It is the goal of the  programme offered by Roosevelt University to produce graduates who are improvisers and creators of the highest caliber, and who are ready to compete professionally or continue their studies at an advanced level.

The program's objectives are to:

• Help each student realize her or his unique voice as a performer and as an arranger/composer.

• Develop students' historical and practical understanding of the musical language of jazz idioms and the evolution of jazz styles.

• Develop musicianship skills and performing ability so that students are able to conceive and execute musical ideas in a variety of performing situations.

• Foster habits and ideals of social justice consistent with Roosevelt University's mission and the "democratic" aspects of jazz itself.

The jazz combo sequence is designed so that each group is devoted to a particular style emphasis. Assignments rotate each semester so that over the course of the degree, students will acquire a foundation in the most crucial styles of jazz and learn important repertory and composers associated with each, through the experience of creating stylistically-faithful improvisations.