Master of Arts with Concentration in Liturgy and Church Music

The MA in liturgy and church music is designed for students who want to expand their study in the areas of liturgy and sacred music of the church.

Graduation from the School of Theology follows the successful completion of all requirements for the specified program of study and the approval of the degree by the Senate of the University upon nomination by the Faculty of the School of Theology.

A Master of Arts student who has successfully completed all prescribed work, has completed all non-credit degree requirements, has submitted a complete portfolio if applicable, and has a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.33 is eligible to be awarded the Master of Arts degree. Work toward the degree is to be concluded within four consecutive years from the date of matriculation.

Additionally, a student must satisfy all financial obligations to the University. The University will neither confer a degree nor provide transcripts to any student or former student who has unsatisfied financial obligations to the University.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students demonstrate a knowledge of religious heritage.
  2. Students demonstrate academic proficiency in theological disciplines in order to produce a thesis or capstone project in their chosen field of study.
  3. Students demonstrate an advanced degree of competence in academic research, writing, and performance, if relevant, in the field of liturgy and church music.

Requirements

Students pursuing a concentration in Liturgy and Church Music must complete a core curriculum, do additional coursework in the area of concentration, and complete a research paper in the area of concentration or a capstone project. They must also complete certain non- credit degree requirements. Courses taken in the core curriculum may be counted towards the hours required for a concentration.

Core Courses
BIBL 501Old Testament I: From Prehistory to the Promised Land3
BIBL 502Old Testament II: Prophets, Exile, and Aftermath3
BIBL 511New Testament I: The Gospels in Context3
BIBL 512New Testament II: The Bible after Jesus3
CHHT 511Church Histories I: Asia and Africa3
CHHT 512Church Histories II: Europe and North America3
CEMT 511Introduction to Moral Theology3
THEO 511Systematic Theology I3
Concentration
LTCM 507Church Music 1, 23
LTCM 511History of Christian Worship3
LTCM 521Pastoral Liturgics: The Prayer Book of the Episcopal Church3
Elective hours in LTCM (with 3 having an LTCM liturgy concentration, 3 and having an LTCM music concentration)6
THEO 598Research Project 33
Additional elective courses6
Total Semester Hours48
1

Course substitutions may be made with the approval of the advisor. To substitute a course within the respective area of Biblical Studies (BIBL),Christian Ethics and Moral Theology (CEMT), or Systematic Theology (THEO), the students must seek the advisor’s permission; the advisor, in turn, notifies the Coordinator of Academic Affairs, who registers the student for the substituted course(s).

2

Six courses are required for the concentration. Depending on the courses selected, the number of semester hours required for the concentration may range from a minimum of 18 to a maximum of 24.

3

A research paper or capstone project is required of those Master of Arts students pursuing a concentration. The student will undertake a research project in the last year of enrollment. In the Advent semester, the student secures agreement of a faculty member from the School of Theology to supervise the project. The student meets regularly with the supervisor for guidance in research and writing. The student develops a project proposal in consultation with the supervisor, and no later than November 15 submits the proposal to the advisor and the Office of Academic Affairs. The student then registers for three credit hours of research (THEO 598). The research paper or capstone project is to be a contribution to scholarly discussion. It is to be 5,500 to 7,500 words in length, and is to be submitted to the supervisor once it is completed. Once the supervisor approves the paper, they submit a grade for the paper to the Coordinator of Academic Affairs.

Non-credit Degree Requirements1 

Bibliography, Research, and Writing Workshop
Cultural Diversity Workshop
Education for Ministry (EfM) Workshop
Safeguarding God's Children Workshop
Safeguarding God's People Workshop
THEO 566Religion and Environment Colloquium 20
1

For details on these workshops, see the Non-credit Degree Requirements for Graduation section.

2

Students are required to enroll in THEO 566 each semester.