Bachelor's Degrees
The University of Oklahoma offers two bachelor's degrees that allow students to pursue a jazz emphasis (Bachelor of Musical Arts and Bachelor of Arts in Music, described below).
Students can also participate in the jazz program while pursuing other music major degrees. You can also pursue the Instrumental Jazz Minor while pursuing a degree outside of the School of Music.
Bachelor of Musical Arts
The BMA is a music performance degree that also allows the student to take approximately 30 credit hours in a secondary emphasis. Students in this degree program present one recital and participate in ensembles for a minimum of three years. The secondary emphasis allows students to pursue additional studies either within the School of Music or in other departments and colleges at the University of Oklahoma.
Students who choose a secondary emphasis for the BMA degree from within the School of Music have four options: music technology, jazz emphasis, and academic emphasis.
Students who pursue an emphasis outside of the School of Music have a wide array of options when it comes to fulfilling their secondary emphasis requirements. Many choose to pursue a minor in another area of study. At last count, OU has over one hundred available minor degree options.
The BMA program is an excellent degree program for students interested in going into professional programs such as medical school, dental school, physician’s assistant programs, or law school. Students typically use the secondary emphasis to fulfill pre-health or pre-law coursework.
Degree Checksheets and More Information
BMA Supplemental Areas of Emphasis within the School of Music
Bachelor of Arts in Music
The BA in Music is a liberal arts degree with an emphasis in music. Students in this program complete a majority of their music courses within two years of study at OU. This degree requires over 40 hours of coursework to be taken outside the School of Music. Students in this program often seek double majors or double degrees.
The Bachelor of Arts in Music is an excellent degree program for students interested in going into professional programs such as medical school, physician’s assistant programs, law school, etc.
Students who pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Music can choose a general concentration in music or an instrumental jazz concentration.
Degree Checksheets and More Information
Registration and Audition
To be accepted into any degree program, students must first be accepted into the University of Oklahoma. You will also need to audition with the School of Music to be accepted into the degree program. See the page below for more details and registration.
Contact / Questions
Jay Wilkinson
Coordinator of Jazz Studies
jazzprof@ou.edu
