Graduate Certificate in Music in World Cultures

Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the certificate total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Minister Across the Globe with a World Music Certificate Program

Do you love learning about other cultures? Do you have a passion for music and a desire to explore what makes different countries and ethnic groups unique? If so, conferring Liberty’s 100% online Graduate Certificate in Music in World Cultures – Ethnomusicology may be right for you! Throughout this program, you can explore how culture and music influence each other in nations around the world.

As multicultural issues continue to emerge worldwide, ethnomusicology has become an essential field of study in music education, music performance, and cross-cultural service. Whether you are a musician, missionary, or ministry professional, our certificate program can help you prepare to better connect with people across cultural and geographical borders. Liberty’s online music certificate courses seek to provide strong foundational knowledge in non-Western music theory, scholarship, and research, and applications of resources to the field.

Maybe you want to enhance your own music, bolster your ministry effectiveness, or pursue new job opportunities. No matter what your goals are, we’re committed to helping you lead with skill and integrity in your field – wherever God is calling you.

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600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Online Graduate Certificate in Music Studies in World Cultures?

Liberty has been a pioneer in distance education since 1985. We’re committed to offering online programs that meet your needs as a student and as a professional. Our music certificate courses are available 100% online, so you’ll have the freedom to complete your classes from the comfort of your home. You can also stay invested in the things that matter most – like your family, job, and community – while pursuing your academic goals.

A certificate is an excellent alternative to a full-length degree program because it allows you to develop new skills while saving time and money. And, if you later want to further your education, you can transfer earned credits from this certificate into our online Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies.

At Liberty, our mission is to Train Champions for Christ. We seek to equip qualified professionals with the knowledge, values, and skills essential for impacting the world. Our faculty are experts in their field and firmly rooted in a Christian worldview. They can help you learn how to approach concepts in ethnomusicology from a biblical perspective. That way, you can use your passion and abilities to help further the Gospel and spread God’s love, no matter where your career takes you.

What Will You Study in Liberty University’s Ethnomusicology Online Courses?

Our online world music certificate program focuses on the comparative study of musical traditions in various world cultures. With this knowledge, you can prepare to engage with music in global contexts and work in cross-cultural environments.

You can also focus your studies by analyzing ethnic music from a particular region, such as India, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, or Eastern Europe. Alternatively, you could take a course on organology and study musical instruments from around the world, or you could dive into applied ethnomusicology and explore practical techniques for strengthening your ministry or music career.

Our world is becoming increasingly globalized, so it’s vital that you understand how to connect with people from different backgrounds. Engaging with people across cultural and ethnic boundaries is also a vital part of carrying out the Great Commission. By studying ethnomusicology, you can learn more about the world around you and prepare to address practical challenges that arise in your career.

Potential Career Opportunities

Our ethnomusicology certificate can help you prepare for several career paths. Depending on your current knowledge, education level, and experience, there are many different positions that could benefit from our accredited certificate:

Archivist
Ethnomusicologist
Intercultural music outreach worker
Missionary
Music anthropology researcher

The research, music theory, and global engagement skills that you gain from our certificate in music in world cultures can be an asset in many other aspects of the music and global service world as you pursue positions of added responsibility. Additionally, the credits from this certificate may transfer directly into the master’s in interdisciplinary studies. Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals with an ethnomusicology certificate from Liberty University.

Additional education or training may be required for some jobs or occupations. Conferral of a certificate does not guarantee job placement.

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Graduate Full Time	$580/Credit
Graduate Part Time	$645/Credit
Military Graduate	$290/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Requirements for Our Online Certificate in Ethnomusicology Program

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.25 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
Admission to this program requires
- Submission of contact information for a recommender (login required).
- A Statement of Purpose: In at least 500 words, please explain your purpose for pursuing this degree. Consider the following questions in your response:
  - What do you hope to do with this degree after graduation?
  - What do you hope to learn through this process?
  - How is this degree going to help you in your ministry and vocation?
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

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Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Frequently Asked Questions for Our Online Ethnomusicology Certificate

What is ethnomusicology?

Ethnomusicology is the study of how culture impacts the artistic expression of music, typically with regard to an individual geographical region, ethnic group, or religious culture. Understanding ethnomusicology may help you conduct effective ministry efforts, teach music in other countries, or enrich your own music career as you draw on aspects of another culture’s musical traditions.

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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Graduate Certificate in Music in World Cultures Explore International Cultures and Music

Minister Across the Globe with a World Music Certificate Program

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Why Choose Liberty’s Online Graduate Certificate in Music Studies in World Cultures?

What Will You Study in Liberty University’s Ethnomusicology Online Courses?

Potential Career Opportunities

Required Courses

Certificate Information

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Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Requirements for Our Online Certificate in Ethnomusicology Program

Admission Requirements

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Official College Transcript Policy

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Frequently Asked Questions for Our Online Ethnomusicology Certificate

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