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About the BA in Worship Degree

Why Study Worship at Cedarville?

With Cedarville's Bachelor of Arts in worship degree, designed to equip you for a rewarding career as a worship leader, you will be inspired to become a greater worshiper of our great God! This program will improve your skills, grow you as a leader, and enrich your personal worship, ultimately helping you build a foundation for a deeper relationship with God. As a worship major, you’ll study music, theology, worship, and multimedia while choosing a practical area for concentrated study such as electronic media, music, theatre, pre-seminary, or communication. In the ever-changing climate of modern worship, you'll be guided by and grounded in the never-changing truth of God's Word.

If you're pursuing another major but want to build a foundation for worship, then Cedarville's worship minor is for you!

You can expand your worship training with Cedarville's Master of Arts in Worship and Theology (MAWT). With our accelerated completion plans, you can complete a BA in worship plus a MAWT in just four or five years.

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What Sets Cedarville Apart?

Program Overview

Program Highlights

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 to each student.

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.

  • Students playing keyboard, guitar, and drums onstage in chapel

    Worship Scholarships

    Cedarville 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.
    Learn More

Why Study Worship at Cedarville?

Michael O'Brien Endorses Cedarville's Worship Programs

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 BA 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
  • Publishing
  • Resource Developer
  • Worship Coordinator / Leader / Pastor
  • Writing

Graduate and professional programs and employers welcome Cedarville University graduates each year. It is important to note that some professional career fields you may pursue require additional education, experience, and/or licensure beyond the completion of your Cedarville University undergraduate degree.

Placement Success

We’re proud of our successful graduates! 95.2% of recent 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 and worship ensembles to chapel bands, on-campus concerts, worship events, and groups of students playing together in residence halls for fun. Upperclassmen worship students often lead worship in chapel.

Off Campus

Many worship students play in praise bands and lead worship at nearby churches. There are many opportunities to play as well as hone your skills as a worship leader. Our music and worship ensembles and HeartSong teams 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 offers an accelerated bachelor's-to-master's pathway for students interesting in pursuing their MBA.

Sample courses:

  • Music and the Arts in Worship
  • Theology of Worship

Start Your Degree in High School!

Save time and money in college by taking dual enrollment courses now. Discover how you can complete your worship degree in just three years with the Dual Enrollment 3-Year Pathway.

Explore the Dual Enrollment Pathway

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, PhD

Professor of Worship; Director - Worship Program; Assistant Chair - Worship

Contact

Photo of John Chilcote

John Chilcote, MDiv

Assistant Professor of Worship

Contact

Photo of Susan Troth

Susan Troth, MM

Associate Professor of Worship

Contact

Department of Music and Worship
School of Arts and Humanities

Program News

  • CU Students at the 2023 Dove Awards 1920

    Cedarville University Students Assist the GMA Dove Awards

    The Gospel Music Association has used Cedarville students as talent escorts at the Dove Awards for the last seven years. Students from the department of music and worship continue to receive the invitation due to their professionalism.
  • Equipping the Church to Worship 1920 chapel band

    Equipping the Church to Worship

    Robert Rhodes ’16, worship pastor of Dayton Avenue Baptist Church in Xenia, Ohio, saved a video from his senior year of college and still watches it over eight years later. As he talked about it, the chills running through his body were almost palpable. “It gets me excited about what the Lord’s going to do when He calls us all home,” he said.