Jazz Studies DA
- Doctoral
- In-Person
- Greeley
Program Overview
Whether you want to take your performing career to soaring heights or plan to teach at the college level, our highly flexible Doctor of Arts in Jazz Studies will help you excel creatively and professionally.
You’ll study with a diverse group of internationally accomplished faculty and musicians and collaborate with talented classmates across disciplines. Throughout your program, you’ll develop deep expertise in jazz performance, composition, pedagogy or history, and find many chances to perform, arrange, compose and record.
The Jazz Studies D.A. is different from a D.M.A. degree because it trains students to be both top-level performers and college teachers. Students take classes in their main area of jazz study and also choose a secondary area to broaden their skills and improve their job prospects. This wide training helps graduates become well-rounded musicians who are ready for both teaching and performing careers.
With a Doctor of Arts in Jazz Studies, you’ll be prepared to:
- Perform, compose and arrange professionally
- Pursue original scholarship, research and academic publishing
- Lead a community arts organization or nonprofit
- Teach music at the college level
The D.A. in Jazz Studies requires a primary and secondary area. Your specific degree requirements will vary based on your chosen path, but here’s a typical breakdown:
- Primary Area – 18 credits
- Secondary Area – 8-10 credits
- Research Core – 16 credits
- Additional Required Courses – 3-9 credits
- Dissertation – 16 credits
- Electives – 4-7 credits
Jazz Studies D.A. candidates must take the following Placement Exams:
- Music theory
- Aural skills
Students who do not pass these exams must complete additional prerequisite courses.
An audition and interview are required for all Jazz Studies DA applicants. Applicants for Jazz Guitar and Drumset, and applicants for Jazz Composition, have additional supplemental requirements — see the Jazz Studies Audition Requirements page for details.
Your Doctoral Journey
This is where you define yourself as an artist-scholar. UNC’s Doctorate in Jazz Studies gives you the freedom to design a program as unique as your vision—focus on your area of jazz performance, composition, pedagogy or history while deepening your expertise in a secondary area that enriches your artistry. Your doctoral journey is yours to shape.
You’ll work closely with distinguished faculty to craft a plan of study that reflects your artistic voice and career aspirations. This isn’t about fitting into a predetermined mold—it’s about discovering and expressing the full power of your musicianship.
UNC’s jazz program has earned a national reputation, producing performers, composers and educators who go on to lead college jazz programs and perform professionally around the world. Doctoral students train alongside our award-winning jazz ensembles and work closely with faculty who are active performers, composers and recording artists.
Sample courses:
- Advanced Jazz Theory
- Advanced Jazz Improvisation
- Seminar in Jazz History
- Jazz Pedagogy
- Advanced Arranging
Why Choose UNC for Music?
Performances Annually
UNC's music scene is powerful and thriving. You'll perform alongside accomplished faculty, internationally recognized guest artists and talented students at every level—all in state-of-the-art venues right on campus.
All-Steinway School
You'll play on more than 90 Steinway & Sons pianos throughout our classrooms, practice rooms and performance spaces. UNC was the first public Colorado university and one of only a few schools in the region to earn the prestigious All-Steinway School designation—and we maintain that standard of excellence because you deserve the best instruments for your education.
Graduate Assistantship Positions
Your graduate education shouldn't come with overwhelming debt. UNC offers competitive funding opportunities — including assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships. doctorate without sacrificing your financial future.
Music Audition Requirements
Want to see audition requirements for a certain area? Use the buttons below to see audition requirements for the instrument or area of your choice. Or go back to the School of Music home page.
Brass Collaborative Piano Conducting Jazz Studies Music Composition Music Education Music History & Literature Music Theory Percussion Piano Strings Voice Woodwinds
Have Questions? We're Here to Help!
- PVA@unco.edu
- (970) 351-2993
- Frasier Hall