COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Music (BM) in Performance with a Jazz Studies emphasis at Wichita State University requires a minimum of 120 credit hours and is designed to prepare students for professional careers as jazz performers, educators, arrangers, and musicians. In addition to completing the university’s general education requirements and College of Fine Arts requirements, students undertake an intensive curriculum focused on performance excellence, jazz theory, improvisation, and professional development. The program includes 30 credit hours of applied music study, featuring both classical and jazz instruction, advanced private lessons, jazz piano training, and class piano coursework to ensure strong technical and musical foundations. Students also complete a comprehensive music core that develops musicianship, aural skills, listening abilities, music literacy, and professional skills essential for success in the music industry. Musicology electives provide broader cultural and historical perspectives through studies in aesthetics, global music traditions, identity in music, popular music, and Western musical history. Theory and composition electives allow students to explore advanced analytical and creative concepts such as music composition, music technology, counterpoint, form and analysis, media music, and performance studies. The specialized jazz curriculum forms the heart of the degree and includes courses in jazz improvisation, jazz music theory, jazz aural skills, jazz pedagogy, jazz arranging, and the history of jazz. These courses help students develop artistic creativity, stylistic understanding, teaching abilities, and advanced improvisational skills while gaining a deeper appreciation of jazz as both a historical and contemporary art form. Ensemble participation is a major component of the program, providing extensive performance experience through jazz groups and other musical ensembles. Students are also required to attend recitals regularly and complete both junior and senior recitals, demonstrating their growth as performers and their readiness for professional work. Open electives offer flexibility to explore additional areas of interest and complete degree requirements. Through rigorous training, faculty mentorship, performance opportunities, and Wichita State’s strong commitment to applied learning, graduates develop the technical expertise, stage experience, and professional skills needed for careers in performance, recording, arranging, music education, arts administration, and other areas of the music industry, while also being well prepared for advanced graduate study in jazz and related musical disciplines.