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About the Bachelor of Arts in Worship Degree

Why Study Worship at Cedarville?

Cedarville’s Bachelor of Arts in worship degree will prepare you for a career as a worship leader, and more importantly, inspire you to be a greater worshiper of our great God! As a worship major, you’ll study music, theology, worship, and multimedia and choose a practical area for concentrated study such as electronic media, music, theatre, preseminary, or communication.

Our goal is to guide you through the ever-changing climate of modern worship while grounding you in the never-changing truth of God’s Word.

This program is also available as a minor.

You can expand your worship training with Cedarville's Master of Arts in Worship and Theology (M.A.W.T.) With our accelerated completion plans, you will be able to complete a B.A. in worship plus a M.A.W.T. in just four or five years.

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What Sets Cedarville Apart?

Program Overview

Program Highlights

Theological Foundation - Your study will have a strong theological foundation, grounded in biblical truth. Your Bible minor courses will emphasize a biblical foundation for worship ministry.

Musical Emphasis - As a worship major, you will receive core musical training. We value contemporary music as the voice of our culture, so you will be equipped to be musically and methodologically relevant in the "real world."

Interdisciplinary Nature - You will be encouraged to add interdisciplinary study in fields related to worship ministry. We value each student developing God-given talents and interests, resulting in an individualized degree tailored for each student.

Michael O'Brien Endorses Cedarville's Worship Programs

Worship band leads students in chapel

Worship Scholarships

Cedarville University offers worship scholarships of up to $4,000 per year for students majoring in worship. You can combine your worship scholarship with Cedarville’s other generous academic and need-based scholarships.


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What Can You Do With a Worship Degree?

The demand for worship leaders is very high, and upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for ministry in the local church. However, some graduates may choose to continue their musical or theological education at seminary while others attend seminary to study to be a pastor or youth pastor, or serve Christ on the mission field using music as a ministry tool, or combine their worship major program with another professional degree anticipating lay ministry in the local church, as double-majors or minors who desire to serve the church in a local church as a layperson.

With the B.A. in worship degree, you will be able to find employment in the following fields:

  • Director of Fine Arts
  • Director of Music / Music Ministries
  • Director of Worship
  • Education
  • Publishing
  • Resource Developer
  • Worship Coordinator / Leader / Pastor
  • Writing

Placement Success

We’re proud of our successful graduates! 100% of 2020 graduates from the Department of Music and Worship were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Check out Cedarville's other placement rates.


Cedarville's Placement Rates

Opportunities to Learn Outside the Classroom

On Campus

As a worship student, you’ll have many opportunities to participate in various musical activities on campus. Our campus culture is very musical, and options range from music department  ensembles, worship department  bands, chapel bands, on-campus concerts, worship events, to groups of students in the residence hall who play together for fun. Upperclassmen worship students also often lead worship in chapel.

Off Campus

Many area churches use our worship students to play in their praise bands and to lead worship. There are many opportunities to play as well as hone your skills as a worship leader. Our music department  ensembles, worship department  bands, and  HeartSong teams all tour off campus. Our students are also completing internships at churches like Fairhaven Church in Centerville, OH; Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago, IL; and Christ Fellowship in Miami, FL, many of which lead to full-time, permanent positions.

Program Curriculum

Building on your general education liberal arts and Bible minor courses, you will take a wide array of core music and worship courses.

This major is offered with either a three-year or four-year completion plan.

This major is offered with a B.A-to-master's accelerated completion plan.

Sample courses:

  • Music and the Arts in Worship
  • Theology of Worship

Program Format and Related Programs

Cedarville offers both graduate and undergraduate programs, with flexible completion options. You may also want to consider these related programs as you consider the degree or program that is a best fit for you.

Program Level and Format

  • Undergraduate
  • Residential
  • 3-Year Option
  • 4-Year
Two people playing guitars in room of people.

From Our Students:

  • The faculty is one of the biggest blessings of studying music at Cedarville. They are all godly men and women who lead by example for their students in all that they do. Whether they are developing our skills musically or guiding us spiritually, the willingness of the faculty to disciple us and care for us personally is evident in every lesson, class, and concert. I have learned how to humbly pursue excellence, discipline, and creativity for God's glory.
    Antonio Muñoz '21
    Antonio Munoz
Job and Grad School Placement

Program Faculty

Photo of Roger O'Neel

Roger O'Neel, Ph.D.

Assistant Chair of Worship, Associate Professor of Worship

Contact

Photo of John Chilcote

John Chilcote, M.Div.

Assistant Professor of Worship

Contact

Photo of Amy Hutchison

Amy Hutchison, M.M.

Private Lesson Instructor

Contact

Photo of Susan Troth

Susan Troth, M.M.

Assistant Professor of Worship

Contact

Department of Music and Worship

Program News

  • Crowd of worshippers, some with raised hands

    Cedarville Students Help Host GMA’s Dove Awards

    Twenty-three worship students from Cedarville University will have the unique opportunity to help host the Gospel Music Association’s (GMA) 53rd annual Dove Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. This is the fifth time Cedarville has been asked to participate in the event.
  • Heartsong Worship Night

    Next Level Worship Gathering at Cedarville University

    Dwayne Moore, founder of Next Level Worship International, Inc., and Cedarville University’s worship department are partnering to host the global student worship gathering on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m. in the Dixon Ministry Center Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.