Bachelor of Music - Worship Arts

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For students who are interested in pursuing a career that will allow them to use their musical gifts and talents in ministry, CCU offers the Bachelor of Music - Worship Arts degree. This degree combines elements of Biblical principles of leadership and music production and engineering with a true music degree program, so that students are philosophically, practically, and spiritually equipped for effective leadership and administration of a music/worship ministry within the Body of Christ. The Worship Arts degree also offers excellent preparation for graduate school or seminary.

The Worship Arts program focuses on the development and practice of worship throughout history and of the contemporary church. While not promoting a particular style of worship, it equips students to be knowledgeable and capable in most forms of Protestant worship. Particular attention is paid to working with all instruments including voices, along with a distinct performance and internship requirement.

The Bachelor of Music - Worship Arts requires completion of the following 128 credits:
General Education Core (45 credit hours)
Music Core (38 credit hours)
Worship Arts Core (38 credit hours)
Electives Core (7 credit hours)

General Education Requirements (45 credit hours)

Arts and Humanities (9 credit hours)

Take one course from each of the following three academic disciplines:

Fine Arts (3 credit hours)

MUS 110 - Musical Perspectives (3) (Required)

Literature (3 credit hours)

Choose one course from the following:

Philosophy (3 credit hours)

PHL 202 - Introduction to Philosophy (3)

Biblical Studies (12 credit hours)

Take the following four courses (some courses are cross-listed and only one prefix needs to be taken):

BIB 111 - Old Testament (3) OR
HIS 111 - Old Testament (3)
BIB 114 - New Testament (3) OR
HUM 114 - New Testament (3)
PHL 315 - World Religions and Systems of Belief (3)
THE 201 - Introduction to Theology (3)

Communication (6 credit hours)

COM 103 - Public Speaking (3)
ENG 102 - English Composition (3) OR
ENG 105 - Advanced English Composition (3)

Integrative Studies (3 credit hours)

* Please see the First-Year Integration (FYI) page for specific information information about this required course.

INT 101 - First-Year Integration (3)

Mathematics (3 credit hours)

MAT 112 - Mathematics for Liberal Arts (3) (or higher)

Social Sciences (12 credit hours)

Take each of the following four courses:

Music Core (38 credit hours)

MUA 130 - Piano Class I (1) Average 2 credit hours AND
MUA 132 - Piano Class II (1)
OR
MUA 115 - Piano (1-2) Average 2-4 credit hours
Students may take either (or a combination of) MUA 130 - Piano Class I and MUA 132 Piano Class II or MUA 115 - Piano until they pass MUA 230 - Piano Proficiency . Required number of semesters vary per student.
MUA 175 - Music Convocation (0) (eight semesters)
MUA 230 - Piano Proficiency (0)
MUA 231 - Performance Proficiency (0)
MUE 100 - University Women’s Choir (1) (eight semesters) OR
MUE 101 - University Choir (1) (eight semesters) OR
MUE 102 - University Symphonic Band (1) (eight semesters) OR
MUE 103 - Chamber Orchestra (1) (eight semesters) OR
MUE 109 - Chamber Strings (1) (eight semesters) OR
MUE 114 - Handbell Ensemble (1) (eight semesters)
MUS 111 - From Sight to Sound - Music Fundamentals (2)
MUS 112 - Music Theory I: Elements of Music (3)
MUS 113 - Sight-Singing and Ear Training I (1)
MUS 212 - Music Theory II: Diatonic Harmony and Tonicization (3)
MUS 213 - Sight-Singing and Ear Training II (1)
MUS 214 - Music Theory III: Chromatic Harmony and Forms (3)
MUS 215 - Sight-Singing and Ear Training III (1)
MUS 312 - Music Theory IV: The Twentieth Century and Beyond (3)
MUS 313 - Sight-Singing and Ear Training IV (1)
MUS 323 - History of Music I (2)
MUS 324 - History of Music II (2)
MUS 326 - Conducting (2)
MUS 410 - World Music (2)
MUS 426 - Music Business (2)

Worship Arts Core (38 credit hours)

MUE 115 - Worship Practicum (1)
MUA 119 - Songwriting (1-2)
MUS 271 - Music Production and Engineering I (3)
MUS 272 - Music Production and Engineering II (3)
MUS 371 - Music Production and Engineering III (3)
MUS 372 - Music Production and Engineering IV (3)
MUS 355 - Improvisational Techniques (1)
MUS 356 - Vocal Methods (1)
MUS 357 - Fretted Techniques (1)
MUS 341 - Foundations of Worship and Worship Arts (3)
MUS 342 - Philosophical and Practical Development of Worship (3)
MUS 360 - Half Recital (0) OR
MUS 361 - Worship Arts Performance Project (0)
If taking MUS 361, take
MUA 127 - Applied Worship
in place of one credit of primary instrument.
MUS 411 - Scoring and Arranging (2)
MUS 420 - Leadership Issues in Ministry (3)
MUS 450 - Music Ministry Internship (1)
MUS 470 - Senior Thesis (2)

Primary Instrument (7 credit hours)

Each student will take 6 credit hours in the instrument on which they auditioned and have been accepted. Each student will take 1 credit hour on a secondary instrument in order to prepare them for leading worship or helping others to participate in leading worship. If students select MUS 361 - Performance Project , then they will take MUA 127 - Applied Worship in place of 1 credit hour of primary instrument.

Electives Core (7 credit hours)

General Electives - seven credit hours.

Additional Information

Those selecting the music major must take MUS 110 - Musical Perspectives as part of the general education requirements.
MUS 111 - From Sight to Sound - Music Fundamentals is a prerequisite for entrance into MUS 112 - Music Theory I: Elements of Music
MUA 175 - Music Convocation is required for all music majors each semester at CCU (up to 8 semesters).
Piano and Piano Class requirements vary in order to pass Piano Proficiency. Students must take MUA 130 - Piano Class I OR MUA 115 - Piano in consecutive semesters until MUA 230 - Piano Proficiency is passed .
Only one ensemble credit each semester counts toward the requirements for the major.

Graduation Requirements for Bachelor of Music in Worship Arts

The faculty recommends students in the B.M. in Worship Arts to the Board of Trustees as candidates for graduation when they have completed the following requirements.

Completion of a total of 120 credits, including all general education, electives and Worship Arts major program requirements.
A letter grade of D or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all CCU coursework, and a GPA of 2.0 or higher for all courses specified for the major.
Completion of 180 hours of ministry/community service and 180 chapel credits. Transfer students are required to complete 45 hours of ministry/community service and 45 chapel credits each year of attendance at CCU. For further details on ministry/community service, see the Life Directions Center (LDC) section of this catalog. For further details on chapel credits, see the Student Life section of this catalog.
Meet the CCU Residency requirements .
Completion of eight semesters of MUA 175 - Music Convocation .
Acceptable performance on exit exams, as required by the faculty.
Formal and timely application for graduation by the date specified by the University Registrar.
No outstanding financial obligation to the University.