Music Education (D.M.E.)
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 Courses | ||
| MUSC 801 | Historical Developments Influencing Music Education | 3 |
| MUSC 835 | Philosophies of Music Education | 3 |
| WRSP 810 | Biblical Foundations of Christian Worship | 3 |
| Advanced Music Education Studies Courses | ||
| MUSC 820 | The Music Educator | 3 |
| MUSC 840 | Current Issues in Music Education | 3 |
| MUSC 845 | The Role of the College Music Teacher | 3 |
| MUSC 846 | Role Music Educ Administrator | 3 |
| MUSC 851 | Community, Culture and Relationship in Music Education | 3 |
| Research Preparation Courses | ||
| MUSC 806 | Literature Review for Doctoral Thesis | 3 |
| MUSC 880 | Introduction to Thesis Writing | 3 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Doctor of Music Education Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
| Doctor of Music Education Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
| Research Studies Courses | ||
| MUSC 888 | Thesis Proposal Research I | 4 |
| MUSC 889 | Thesis Proposal & Research II 3 | 5 |
| MUSC 890 | Thesis Defense 3 | 0 |
| MUSC 892 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
- 1
Choose one of the courses listed in the Elective Course Options table below.
- 2
Other Masters and Doctoral level courses which support the purpose of the Doctor of Music Education may be approved on a case by case basis by the School of Music Chair or School of Music Dean
- 3
Any student who is not ready for enrollment in MUSC 890 after completing MUSC 889 may be required, as determined by the student's thesis chair, to repeat MUSC 889 until deemed ready for enrollment in MUSC 890
Doctor of Music Education Elective Course Options*
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ethnomusicology | ||
| ETHM 500 | Ethnic Music Theory | 3 |
| ETHM 511 | Introduction to Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| ETHM 512 | Field of Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| ETHM 514 | Organology | 3 |
| ETHM 521 | Skills and Techniques of Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| ETHM 530 | Worship and Culture | 3 |
| ETHM 531 | Resources and Materials in Ethnomusicology | 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 611 | Arts in Global Engagement | 3 |
| ETHM 613 | Applied Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| ETHM 650 | Research Methods in Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| Music | ||
| MUSC 510 | Foundations of Music Education | 3 |
| MUSC 515 | Graduate Conducting | 3 |
| MUSC 524 | Analytical Techniques | 3 |
| MUSC 525 | Advanced Contemporary Arranging Techniques | 3 |
| MUSC 531 | Bibliography and Research in Music Education | 3 |
| MUSC 550 | Applied Music | 3 |
| MUSC 620 | Music in America | 3 |
| MUSC 630 | Principles of Music Technology | 3 |
| MUSC 640 | History and Philosophy of Music Education | 3 |
| MUSC 650 | Research in Music Education | 3 |
| MUSC 670 | Principles of Curricula and Pedagogy for Music Education | 3 |
| MUSC 697 | Seminar in Music | 1-3 |
| MUSC 807 | Literature Review for Music Education | 3 |
| MUSC 843 | The Music Educator as Advocate | 3 |
| MUSC 850 | Applied Music | 3 |
| MUSC 870 | Curriculum Development | 3 |
| MUSC 897 | Seminar in Music | 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 501 | Principles of Worship and Ministry | 3 |
| WRSP 502 | A History of Worship Music | 3 |
| WRSP 510 | Biblical Foundations of Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 520 | The Role of the Worship Leader | 3 |
| WRSP 530 | Principles of Leadership for the Worship Leader | 3 |
| WRSP 540 | Current Issues in Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 545 | Global Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 551 | Building a Balanced Worship Ministry | 3 |
| WRSP 631 | Spiritual Formation for Leading African American Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 632 | Emerging Issues in African American Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 635 | Building a Theology of Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 641 | Team Building in African American Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 645 | The Role of the Pastor with the Worship Leader | 3 |
| WRSP 650 | Bibliography & Research in Music & Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 671 | God's People and the History of African American Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 801 | Historical Developments of Christian Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 812 | Cultural Contextualization in Christian Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 820 | History and Practice of Congregational Song | 3 |
| WRSP 835 | Theology of Christian Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 840 | Current Trends and Transitions in Christian Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 845 | Philosophy of Music and Christian Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 846 | Spiritual Formation, Worship, and the Church | 3 |
| WRSP 851 | Planning and Leading Christian Worship | 3 |
| WRSP 997 | Advanced Seminar in Worship Studies | 3 |
| Education | ||
| EDUC 701 | Advanced Learning Theory and Research | 3 |
| EDUC 703 | Theories of Historical and Social Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDUC 758 | Teaching the College Student | 3 |
| EDUC 771 | Curriculum Theory | 3 |
| EDUC 840 | Issues and Trends in Educational Leadership | 3 |
*Other Masters and Doctoral level courses which support the purpose of the Doctor of Music Education may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the School of Music Chair or School of Music Dean.
All Applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- Complete 45 hours
- A maximum of 50% of a post-graduate and doctoral degree 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 7 years
- 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 | |
| MUSC 801 | Historical Developments Influencing Music Education | 3 |
| MUSC 835 | Philosophies of Music Education | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MUSC 820 | The Music Educator | 3 |
| MUSC 880 | Introduction to Thesis Writing | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| MUSC 806 | Literature Review for Doctoral Thesis | 3 |
| MUSC 840 | Current Issues in Music Education | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fourth Semester | ||
| Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
| MUSC 845 | The Role of the College Music Teacher | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| MUSC 846 | The Role of the Music Education Administrator | 3 |
| MUSC 851 | Community, Culture and Relationship in Music Education | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| WRSP 810 | Biblical Foundations of Christian Worship | 3 |
| Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Seventh Semester | ||
| MUSC 888 | Thesis Proposal Research I | 4 |
| MUSC 892 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| MUSC 889 | Thesis Proposal & Research II 3 | 5 |
| MUSC 890 | Thesis Defense 3 | 0 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
- 1
Choose one of the following courses: See Table below for Elective options2.
- 2
Other Masters and Doctoral level courses which support the purpose of the Doctor of Music Education may be approved on a case by case basis by the School of Music Chair or School of Music Dean.
- 3
Any student who is not ready for enrollment in MUSC 890 after completing MUSC 889 may be required, as determined by the student's thesis chair, to repeat MUSC 889 until deemed ready for enrollment in MUSC 890.