The Global Jazz Studies major is a designated capstone major. The capstone project, usually done in the senior year, is tailored to each student and includes a seminar class (course 186A) and a capstone presentation such as a recital, lecture-demonstration, or lecture-recital (186B). The capstone experience provides an appropriate vehicle for the faculty to assess the students’ accomplishments during their tenure in the program.

Musicianship and Theory (24 units)

Capstone Seminar and Project (4 units)

Select one course (at least 4 units) from:

Global Jazz Studies

African American Studies

Music Industry

Complete Global Jazz Studies 101, 125 and one course (at least 4 units) from each subject area listed, for a total of 20 units.

Scholarly Foundations (20 units)

Complete 12 units from Global Jazz Studies 171A through 171I:

Studio Coursework

Small Jazz Combo

Complete 8 units of large jazz ensemble from Global Jazz Studies 176A through 176G:

Large Jazz Ensemble

Students must enroll in a studio class and at least one combo or ensemble each quarter.

Performance (24 units)

The Major

Complete 4 units from one or both of the following courses:

Music and Dance of Ghana and African American Music Ensemble

Complete both of the following courses (10 units):

African American Musical Heritage

Complete the following three courses (6 units):

Musicianship

Musical Cultures of the World

World Music Performance Organizations

World Music Specializations

World Music Specializations and Performance Organizations

Complete 12 units from the following. Students must enroll in a studio each quarter.

Jazz Performance

Preparation for the Major

Requirements

All entering first years are required to take the Music Theory Assessment Examination either during New Student Sessions or during zero week of fall quarter. The examination score is used to determine eligibility and placement in first-year music core courses (Music 3, M6A, M6B, M6C). Examination results may require enrollment in Music 3 as a requisite to course M6A. Entering transfer students with fewer than 15 units of prior music theory must take the Music Theory Assessment Examination.
Each course must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Each course must be taken for a letter grade and be completed with a grade of C or better. Students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better. No more than eight units from upper-division tutorials (195-199) may be applied toward the degree.

Transfer applicants to the Global Jazz Studies major with 90 or more units must complete as many of the following introductory courses as possible prior to admission to UCLA: one to two years of jazz studio instruction (equivalent to Global Jazz Studies 71A through 71I) and one year of musicianship (equivalent to Ethnomusicology M6A, M6B, M6C).
Refer to the <a href="https://admission.ucla.edu/apply/transfer">UCLA transfer admission guide</a> for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Applicants are reviewed individually, based on a questionnaire, grade-point average, test scores, a personal statement of purpose, and an on-campus audition. Applicants who are unable to travel to UCLA have the option of submitting a video audition in place of the on-campus audition.

Herb Alpert School of Music

Demonstrated basic proficiency in areas of programming, recording, and/or post-production

Interrogation of the concerns of jazz as a comprehensive practice, including its capacity to transform the musical, political, and socioeconomic world it engages

Demonstrated advanced skill and understanding in improvisation, musical structure and instrumentation, composition, arranging, timbre, and expression

Advanced-level performance of multiple jazz styles across historical periods and contemporary jazz performance practices

Demonstrated proficiency in styles representative of Africa, the African diaspora, and at least one other world musical culture

Demonstrated interdisciplinary knowledge of global jazz as text and method

General Catalog

Global Jazz Studies BA