McGill.CA / Music / Programs / Bachelor of Music / Jazz; B.Mus. (Major)

Yearly Program Study Plan; B.Mus. Jazz

Use this 4-year guide to plan your studies and graduate from your Bachelor of Music (Jazz) program on time.

If you're a transfer student or a CEGEP graduate, you may be able to complete the program in 3 years instead of 4.

Which courses to take each year

This is a basic 4-year plan for students from high school with no advanced standing.

Program audit

You will receive a summary of exemption credits from placement exams, transfer credits, Advanced Placements (AP), etc, before you begin your first semester at the Schulich School of Music. You can access this information via a Program Audit (PA) customized for you. Visit the PA web page to learn more about how you can view your personalized program plan.

Meet with your academic advisor to review your program plan at least once a year.

Course load

You should normally register for 15-18 credits per term.

  • Full-time course load: 12 credits or more
  • Part-time course load: 11 credits or less

Practical instruction and practical exams

  • You must complete 3 practical exams (MUIN 282, 382 and 482) during your program. In some cases, you might take your exams at different times than what we suggest in our sample 4-year plan.
  • Determine when to apply for these exams with your practical instruction teacher.
  • For practical instruction registration details, visit Registration. 

Sample year 1 course plan (with no course exemptions)

  • You have the option to take placement exams in jazz materials, jazz ear training or jazz keyboard proficiency before school starts. Depending on the basis of admission and the placement test results, you may be exempt from jazz music history (MUJZ 187), jazz materials (MUJZ 160 & 161), jazz ear-training (MUSP 123 & 124) or jazz keyboard proficiency (MUJZ 170 & 171). To learn more about the course exemption criteria, see Placement Exams. 
  • If you choose not to write the placement tests, you will register for courses as presented in this sample first year course plan.
  • If you are exempt from MUJZ 187, you may consider taking an elective in the first semester.
  • You must be proficient in English for all courses, especially Music History. Non-anglophone students should defer MUJZ 187 until their second year and register for an English as Second Language (ESL) course in year 1. ESL courses can be accepted as non-music electives. Contact the Writing Centre for information on ESL course registration.

Fall term

MUJZ 160 Jazz Materials 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 123 Jazz Ear Training 1 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUJZ 170 Jazz Keyboard Proficiency 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUPD 135 Music as a Profession 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 180 BMus Practical Lessons 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo [MUEN 5xx]

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

MUJZ 187 Jazz History Survey 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Winter term

MUJZ 161 Jazz Materials 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 124 Jazz Ear Training 2 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUJZ 171 Jazz Keyboard Proficiency 2 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 181 BMus Practical Lessons 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo [MUEN 5xx]

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

One non-music elective (preferably a course to develop critical thinking and writing skills, such as psychology, philosophy, history, etc. before taking MUHL 286 in your 2nd or 3rd year)

Year 2 course plan

If you want to add a minor or second major to your program, apply in year 2.

Fall term

MUJZ 223 Jazz Improv/Musicianship 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(for instrumental majors) OR
MUJZ 225 Jazz Vocal Improvisation 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(for vocal majors)

MUJZ 260 Jazz Arranging 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUHL 286 Critical Thinking About Music 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 280 BMus Practical Lessons 3 2.5 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo [MUEN 5xx]

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

One free elective

Winter term

MUJZ 224 Jazz Improv/Musicianship 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(for instrumental majors)  OR
MUJZ 226 Jazz Vocal Improvisation 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(for vocal majors)

MUJZ 261 Jazz Arranging 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 281 BMus Practical Lessons 4 2.5 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo [MUEN 5xx]

MUIN 282 BMus Performance Exam 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

One non-music elective

Year 3 course plan

Fall term

MUJZ 340 Jazz Composition 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUJZ 423 Jazz Improv/Musicianship 3 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(for instrumental majors) OR
MUJZ 325 Jazz Vocal Improvisation 3 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(for vocal majors)

MUIN 380 BMus Practical Lessons 5 2.5 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo [MUEN 5xx]

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

One non-music elective

One free elective

Winter term

MUJZ 341 Jazz Composition 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUJZ 424 Jazz Improv/Musicianship 4 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(for instrumental majors) OR
MUJZ 326 Jazz Vocal Improvisation 4 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(for vocal majors)

MUJZ 493 Jazz Performance Practice 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUPD 235 Music as a Profession 2 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 381 BMus Practical Lessons 6 2.5 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo [MUEN 5xx]

MUIN 382 BMus Performance Exam 2 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

Year 4 course plan

Fall term

MUIN 480 BMus Practical Lessons 7 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo [MUEN 5xx]

MUJZ 440 Advanced Jazz Composition 1 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

or
MUJZ 461D1 Advanced Jazz Arranging 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

Two free electives

Winter term

MUIN 481 BMus Practical Lessons 8 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo [MUEN 5xx]

MUIN 482 BMus Performance Exam 3 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUJZ 441 Advanced Jazz Composition 2 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

or
MUJZ 461D2 Advanced Jazz Arranging 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

Two free electives

Back to top