Music: Jazz Studies (Minor)
Minor: Jazz Studies
Program Code: M213
About This Minor. . .
The Jazz Studies Music Minor provides the opportunity for students to obtain a comprehensive set of fundamental skills in the jazz area, including large-ensemble performance, small-group performance, improvisation, composition and arranging, history and literature, and private instruction. Music majors who add this minor will broaden their skill set and marketability beyond the classical music area, and non-music majors may add this minor as a secondary area of study. Entrance to the Jazz Studies Music Minor requires an audition and prior jazz experience.
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Minor Requirements
The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU minors. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- A minor consists of 15-24 semester hours. There may be prerequisites required for the minor which will increase the total number of credit hours for a student who has not already taken those prerequisites.
- Courses taken to satisfy Essential Learning, major requirements, or electives can be counted toward the minor if applicable.
- At least 33 percent of the credit hours required for the minor must be in courses numbered 300 or above.
- At least 25 percent of the classes must be taken at CMU.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher for the courses used for the minor.
- A minor is not a degree by itself and must be earned at the same time as a baccalaureate degree.
- A minor must be outside the major field of study.
- A student may earn up to five minors with any baccalaureate degree at CMU.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements sheet you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Program Specific Minor Requirements
(18 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSA 267 | Jazz History and Literature-GTAH1 | 3 |
| or MUSA 266 | History of Popular Music-GTAH1 | |
| MUSA 268 | Beginning Jazz Improvisation | 1 |
| Select 2 semester hours of any Music Elective (MUSA, MUSL or MUSP) | 2 | |
| Six semester hours selected from Applied Jazz Lessons: 1 | ||
| MUSL 139 | Jazz/Commercial | 1 |
| MUSL 139 | Jazz/Commercial | 1 |
| MUSL 239 | Jazz/Commercial | 1 |
| MUSL 239 | Jazz/Commercial | 1 |
| MUSL 339 | Jazz/Commercial | 1 |
| MUSL 339 | Jazz/Commercial | 1 |
| Six semester hours of Commercial Ensemble or Jazz Ensemble; 4 semester hours of which must be Upper Division (300-400 level): | 6 | |
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Commercial Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Commercial Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Commercial Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Commercial Ensemble | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 18 | |
- 1
One semester of jazz lessons must be taken on jazz piano, and a second semester must be taken on jazz composition/arranging or jazz piano. All other semesters are taken on the student’s primary jazz instrument or voice.
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a minor. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and developing a suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for her/his intended minor.
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a minor. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head for the minor. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
A minor cannot be awarded by itself. It must be combined with a baccalaureate degree outside the major field of study. Students should follow the graduation process outlined for the baccalaureate degree and list their majors and minors on the “Intent to Graduate” form.
If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be her/his responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.