Master of Arts (M.A.) in Worship Studies – Ethnomusicology
Learn to Create Culturally Diverse Christian Songs with Liberty’s Master of Arts in Worship Studies
If you are passionate about understanding the music and culture around you and using it to reach other cultures with the Gospel, then Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Worship Studies – Ethnomusicology may be for you! You can help reach communities with the Gospel through cultural musical expressions, guide worship mission teams, or provide training to those preparing for music ministries in other cultures by earning your ethnomusicology degree.
Along with the skills to reach across cultural boundaries, our students gain top-tier skills in the music industry. Many of our graduates have gone on to become award-winning Christian artists and songwriters after graduating from our program. Thanks to our incredible faculty, all of whom have advanced degrees and years of experience in the field, our residential School of Music graduate students have seen consistent success.
Pursue Your Degree with Confidence
- Our music degrees are accredited by NASM, the National Association of Schools of Music.
- We are a designated “All Steinway” school.
- Our 141,000-square-foot Center for Music and Worship Arts has been voted “Best of the Best in Higher Education” 6 years in a row by Worship Leader Magazine.
What Will You Learn?
- Expertise in industry-leading technology and audio/video recording practices
- Music in worship, discipleship, and evangelism
- The process of creating and distributing indigenous Christian songs
- The roles and relationships of the worship leader with an emphasis placed on the relationship between the worship leader and the pastor
- The traditions, belief systems, and practices of world cultures as approached through the comparative study and analysis of the music cultures of contrasting ethnic groups
Career Opportunities for Worship Studies Graduates
- Choir director
- Director of international worship ministries
- Minister of music
- Missionary
- Professor
- Program director for contemporary worship
Faculty and Facilities Available to Worship Studies Students
- You will have access to 45 full-time faculty who hold degrees from Liberty University and other prestigious music schools in the nation.
- We are grateful to serve students with cutting-edge acoustic capabilities in our facility.
- Ensemble and recital courses provide our music students with hands-on conducting experience.
- Our students have produced albums that have been nominated for awards. Liberty alumni have gone on to become Dove-award winning Christian artists and songwriters.
- We offer a $2.2 million recording studio and Liberty Music Group (LMG) publishing company for our students to use.
Admission Requirements for Our Graduate Degree Programs
A 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Self-certification form (for students who are in the final term of their bachelor’s degree)
- Current Liberty undergraduate students seeking preliminary acceptance into a graduate program must complete a degree completion application through their ASIST account
- Completion of an earned baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in one of the following areas: bachelor’s degree in music, music education, or music and worship
Credit Hours

Available On Campus
Class Type
Residential
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
Aug 18, 2025
Accreditation
NASM