This degree program provides students with the language, reasoning, and writing skills necessary to pursue a career in jazz.

Degree Benefits:

  • Competitive pay ($50,000* is median salary for Broadcast and Sound Engineering Technicians)
  • Great job outlook (21% for Broadcast and Sound Engineering Technicians)*

Career Options Include:

  • Artist Management
  • Arts Administrator
  • Band Director
  • Composer
  • Digital Aggregator

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Broadcast and Sound Engineering Technicians, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/broadcast-and-sound-engineering-technicians.htm (visited March 24, 2022).

Find an online bachelor's or master's degree:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The time required for online completion of a degree and on-campus in Music in Jazz Studies should be about equal at most schools for most students. The standard for a four-year degree is eight semesters whether online or on-campus. Some online schools appeal to students by offering accelerated course curricula. Accelerated curricula condenses the requirements into fewer courses to speed up graduation. Many students can accelerate graduation by attending online, but this requires a much heavier than usual credit-load. Most colleges and universities require 120 credit hours to graduate with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies.


Online attendance can avoid scheduling bottlenecks. Students may find on-campus classes unavailable, and that can cause additional semesters of attendance. Online classes in the summer months can help online and/or traditional students accelerate graduation. Online students can take a full course load of 15 semester hours when they have time and resources available. The lower typical costs of semester hours online, as opposed to on-campus rates, can help students take more courses.

Before choosing a major there are some important facts you should know about.


When you know that you want to major in Music in Jazz Studies, you should find out if the colleges and universities you're most interested in carry this major. You should check the academic catalogs of each university to verify which ones do carry a Music in Jazz Studies major and verify with your state's department of education that the colleges you're considering offer the appropriate Music in Jazz Studies education program you need for your field.


If a university you're considering doesn't carry Music in Jazz Studies major, then it's time to cross that school off your list. Keep checking the other schools. For those that do have a Music in Jazz Studies major, begin looking over their programs so you get a better idea which university interests you the most.

Courses required to obtain a bachelor's degree in Music in Jazz Studies consist of general core courses that Freshman and Sophomores take and Junior and Senior level courses focus more on the major concentration classes. Associate degrees, on the other hand, normally prepare grads for entry-level with the basic skills and expertise required in a field. Affiliate's levels can likewise allow students to finish general education and learning demands with a two-year program, then later transfer right into a four-year program. There are two major titles of bachelor's levels: BA (Bachelor of Arts) and BS (Bachelor of Science). There are bachelor's degree programs in a wide range of majors, consisting of STEM subjects, social sciences, arts, and all kinds of specific subjects. You can find some sample major concentration courses that you may be required to take below:

  • Beginner Classical Guitar With German Cova
  • Trumpet Lessons for Beginners
  • The Musicarta Pentatonics Workbook
  • Approaching Music Theory: Melodic Forms and Simple Harmony
  • Developing Your Musicianship
  • Art of the Mooc: Experiments With Sound
  • Cultural and Creative Industries
  • Western Music in the 20th Century
  • The Place of Music in 21st Century Education

The graduation rate is an important piece of information. It measures the performance of the entire student body, and it is a good predictor of the experience each applicant can expect. Time is money when it comes to an education in Music in Jazz Studies. The longer time for completion means more tuition and fee payments. Each year in addition to the expected four years, adds about 25% to the total costs of a Music in Jazz Studies degree. The longer it takes to graduate also means the less time a student is in the workforce earning an income from their Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies investment.


National statistics measure on-time degree completion using four-year and six-year marks. Private schools across the US and for all majors have a range of 53% on-time graduation and 65.6% within six years. In these schools, students can expect to finish on time if they attend full time and within six years with some part-time attendance. Public schools show a 35% on-time rate at four years and 59% at the six-year mark. Students at these schools must plan carefully to ensure that they can complete the requirements for on-time graduation.

Depending on your school and if you are paying in-state or out-of-state tuition, a Music in Jazz Studies bachelor's degree can cost as little as $30,000 or as much as $300,000. The key difference in the price will depend on whether you attend a public, in-state school or a private school. Note that if you attend a public school in another state that you will probably pay twice (or more) of the base tuition. Private schools can be more or less expensive depending on the prestige of the school for Music in Jazz Studies or if they are charging additional fees for out-of-state students to attend the college.

Many colleges offer career services and job placement programs to help you get on the fast track to employment. Although you may assume that all Music in Jazz Studies colleges offer this service, some don't provide as much assistance as you are led to believe. The best programs for post-graduate assistance include help with job placement both before graduation and continued support as you advance in your career. These programs can also assist you in preparing your resume so it maintains a competitive edge on the job market, work with you as you prepare for job interviews, and advise you on your job performance.