Music & Worship (M.A.) - Worship Music Studies

Music & Worship (M.A.) - Worship Music Studies

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.

Program Courses
Foundational Studies Courses
MUSC 524Analytical Techniques3
WRSP 510Biblical Foundations of Worship3
WRSP 650Bibliography & Research in Music & Worship3
Worship Studies Courses
WRSP 501Principles of Worship and Ministry3
WRSP 502A History of Worship Music3
WRSP 520The Role of the Worship Leader3
WRSP 540Current Issues in Worship3
Research Studies Courses
WMUS 692Graduate Music and Worship Comprehensive Exam0
WRSP 689Master's Thesis Proposal and Research 13
Research Studies Elective 2,30
Total Hours24
1

Any student who needs to enroll in WRSP 689 more than three times must seek School of Music Administration approval.

2

Choose one of the following courses: WMUS 6873 or WRSP 6903

3

Any student who will not be able to complete and defend his/her thesis, ministry project, or lecture recital in the course of a single semester may be required to repeat WRSP 689 each semester until deemed ready for enrollment in WMUS 687 or WRSP 690.

Worship Music Studies Cognate
ETHM 511Introduction to Ethnomusicology3
or MUSC 620 Music in America
WMUS 610Planning and Leading Modern Worship3
WRSP 635Building a Theology of Worship3
Worship Music Studies Elective 13
Worship Music Studies Elective 13
1

Choose one of the following courses: WMUS 515, WMUS 525, WMUS 526, WMUS 550, WMUS 600, WMUS 630, WMUS 637, or WMUS 638.

All Applicable prerequisites must be met

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete 39 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
  • Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date

Program Offered in Resident & Online Format

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterHours
WRSP 501 Principles of Worship and Ministry 3
WRSP 510 Biblical Foundations of Worship 3
 Hours6
Second Semester
WRSP 502 A History of Worship Music 3
WRSP 520 The Role of the Worship Leader 3
WRSP 650 Bibliography & Research in Music & Worship 3
 Hours9
Second Year
Third Semester
ETHM 511
Introduction to Ethnomusicology
or Music in America
3
MUSC 524 Analytical Techniques 3
 Hours6
Fourth Semester
WRSP 635 Building a Theology of Worship 3
Worship Music Studies Elective 1 3
 Hours6
Third Year
Fifth Semester
WMUS 610 Planning and Leading Modern Worship 3
Worship Music Studies Elective 1 3
 Hours6
Sixth Semester
WMUS 692 Graduate Music and Worship Comprehensive Exam 0
WRSP 540 Current Issues in Worship 3
WRSP 689 Master's Thesis Proposal and Research 3
Research Studies Elective 2 0
 Hours6
 Total Hours39
1

Choose one of the following courses: WMUS 515, WMUS 525, WMUS 526, WMUS 550, WMUS 600, WMUS 630, WMUS 637, or WMUS 638.

2

Choose one of the following courses: WMUS 687 or WRSP 690

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