Master of Arts in Music & Worship (M.A.)
Purpose
The Master of Arts in Music and Worship is a graduate vocational degree that equips and trains skilled musicians as worship pastors. The end goal is to develop the student’s knowledge and expertise to excel in a variety of music and worship contexts within the evangelical community.
Program Learning Outcomes
The student will be able to:
- Create a worship strategy based on biblical, theological, and philosophical foundations of worship.
- Synthesize principles of critical contextualization for application to current issues confronting worship leaders in the evangelical tradition.
- Evaluate literature and research of the discipline for application to the professional practices of worship leaders in the evangelical tradition.
Commercial Music Performance Concentration (Resident Students Only)
- The student will be able to play an instrument or sing at an advanced skill level in commercial music styles.
Conducting Concentration (Resident Students Only)
- The student will be able to lead a music ensemble using effective rehearsal strategies and advanced conducting competency.
Worship Music Studies Concentration (Resident & Online Students)
- The student will be able to lead worship using appropriate musical techniques and skills.
Program Specific Admission Requirements
In addition to the general admission procedures, applicants to the Master of Arts in Music and Worship program must meet the following requirements:
- Completion of an earned baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education e.g., SACSCOC, TRACS, ABHE, etc.) in one of the following areas: B.A./ B.S. in Music Education; Bachelor of Music Education; Bachelor of Music; B.A./ B.S. in Worship Studies; B.A./ B.S. in Music and Worship; or equivalent in music, music education, or music and worship.
- An undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale). Applicants who do not meet this requirement may be considered for enrollment in the program on a cautionary basis. The cautionary range will begin at a GPA of 2.5 through 2.99.
- TOEFL Scores for students who speak English as a second language (score of 600 paper –based test; 250 computer-based test, 80 internet-based test).
Transfer Credit
Transfer students will be required to submit transcripts for evaluation as per the normal process established by the University. Students may transfer a maximum of 21 hours of coursework from an accredited institution. In order to be eligible for transfer, course work must have a minimum grade of B-, and must have been completed within the past 10 years. Credits from a degree on the same academic level previously earned through Liberty University are considered transfer credits.
The following courses are not eligible for transfer credit: WMUS 525 Advanced Contemporary Arranging Techniques for Worship (3 c.h.), WRSP 689 Master's Thesis Proposal and Research (3 c.h.) and WRSP 690 Thesis (3 c.h.).