MA in Ethnomusicology | Global Engagement

Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | March 23, 2026 | May 18, 2026

Make Deep Cross-Cultural Connections Through Music with a Master’s in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement

Music is at the heart of almost every culture in the world. As an ethnomusicologist, you can gain a deeper understanding of cultures across the globe. If this sounds interesting to you, Liberty University’s Master of Arts (MA) in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement online degree might be what you are looking for. This unique degree takes the musical skills of ethnomusicology and combines them with the intercultural communication skills studied in global studies for a career-oriented degree that can help prepare you for global engagement.

In addition to providing a strong foundation in scholarship and research, non-Western music theory, and the application of resources to the field, this degree can help you learn how to communicate with people who hold diverse global worldviews. Ethnomusicology is a perfect degree that matches the ability to communicate cross-culturally, and you can learn from global engagement.

Gaining a basic understanding of the music of another culture can be vital to establishing trust and a relationship with its people. This program can equip musicians like you to pursue music careers in cross-cultural environments, education, and research, which is an essential part of what global studies is all about. Liberty University’s online ethnomusicology global engagement degree is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and offered 100% online – giving you the flexibility to further your education without putting your life on hold.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts (MA) in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement.

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Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

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Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s Degree in Ethnomusicology and Global Engagement Online?

Our master’s in ethnomusicology and global engagement online degree program is taught by trained musicians, ethnomusicologists, and global engagement experts with real-world experience in various cultural settings. Our professors have worked in locations around the world – studying a broad range of music while teaching and engaging with other cultures.

If there is a particular area of music that fascinates you, then this program will provide the vehicle you need to study it. From the music of Eastern Europe to the sounds of China and more, you will have the opportunity to collect material related to your interest. This global studies and ethnomusicology online degree provides the training you need to reach other cultures and experience a cross-cultural exchange that is made possible through music.

Our master’s in ethnomusicology program is offered completely online. This allows you to remain active in your job, with your family, and in your community without the worry of having to take courses on campus – all while you are being equipped to make a difference in the world!

What Will You Study in Our Master’s in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement Online Degree?

Every person on earth is like a piece of music – no 2 people are the same. We designed our ethnomusicology master’s degree to take that into account and to be as unique as you are. You can personalize your study and choose the course that best meets your professional or personal goals. Additionally, our faculty have taught and worked in locations across the globe. They will help guide you as you gain foundational knowledge in ethnic music theory, anthropology, organology, and transcription.

One unique aspect of this online global studies degree specialization is the chance you have to combine cross-cultural communication using stories and other forms of engagement with the power of music. You can develop your skills in oral communication and learn how to use stories to bring communities together. You will also be able to choose from a wide range of seminars in world music from the cultures of your choosing. Some examples of the seminars available include Native American, Middle Eastern, Indian, Eastern European, Indonesian, and more.

Your studies will culminate in a thesis or capstone project that will integrate knowledge you have gained through this program with practical research in the field of ethnomusicology. Our faculty’s vast years of experience and leadership in this field can help guide you on this fascinating journey as you finalize your studies. Join Liberty as you learn how to reach other cultures at the heart of who they are.

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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 Information for the MA in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement

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 in music or a related field with at least a 3.0 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.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
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?
Departmental approval is required for admission.
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.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

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.

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

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 Master’s in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement

What are the benefits of earning our Master’s in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement online?

Be a part of one of the largest and fastest-growing music schools in the nation
Compose music in the style of the people you serve
Develop skills in communicating through oral storytelling
Engage with cultures across the globe
Establish records for music history and promote knowledge of world music
Gain a well-rounded education emphasizing research, performance, and application
Pursue opportunities to work in settings and cultures throughout the world

How is this program accredited?

How fast can you complete this degree?

Will I still be able to meet fellow classmates?

What resources are available to online students?

Liberty offers access to Online Database Resources: As one of the world’s leaders in online education programs, Liberty University has the technological capacity and resources to provide for the unique needs required in the ethnomusicology program. This includes library database subscriptions to Groves, Smithsonian Global Sound, Garland Encyclopedia, Oxford Handbooks, and JSTOR, to name a few.

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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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MA in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement Learn About Music Across the World

Make Deep Cross-Cultural Connections Through Music with a Master’s in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s Degree in Ethnomusicology and Global Engagement Online?

What Will You Study in Our Master’s in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement Online Degree?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for the MA in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Frequently Asked Questions for Our Online Master’s in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement

What are the benefits of earning our Master’s in Ethnomusicology – Global Engagement online?

How is this program accredited?

How fast can you complete this degree?

Will I still be able to meet fellow classmates?

What resources are available to online students?

Are you ready to change your future?

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