Bachelor of Music: Jazz Studies
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- 1) Apply skills learned toward all areas of jazz performance, theory, and improvisation.
- 2) Create original arrangements (2 per year) that demonstrate a maturing creative "voice."
- 3) Create original compositions (2 per year) that demonstrate increasing growth and vision.
- 4) Apply learned skills toward entrepreneurship and career development.
- 5) Apply skills applicable to jazz pedagogy
- 6) Analyze jazz in historical, cultural, and stylistic contexts.
Program Requirements
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Mathematics For Liberal Arts | ||
| Statistical Reasoning | ||
| Precalculus Algebra | ||
| Precalculus | ||
Any 200-level MATH or STAT course | ||
ACT Math Sub-score of 28 or higher; or SAT Math Sub-score of 660 or higher | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH; Satisfied in program requirements below) | ||
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CONSVTY 151 (MUSE; satisfies GECRT-AH course requirement) | 3 | |
| Jazz Theory and Ear Training | ||
| CONSVTY 311 | Jazz Theory | 2 |
| CONSVTY 318 | Jazz Ear Training and Listening | 2 |
| Jazz Keyboard | ||
| CONSVTY 440 | Jazz Keyboard Techniques I | 1 |
| CONSVTY 441 | Jazz Keyboard Techniques II | 1 |
| Applied Lessons and Studio 1 | ||
| Instrument 101J (Freshman Instrument I-Jazz) | 3 | |
| Instrument 102J (Freshman Instrument II-Jazz) | 3 | |
| Instrument 201J (Sophomore Instrument I-Jazz) | 3 | |
| Instrument 202J (Sophomore Instrument II-Jazz) | 3 | |
| Instrument 301J (Junior Instrument I-Jazz) | 4 | |
| Instrument 302J (Junior Instrument II-Jazz) | 4 | |
| Instrument 401J (Senior Instrument I-Jazz) | 4 | |
| Instrument 402J (Senior Instrument II-Jazz) | 4 | |
| Jazz History | ||
| CONSVTY 353A | History And Development Of Jazz I | 3 |
| CONSVTY 353B | History and Development of Jazz II | 3 |
| Big Band and Combo 2 | ||
| CONSVTY 303E | Jazz Workshop | 8 |
| CONSVTY 303B | Jazz Band | 8 |
| or CONSVTY 303G | Jazz Orchestra | |
| or CONSVTY 303J | Large Ensemble Rhythm Section Workshop | |
| Improv | ||
| CONSVTY 104 | Jazz Improvisation I | 2 |
| CONSVTY 204 | Jazz Improvisation II | 2 |
| CONSVTY 304 | Jazz Improvisation III | 2 |
| CONSVTY 404 | Jazz Improvisation IV | 2 |
| Jazz Arranging, Business, and Pedagogy | ||
| CONSVTY 423 | Business Jazz And Commercial Music | 3 |
| CONSVTY 202 | Basic Techniques of Audio Recording I | 3 |
| CONSVTY 471 | Jazz/Commercial Music Pedagogy | 2 |
| CONSVTY 426B | Jazz Arranging for Small Ensembles | 2 |
| CONSVTY 426D | Jazz Arranging for Big Bands | 2 |
| General Musicianship | ||
| CONSVTY 110 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 |
| CONSVTY 123 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
| CONSVTY 141 | Musicianship I | 4 |
| CONSVTY 142 | Musicianship II | 4 |
| Total Credits | 89 | |
| 1 | Instrument: GUITAR, PERCUSSION, PIANO, SAXOPHONE, STRING BASS, TROMBONE, or TRUMPET |
| 2 | Students must register for a large jazz ensemble and small jazz combo every semester enrolled for a total of 16 credits. |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Electives | 1 | |
Grade Minimum: C or better in all CONSVTY and instrument specific coursework.
GPA Minimum: 2.0
Total Credit Hours: 120
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).
