MA in Worship Studies – Songwriting Degree Online Develop Your Songwriting Craft

36
Credit Hours
Online,* 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Contribute Your Musical Creations to the Modern Worship Scene with Liberty’s MA in Worship Studies – Songwriting
Are you passionate about leading worship in your congregation? Many beautiful worship songs, both old and new, are sung in today’s churches – but maybe you’d like to branch out and craft new songs that can help draw the people in your church closer to the Lord. If that sounds like you, Conferring Liberty University’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Worship Studies – Songwriting can help!
Through this online songwriting degree, you can develop the technical, creative, and musical skills you need to expand the music options in your local church and in the broader Christian music industry. Additionally, you’ll be challenged to grow in your personal walk with Christ and gain an understanding of the biblical foundations of worship – so you can create music that is both pleasing to the ear and pleasing to the Lord.
Whether you are a seasoned worship leader or just getting started in this exciting field, our master’s degree in songwriting and worship studies can help equip you to make a difference – both now and in the future. Partner with us and prepare to use your knowledge, passion, and talents in service to God and others.
*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.







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What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s in Songwriting?
At Liberty, we seek to Train Champions for Christ. We don’t just offer an education – we offer the training, mentorship, and tools you need to impact the world. By studying under our experienced faculty, you can gain valuable knowledge of best practices that challenge you to grow as a worship leader and songwriter.
Maybe you’ve been wanting to go back to school and earn your master’s degree, but you’re worried that classes will get in the way of your other commitments. If so, we have just what you need! Our online courses are offered in mostly 8-week sections with 8 different start dates each year. At Liberty, you’ll have the freedom to complete your degree on your schedule and pursue your academic goals from the comfort of home.
When you partner with us for your MA in Worship Studies – Songwriting degree online, you won’t have to sacrifice quality for flexibility. Liberty is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Additionally, Liberty is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) – so you can rest assured that our programs have met rigorous academic standards.
What Will You Study in Our MA in Worship Studies – Songwriter Program?
Our worship studies and songwriting master’s is broken down into 4 main parts: foundational courses, worship studies courses, songwriting classes, and courses that focus on practical worship skills. Together, these 4 sections are designed to provide you with a rigorous, well-rounded education that can help you thrive in your current role or pursue new opportunities.
Within the foundational studies courses, you’ll dive into the biblical foundations and principles of worship and ministry. You’ll also have the opportunity to mix and match courses in hermeneutics, the Psalms, and systematic theology. The worship studies section of this degree will provide deep insight into the history of worship music, the role of the worship leader, and methods for building a theology of worship.
By pursuing the songwriting specialization, you can become better equipped to compose songs and write lyrics that inspire your congregation and broaden the reach of your church’s music ministry. Specifically, you’ll study principles of worship technology and take 2 applied music courses designed to help strengthen your hands-on musical skills. For the applied music courses, you’ll meet with your professor once a week for a private songwriting lesson – giving you the opportunity to show your professor the songs you’ve written and receive coaching on how to improve your songwriting skills. From there, you’ll have the option to either complete a songwriting seminar or take a course in contemporary arranging techniques for worship.
Lastly, you will take worship courses designed to help you develop practical career skills. You’ll study tools and techniques for contemporary worship as well as current issues facing today’s worship leaders and congregations. In addition, you can select a course on 1 of the following topics: analytical techniques, music resources and literature, or global worship. With such a diverse array of course options, you can learn how to navigate the technical and relational aspects of worship – empowering you to build an effective music ministry in your church.
Potential Career Opportunities
- Arranger
- Composer
- Lyricist
- Songwriter
- Worship leader
- Worship pastor
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Music.
- View the Graduate Music Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan

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Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Graduate Full Time | $565/Credit |
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Graduate Part Time | $615/Credit |
Military Graduate | $275/Credit |
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
- Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
- If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.
Dual Enrollment
Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
Transcript Policies
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515

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Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
*Not applicable to certificates.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
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- Why Choose Liberty?
- What Will You Study?
- Tuition & Aid
- Admission Information
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