Department of Music
College of Liberal Arts
The Department of Music is committed to providing high quality educational opportunities in music education, performance, and technology, enabling students to develop the skills required to assume leadership roles in music education, the music industry, and supporting fields. The Department of Music offers courses and performance opportunities which broaden the musical education in the liberal arts tradition and provide artistic enrichment for students, faculty, the community, state and nation.
Programs of Study
The Jackson State University Department of Music offers students the opportunity to study with gifted, nationally and internationally recognized faculty while pursuing their undergraduate or graduate music degrees.
The Department of Music offers the following degree:
- Bachelor of Music in Music Education
- Bachelor of Music in Music Technology
- Bachelor of Music in Performance
- Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies
- Master of Music Education
Undergraduate
Undergraduate students may choose to pursue a Bachelor of Music Degree in a specialized area. Students choosing a career path in the Bachelor of Music Degree may specialize in one of the areas of emphasis: music education, music performance, jazz studies, or music technology.
Graduate
Note: due to the interruptions in testing opportunities caused by COVID-19, the requirement for GRE test scores for admission to graduate degrees in Music Education, has been temporarily suspended.
Master of Music Education students can pursue emphases in Elementary School, Secondary School (Choral, Instrumental, General), Junior College (Choral, Instrumental, and General and Comprehensive (Combined Integrated Areas of Study). These emphases in music education are designed for students who wish to pursue advanced study in preparation for university teaching, research, and other leadership roles in music education.
Elementary School Music Education • Secondary School Music Education (choral, instrumental, general) • Junior College Music Education (choral, instrumental, general) • Comprehensive Music Education (combined, integrated areas of study)
For more information regarding the Master of Music degree in music education, click here.
Immunization Requirements (URGENT):
https://www.jsums.edu/healthservices/immunization-requirements/
All students admitted to Jackson State University are required to submit proof of having received two immunization shots for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) in order to complete registration for classes.
If an applicant has already been admitted and plans to attend the University as a first-time student (undergraduate, graduate, or transfer), he/she must submit a copy of the required immunization record to the University Health Center prior to registration for courses.
Students who have been admitted but do not submit the required immunization verification will be unable to complete registration for classes in the school’s computer enrollment system. Please see further immunization information at the link provided.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
More About Us
This unit is home to over 20 music ensembles that master and perform Western classical, jazz, gospel, and world music genres throughout the Southern region. These include numerous brass ensembles, vocal and instrumental jazz combos, an orchestra, opera workshop, choirs, symphonic bands, and an African music and dance ensemble. The program has produced internationally renowned performers, music educators, and music producers who have matriculated through our National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) accredited programs in Music Education (both graduate and undergraduate), Music Performance, Music Technology, and Jazz Studies.
LEARN BY DOING
The department is home to chapters of international music service and professional Greek letter organizations Tau Beta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Phi Mu Alpha. Faculty in the area are acclaimed and published composers, authors, performers, and grantees from numerous internal and external funders. Graduates of the department of music are consistently accepted into top graduate programs, performance ensembles, and work professionally in the fields of performance, music education, music technology, and theory/composition. The music department is home to one of the oldest Jazz emphasis programs at an HBCU in the nation.
“Challenging Minds, Changing Lives.”
APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE
We have one of the only African music and dance programs at an HBCU and we are the only music department at an HBCU in the state of Mississippi that has a fully functional orchestra and string ensemble, as well as an accredited music technology program with a state of the art recording studio and music technology lab. Additionally, in the state of Mississippi, we are the only HBCU music department with an opera/musical theater workshop. The Jackson State University Department of Music prepares the 21st Century musician to continue their educational endeavors or enter the competitive field of professional music!
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Music majors have a plethora of career options:
| Audio engineer | Film developer | Music attorney | Acoustic consultant |
| Executive producer | Video game designer | Music therapist | Concert promoter |
RESOURCES
Programs of Study
Orff-Schulwerk Music Institute
Useful Links
READY TO JOIN?
For more information, please contact us at (601) 979-2141. We look forward to meeting with you and seeing how our program can help you achieve your goals.
DEPARTMENT OF
