Master of Arts in Church Music
School of Church Music and Worship
Master of Arts in Church Music
Extensive training in music and Christian ministry
Designed to provide essential musical training integrated with a broad study in church music and worship. Additionally, the degree provides a strong foundation in biblical and theological studies.
Degree Highlights
- 45 hours
- Choose an applied area of study from voice, piano, or guitar
- Leveling courses available for students with an undergraduate degree in music
The Master of Arts in Church Music (MACM) is designed to provide essential musical training integrated with a broad study in church music and worship. Additionally, the degree provides a strong foundation in biblical and theological studies. Students who successfully complete the MACM. are prepared to serve the local church, missions, or concert hall, or pursue additional graduate studies in church music. Church music is the major on the MACM with students choosing an applied area in voice, piano, or guitar. A student who begins the MACM degree program may opt to complete the Master of Music in Church Music instead of the MACM as outlined below.
The M.A.C.M. degree is not considered preparation for doctoral study (DMA). An MACM student wishing to pursue a doctoral degree at Southwestern Seminary will be expected to complete the requirements for the Master of Music degree.
All students in the School of Church Music and Worship are required to minister in the music program of a local church or organization during the time they are enrolled in their degree programs.
Entrance Requirements
This degree is intended for students with at least a Bachelor of Arts in Music. However, it also provides a clear pathway for students who do not have an undergraduate degree in music through a required sequence of leveling courses.
Students without an undergraduate degree in music will be required to complete leveling courses, including music theory and musicianship (4 semesters for a total of 16 hours), music history (3 semesters for a total of 6 hours), applied studies including a 30-minute recital (4 semesters for a total of 9 hours), conducting (2 hours), ensembles (4 semesters for a total of 2 hours), and a pedagogy course in their applied area (2 hours). All leveling courses may be taken at Southwestern. Those students who have completed some undergraduate coursework in music can apply that toward leveling requirements on the basis of auditions and placement examinations.
Degree Requirements
Applied Area
Students will choose an applied area of study from voice, piano, or guitar, pending approval on the basis of an audition before the appropriate faculty.
All students, regardless of their applied area, will be required to pass a voice proficiency and a piano proficiency as soon as possible in their course of study.
Grades
MACM students must maintain an overall grade point average of 2.00.
Time Limit
The Master of Arts in Church Music normally requires a minimum of four semesters for completion excluding leveling courses. The Master of Arts in Church Music degree must be completed within a period of seven years from the time of admission. Extensions may be granted to students who are serving in an international mission field.
Comprehensive Examinations
Written and oral comprehensive examinations are required to complete the degree and are normally given about four to six weeks before graduation. If the student does not pass the comprehensive examinations, they may be retaken.
To be permitted to take comprehensive examinations, the MACM student must satisfy the following requirements:
- Passing of voice and piano proficiencies before registering for comprehensive examinations
- Satisfactory completion of preliminary MACM recital
- Satisfactory completion of all music courses (or concurrent enrollment in all remaining courses)
- Attainment of required grade point average (2.00)
- Enrollment in MACM Comprehensive Examinations (MUMST 4980)
Master of Arts in Church Music
Select one area of study (Voice, Piano, or Guitar)
Audition required to apply for your area of study; students must enroll concurrently in Master Class
| COURSE TITLE | COURSE NUMBER | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| M.A.C.M. Voice I | VOIPR 4712 | 2 |
| M.A.C.M. Voice II | VOIPR 4722 | 2 |
| M.A.C.M. Voice III | VOIPR 4732 | 2 |
| M.A.C.M. Voice IV and Recital | VOIPR 4743 | 3 |
| Total | 9 |
Total Additional Hours Needed to Complete the MACM
45
For students opting to complete the Master of Music in Church Music instead of the MACM, the MACM Recital will serve as the audition for entrance into the MMCM. If completing the MMCM, students will not be required to take MACM Comprehensive Exams. Students will complete the following additional courses in their concentration for the MMCM:
Concentrations
A completed MACM can be expanded to the MMCM by completing an additional 16 concentration-specific hours of graduate coursework. The additional sixteen hours are as follows.
Students selecting the MMCM Voice Performance and Pedagogy Concentration will need to take Foreign Language Diction courses as leveling if not previously completed.
| COURSE TITLE | COURSE NUMBER | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| M.M.C.M. Voice III | VOIPR 4982 | 2 |
| M.M.C.M. Voice IV and Recital | VOIPR 4992 | 2 |
| Voice Master Class (must enroll concurrently with applied study) | VOIPR 4900 | 0 |
| Theology of Pedagogy | WORSP 4932 | 2 |
| Seminar in Voice Pedagogy | VOIPR 4952 | 2 |
| Seminar in Solo Vocal Literature I | VOICL 4911 | 1 |
| Seminar in Solo Vocal Literature II | VOICL 4921 | 1 |
| Seminar in Sacred Solo Vocal Literature | VOICL 4941 | 1 |
| Vocal Ensemble (two semesters) | ENSEM 3xx8 | 1 |
| Performance Laboratory (two semesters) | PFMLB 3010 | 0 |
| Introduction to Music Research | MUHST 4102 | 2 |
| Select one course (not already taken): | Select one | 2 |
| - Music in the Baroque and Classical Periods | MUHST 4132 | |
| - Music in the Nineteenth Century | MUHST 4142 | |
| - Music in the Twentieth Century | MUHST 4152 | |
| - Sacred Choral Masterworks | MUHST 4272 | |
| M.M.C.M. Comprehensive Examinations | MUMST 4990 | 0 |
Total Additional Hours Needed to Complete the M.M.C.M.
16
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