMSO
Choir
Band: UM Concert Band
Chamber Ensembles I
Upper-Division
Complete 4 credits of the following course: 4
Jazz Ensembles: Big Bands
History and Culture
Complete the following course:
MUSI 302HMusic History II3
Writing in the Disciplines Requirement
Complete one of the following courses: 3
Music 20th Century to Present
Topics in Music History
Cultural Studies in Music
Jazz Core Requirements
Complete all of the following courses:
MUSI 162AChamber Ensembles I2
MUSI 360Jazz Theory & Improvisation I (equivalent to 225)2
MUSI 362Chamber Ensemble III: UM (Jazz)1
MUSI 395Applied Study III (Jazz)2
MUSI 420Jazz Pedagogy3
MUSI 460Jazz Theory & Improvisation II2
MUSI 470Jazz Arranging & Composition3
Concert Attendance
All students majoring in Music are required to attend a minimum of 100 approved recitals/concerts prior to graduation. Upon completion of this requirement, students should register for the following course, which is typically taken in their final semester before graduation.
MUSI 388Concert Attendance UM0
Capstone
Complete the following course:
MUSI 499Senior Recital/Capstone Project1
Total Hours52