Office of the Registrar

Music: Jazz - Bachelor of Music 2025-26 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps & Advising

Degree maps show just one possible course plan for how to earn a degree in four years. To graduate in four years, you need an average of 45 credits per year to reach 180 total credits, including 62 upper division (300/400 level courses) credits. You may need to take electives (courses that are not used to meet specific requirements) to reach those totals. Most courses at PSU are 4 credits each. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

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Bulletin or Catalog Year

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2025-26 Bulletin. Bulletin or Catalog year defines the specific set of requirements you need to complete a degree. Requirements occasionally change, so it may benefit you to follow a different catalog. Typically, your catalog year is the year you began at PSU, but if you are a transfer student you may be able to use an earlier catalog. Review PSU's course catalog policy and talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you. 

 

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DARS System  

Students are highly encouraged to run their own Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) report in myPSU to track their progress through their program. You'll need to know which catalog year you'd like to use for your audit request. Students are also encouraged to contact an advisor if they have any questions about their DARS, catalog/bulletin year, or degree requirements in general. DARS audits are advising tools and are not an official record of earning a degree, major, minor, or certificate. You must apply to have a degree or certificate awarded.

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First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
First Year Inquiry or Honors5First Year Inquiry or Honors5First Year Inquiry or Honors5
MUS 1113MUS 1123MUS 1133
MUS 1141MUS 1151MUS 1161
MUP 1902MUP 1902MUP 1902
MUS 198 or 1941MUS 198 or 1941MUS 198 or 1941
MUS Elective or MUS 1912MUS Elective or MUS 1922MUS Elective or MUS 1932
MUS 1880MUS 1880MUS 1880
MUS 0460  Music Elective1
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits15

First Year Milestone: Pass MUS 046 (Piano Proficiency) in Fall, or enroll in MUS 191-193; Complete MUS 111-MUS 116, and 6 credits of MUP 190(by end of Spring term).

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
MUS 2113MUS 2123MUS 2133
MUS 214 (Jazz section)1MUS 215 (Jazz section)1MUS 216 (Jazz section)1
MUP 2902MUP 2902MUP 2902
MUS 291 (Jazz section)2MUS 292 (Jazz section)2MUS 293 (Jazz section)2
MUS 198 or 1941MUS 198 or 1941MUS 198 or 1941
MUS 2712MUS 2722MUS 2732
MUS 2051MUS 1880MUS 2432
MUS 1880  MUS 1880
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits15Total Spring Credits16-17

Second Year Milestone: Complete MUS 211-MUS 216, and 6 credits of MUP 290 (by end of Spring term).

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
MUS 3981MUS 3981MUS 3981
MUP 3902MUP 3902MUP 3902
MUS 3941MUS 3941MUS 3941
MUS 4242MUS 4252MUS 4262
MUS 1880MUS 1880MUS 1880
MUS 3202MUS 3554MUS 3072
Music History Course4Music Elective1Music History Course2
    MUS 0480
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits15Total Spring Credits14

Third Year Milestone: Complete MUS 048, at least 6 credits of MUS 304-306, MUS 307, and 6 credits of MUP 390 (by end of Spring term).

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4World Music Elective4
MUS 3981MUS 3981MUS 3981
MUS 3941MUS 3941MUS 3944
MUP 4902MUP 4902MUP 4902
MUS 4712MUS 4722MUS 4732
MUS 4702MUS 4822General Elective4
General Elective1MUS Elective2MUS 0490
Total Fall Credits15Total Winter Credits13-14Total Spring Credits14

Fourth Year Milestone: Complete MUS 049, and 6 credits of MUP 490.

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Music Elective or MUS 191, Music Elective or MUS 192, Music Elective or MUS 193, and MUS 046: Students must pass piano proficiency (MUS 046) or take MUS 191, 192, 193. If student is already proficient on piano and passes test prior to taking MUS 191, 192 & 193, take 6 credits of music elective instead.
  • MUS 198 or 194: Students must complete 3 credits of each MUS 198 and MUS 194. These courses can be taken any quarter they are offered.
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement: Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: one course must focus on the U.S. experience; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States. One must be within the School of Gender, Race and Nations or be cross-listed with one of the SGRN units: Black Studies (BST), Chicanx/Latinx Studies (CHLA), Indigenous Nations Studies (NAS), or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WS). If you choose a RESR course that can be applied towards another requirement, take an elective here instead.
  • Music History Course: Music History and World Music electives may be swapped depending on courses. Students can choose 6-8 credits from MUS 304 (fall terms), 305 (winter terms), and 306 (spring terms).
  • World Music Elective: Music History and World Music electives my be swapped depending on courses. Choose from MUS 374U, 375U, 377U or 378.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Music: Jazz

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