Master of Arts in Worship Ministries (MAWM)

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MAWM

Overview

Training Musician-Theologians for the Church

The Master’s of Arts in Worship Ministries degree (MAWM) prepares students for leadership in the specialized area of worship ministry in the local church.

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Available: Residential

60

Credit hours

21

Classes

2-3

Years to complete

$310

Per credit hour

Next start date

Aug 18th

Master of Arts in Worship Ministries

At a Glance

Discover Midwestern’s Master’s of Arts in worship ministries degree.

Five

Core classes devoted to Worship Ministries.

Four

Devoted practicum courses for musical growth.

50%

Tuition scholarship for SBC church members.

The Midwestern MAWM

Explore the MA in Worship Ministries program at Midwestern, including curriculum, concentrations, and FAQs.

Foundational Core Courses (30 Hours)

The Master of Arts in Worship Ministries includes Midwestern’s foundational core courses:

  • 2210 Old Testament Survey I
  • 2211 Old Testament Survey II
  • 2310 New Testament Survey I
  • 2311 New Testament Survey II
  • 2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics
  • 3200 Theology I
  • 3201 Theology II
  • 3232 Survey of Historical Theology
  • 3400 Christian Ethics
  • 5006 Biblical Spirituality

Worship Ministries Core (15 Hours)

  • 9100 Biblical Foundations of Worship
  • 9205 Survey of Christian Worship & Congregational Song
  • 9401 Worship Ministry Administration
  • 9403 Corporate Worship Leadership
  • 9421 Worship Technology

Worship Ministries Practicum (9 Hours)

  • 9103 Preparing Vocalists for Worship
  • 9104 Preparing Instrumentalists for Worship
  • 9565 Integrative Worship Ministry Experience

Applied Music Lessons (3 Hours).

  • Choose major lesson area from voice, guitar, or piano (3 consecutive semesters at one (1) credit hr per semester)

Music Ensemble Participation (3 Hours)

  • 9582 North Oak Band* 2 hrs
  • 9583 Voices of Midwestern** 1 hr

*Audition only/both vocalists and instrumentalists

**No audition necessary: all welcome to enroll

Total Hours (60 hrs)

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Apply Online

Start your application for Midwestern Seminary’s MAWM online.

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Submit Materials

As a part of your application, we require official college transcripts, a pastoral recommendation, and a church endorsement to review your application for acceptance.

Get Accepted

Once we receive your completed application, we’ll review your application for acceptance. Typically, it will take less than 1–2 days to notify you of a decision.

Enroll in classes

Once you are accepted, the next step is to enroll in classes. We have new classes starting every 4-8 weeks and are eager to help you pursue your calling.

While the foundational core classes are available fully online or on campus, some music courses are only offered on campus. There may be approved distance learning options available, however, so please reach out to ask!

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An undergraduate degree in music certainly helps! It is not, however, required as a prerequisite for admission to the MAWM program.

You will still need to show proficiency in fundamental musical skills assessed by competency tests upon entering the program.

The MA in Worship Ministries is designed to equip you with all the practical skills you need to lead a worship ministry at a local church. If you are interested in pursuing further pastoral training, we highly recommend the MDiv in Worship Ministry as well!

Program Outcomes

Students graduating with a Master of Arts in Worship Ministries will be able to do following:

  1. Demonstrate appropriate competencies in music theory, history, and literature.
  2. Demonstrate a high level of applied musical skill and performance discipline.
  3. Demonstrate administrative and leadership skill that is appropriate to worship and church music ministry.
  4. Integrate a Christian lifestyle with professional musical development.
  5. Demonstrate a balanced approach to the use of traditional and contemporary music styles.

Distinctive Resources

MA students have access to community life that provides informal educational experiences, religious fellowship, and opportunity for reflection upon the meaning of faith in its relation to education for ministry.

Most courses for the degree are provided in an approved distance education program that provides access to appropriate resources of faculty, library, and a community of learners pursuing similar programs of study. However, some music courses are only offered on campus. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is approved for Comprehensive Distance Education and students are engaged in a community of learning online whereby faculty and students have opportunities for regular and substantive interaction.

Life at MBTS

I love Midwestern's heart for the Church. As a pastor, this program has only deepened my love for the Lord and His Church. I can't say enough about the way the faculty and campus community have shaped my calling to serve the Church.

Eric B.

Master of Arts in Worship Ministries

This Degree in Ministry

Dig a deep well in preparation for a lifetime of faithful ministry in the church or overseas, and be equipped to bring glory to God through…

  • Beholding Christ and His Word
  • Leading worship ministries
  • Discipleship training
  • Serving the local church

This Degree in Future Studies

Study to serve the Church with future preparation in mind. All credits from the MA in Worship Ministries will apply toward the MDiv, Worship Ministries.

  • MDiv, Worship Ministries
  • DMin, Worship Leadership
  • DEdMin, Worship Ministries

Featured Faculty

For the Church is a natural filter for everything we do. Any Christian can train to be a musician, but our call is to prepare those who desire to serve the local church with their musicianship, and it's why we unapologetically train music-theologians for the Church.

Dr. Matthew Swain

Assistant Dean of Worship Ministries, Associate Professor of Worship Ministries, Wayne and Berna Dean Lee Endowed Chair of Church Music and Worship Ministries