All undergraduate Jazz Studies (Voice) majors and concentrations must pass the Upper Divisional Exam (UDE) before advancing to the 3000 level of voice study. The UDE is in the format of an end-of-semester jury which takes place during finals week no later than the fourth semester of study. Transfer students may be assessed in an earlier semester at the discretion of their teachers, but not earlier than the fourth semester of study overall and not later than their fourth semester at UNT.

1. The purpose of the UDE is to determine whether the student is progressing through their curriculum with sufficient progress such that they will be prepared to perform a recital and earn their Bachelor's degree after 4 additional semesters of study. This is determined through examining the evidence of the student's total progress as they've passed through the following benchmarks:
   • Private study at the 1500 level
   • Vocal Jazz Techniques class (minimum of 1 semester)
   • Jazz Improvisation class (two semesters, including one attempt at the ICE at the conclusion of Improv II)
2. The purpose of the UDE will be to determine a student's grasp of the most basic concepts of jazz singing and an ability to express themselves artistically within that style. As such, we will assess two specific song performances, in addition to the other elements listed above:
   1. A medium swing standard tune, sung between mm. 120 – 140 bpm. Within that performance, we expect to hear a demonstration of the following: swing time feel, melodic accuracy, lyric delivery with expressiveness and phrasing, accurate intonation, as well as creativity during repeated sections of the melody, command of vocal technique, solid tone, and an ability to improvise new melodic material based on the chord changes of the song. There will be one chorus of wordless improvisation (scatting).
   2. A standard jazz ballad, sung between 50 – 60 bpm. We expect to hear a demonstration of the elements listed above, minus the swing feel and wordless vocal improvisation, and adding an appropriate command of ballad phrasing.
3. After the semester juries are completed, the student will either be notified of their UDE assessment with two possible results:
   1. "Pass", signifying that the student is eligible to register for 3500 level lessons at the start of the following semester, and will study with one of the full-time or adjunct professors, rather than a TF.
   2. "Fail", meaning that the student will be asked to meet for a conference with Professors Barnes and Eckert to discuss their options and the possibility of not continuing their progress forward in the Jazz Studies-Voice degree curriculum.
4. Students who do not pass the UDE assessment on the first attempt MAY be permitted to remain in the 1500 level of lessons for an additional semester, then be assessed again, at the discretion of Professors Barnes and Eckert. Students who do not pass the UDE assessment on second attempt will be advised out of the Jazz Studies major.