Ethnomusicology (M.A.)
Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2025 through summer 2026. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| Foundational Studies in Ethnomusicology Courses | ||
| ETHM 512 | Field of Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| ETHM 521 | Skills and Techniques of Ethnomusicology 1 | 3 |
| ETHM 530 | Worship and Culture | 3 |
| ETHM 531 | Resources and Materials in Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| ETHM 560 | Ethnic Music Performance | 0 |
| ETHM 560 | Ethnic Music Performance | 0 |
| ETHM 611 | Arts in Global Engagement | 3 |
| ETHM 650 | Research Methods in Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| ETHM 683 | Foreign Language Proficiency | 0 |
| ETHM 688 | Field Experience in Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| ETHM 689 | Master's Thesis/Project Proposal and Research 2,3 | 3 |
| ETHM 690 | Master's Thesis/Project Defense 2 | 0 |
| ETHM 692 | Graduate Ethnomusicology Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Regional Seminar | ||
| Choose from one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Seminar in Ethnic Music | ||
| Seminar in Ethnic Music: India | ||
| Seminar in Ethnic Music: Native America | ||
| Seminar in Ethnic Music: Africa | ||
| Seminar in Ethnic Music: Latin America | ||
| Seminar in Ethnic Music: Middle East | ||
| Seminar in Ethnic Music: China | ||
| Seminar in Ethnic Music: Southeast Asia | ||
| Seminar in Ethnic Music: Indonesia | ||
| Seminar in Ethnic Music: Eastern Europe | ||
| MA in Ethnomusicology Elective Courses | ||
| Elective 4,5 | 3 | |
| Elective 4,5 | 3 | |
| Elective 4,5 | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
ETHM 411, ETHM 511, or MUSC 314 are prerequisites for ETHM 521.
- 2
Any student who is not ready for enrollment in ETHM 690 after completing ETHM 689 may be required, as determined by the student's thesis/project chair, to repeat ETHM 689 until deemed ready for enrollment in ETHM 690.
- 3
Any student who needs to enroll in ETHM 689 more than three times needs the approval of School of Music administration.
- 4
Choose one of the following courses listed in the table below.
- 5
Other Master's level courses which support the purpose of the MA in Ethnomusicology may be approved on a case by case basis by the School of Music Online Chair or School of Music Online Dean.
Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology Elective Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ethnomusicology | ||
| ETHM 500 | Ethnic Music Theory | 3 |
| ETHM 514 | Organology | 3 |
| ETHM 515 | Music, Orality and Storytelling | 3 |
| ETHM 540 | Seminar in Ethnic Music | 3 |
| ETHM 541 | Seminar in Ethnic Music: India | 3 |
| ETHM 542 | Seminar in Ethnic Music: Native America | 3 |
| ETHM 543 | Seminar in Ethnic Music: Africa | 3 |
| ETHM 544 | Seminar in Ethnic Music: Latin America | 3 |
| ETHM 545 | Seminar in Ethnic Music: Middle East | 3 |
| ETHM 546 | Seminar in Ethnic Music: China | 3 |
| ETHM 547 | Seminar in Ethnic Music: Southeast Asia | 3 |
| ETHM 548 | Seminar in Ethnic Music: Indonesia | 3 |
| ETHM 549 | Seminar in Ethnic Music: Eastern Europe | 3 |
| ETHM 600 | Transcription and Analysis of Non-Western Music | 3 |
| ETHM 613 | Applied Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| Music | ||
| MUSC 550 | Applied Music | 3 |
| MUSC 620 | Music in America | 3 |
| MUSC 630 | Principles of Music Technology | 3 |
| MUSC 670 | Principles of Curricula and Pedagogy for Music Education | 3 |
| Worship Music | ||
| WMUS 515 | Graduate Conducting for the Worship Leader | 3 |
| WMUS 524 | Analytical Techniques for the Worship Leader | 3 |
| WMUS 525 | Advanced Contemporary Arranging Techniques for Worship | 3 |
| WMUS 550 | Applied Music | 3 |
| WMUS 600 | Music Resources and Literature for Worship Leading | 3 |
| WMUS 610 | Planning and Leading Modern Worship | 3 |
| WMUS 630 | Principles of Worship Technology | 3 |
| WMUS 670 | Principles of Music and Worship Pedagogy | 3 |
| Worship Studies | ||
| WRSP 631 | Spiritual Formation for Leading African American Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 632 | Emerging Issues in African American Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 641 | Team Building in African American Worship | 3 |
| Education | ||
| EDUC 542 | Culturally Responsive Teaching | 3 |
| Global Engagement | ||
| GICE 525 | Survey of Islamic Theology and Practice | 3 |
| GICE 600 | Anthropology and Ethnography | 3 |
| GICE 650 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| GICE 655 | Orality and The Power of Story | 3 |
| GICE 675 | Contextualization and Global Thought | 3 |
All Applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- Complete 36 hours
- A maximum of 50% of the program hours may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
- 3.0 GPA
- No more than two grades of C may be applied to the degree (includes grades of C+ & C-)
- No grade of D or below may be applied to the degree (includes grades of D+ & D-)
- Degree must be completed within 5 years
- Foreign Language Reading Requirement
- Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date
Program Offered in Online Format
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| ETHM 512 | Field of Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| ETHM 530 | Worship and Culture | 3 |
| ETHM 531 | Resources and Materials in Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ETHM 521 | Skills and Techniques of Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| ETHM 560 | Ethnic Music Performance | 0 |
| ETHM 650 | Research Methods in Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| Regional Seminar 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| ETHM 560 | Ethnic Music Performance | 0 |
| ETHM 611 | Arts in Global Engagement | 3 |
| ETHM 683 | Foreign Language Proficiency | 0 |
| ETHM 688 | Field Experience in Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| Elective 2,3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fourth Semester | ||
| ETHM 690 | Master's Thesis/Project Defense | 0 |
| ETHM 689 | Master's Thesis/Project Proposal and Research | 3 |
| ETHM 692 | Graduate Ethnomusicology Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Elective 2,3 | 3 | |
| Elective 2,3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Choose one course from the following: ETHM 540, ETHM 541, ETHM 542, ETHM 543, ETHM 544, ETHM 545, ETHM 546, ETHM 547, ETHM 548 or ETHM 549. Courses rotate on a 2-year basis. Contact advising for upcoming course offerings.
- 2
Choose one course from the MA in Ethnomusicology Elective Courses section.
- 3
Other Masters level courses which support the purpose of the MA in Ethnomusicology may be approved on a case by case basis by the School of Music Online Chair or School of Music Online Dean.