BM in Music and Worship

APU’s music and worship major gives students a broad perspective in the field of music ministry and consists of academic preparation in music, Christian ministry, and practical theology.

92 units

The music and worship major provides students with specialized training in the field of worship studies, and consists of preparation in music, worship, and theology. Graduates are given philosophical and practical tools needed to work effectively as vocational leaders in the field, while also being prepared for more specialized graduate studies. In addition to the music major core, coursework addresses worship arts leadership, technology, theology, culture, congregational song, worship design, and the practical tools needed for ensemble leadership and development. In addition, students choose from a variety of concentrations, including Vocal Performance, Instrumental Performance, Composing/Songwriting, Music Production, Global Worship and Culture, Biblical Studies, Christian Ministries, and Fine Arts.

Graduates with a degree in music and worship assume positions as pastoral musicians, worship leaders, artistic directors, technical artists; in Christian schools as teachers and administrators; and in artistic ministry positions for various parachurch organizations.

Those interested in this degree should contact the School of Music as soon as possible to obtain an advisor and begin academic planning, then contact the Student Services Center to declare music and worship as their major. Those who decide to major in music and worship should enroll in MUS 160 to begin their course of study.

General Education Requirements for the Bachelor of Music in Music and Worship

GE 100First-Year Seminar3
WRIT 110Writing 1: The Art and Craft of Writing3
Writing 23
Social Science3
Humanities: Literature3
Natural Science4
Biblical, Theological, and Philosophical Formation
MIN 108Christian Life, Faith, and Ministry3
UBBL 100Introduction to Biblical Literature: Exodus/Deuteronomy3
UBBL 230Luke/Acts3
Philosophy3
PHIL 100
Introduction to Philosophy
or HUM 224
 Core Texts in Philosophy
or HUM 324
 Core Texts in Philosophy
Upper-Division Bible Elective3
Doctrine Core3
Personal and Social Responsibility
Intercultural Competence3
MUS 201
Introduction to World Music (F/S)
or MUS 302
 Soul Music
Total Units40

Music and Worship Core Requirements

Piano Proficiency4
Music Theory12
MUS 121
Music Theory I (F/S, Fr, So) 1
MUS 122
Music Theory II (F/S, Fr, So)
MUS 221
Music Theory III (F/S, So, Jr)
MUS 222
Music Theory IV (F/S, So, Jr)
Practical Musicianship4
MUS 133
Practical Musicianship I (F/S, Fr, So)
MUS 134
Practical Musicianship II (F/S, Fr, So)
MUS 217
Practical Musicianship III (F/S, So, Jr)
MUS 220
Practical Musicianship IV (F/S, So, Jr)
Conducting2
MUS 361
Introduction to Conducting (F, Jr)
Music History6
MUS 352
Writing 3: Baroque, Classical, and Early Romantic Music Literature (F/S, Jr) 2
Select one of the following
MUS 351
Ancient, Renaissance, and World Music Literature (F, Jr)
MUS 455
Late Romantic and 20th-Century Music Literature (F/S, Sr) 3
Applied Music16
Two units must be taken each semester of full-time status, (F/S)
Ensemble Requirement 48
Other Requirements
MUS 296Introduction to Music Technology (F/S, Fr)2
MUS 210Performance Forum (F/S, 8 semesters)0
Music and Worship Courses
MUS 160Worship Leadership Formation (S, Fr)3
MUS 202Singing The Faith (F, Fr, So)3
MUS 323Arranging and Rehearsal Technique (F/S)3
or MUS 423 Orchestration I
MUS 367Technology for Worship (F, Jr, Sr)3
MUS 375Worship Arts Leadership (F, Jr)3
MUS 376Worship Design (S, Jr)3
MUS 447Music and Worship Internship I (F/S, Sr)2
MUS 491Senior Recital (F/S, Sr) 50
Select two of the following:2
MUS 377Worship Studio I1
MUS 378Worship Studio II1
MUS 401Worship Studio III1
MUS 402Worship Studio IV1
Total Units80
1

Meets the General Education Humanities: Fine Arts requirement. 

2

Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.

3

Meets the General Education Humanities: History requirement. 

4

See details on the APU website. Taking 4 semesters of musical ensembles meets the General Education Civic Knowledge and Engagement requirement.

5

Meets the General Education Integrative and Applied Learning requirement. 

Music and Worship Concentrations

Students must select one of the following concentrations.

Biblical Studies Concentration

Choose 12 units in UBBL 3XX-UBBL 4XX courses in addition to General Education requirements12
Total Units12

Christian Ministries Concentration

WRIT 200Writing 2: Writing for Christian Practice 13
MINC 318Theology and Practice of Ministry3
Select two of the following:6
MIN 300
Writing 3: Culture and Ministry 2
MINC 467
Spiritual Transformation
MINC 487
Exegeting the City
MIN 301
Adolescent Development in Family Ministry
MINY 403
Adolescent Issues and Intervention
MIN 496
Senior Seminar: Church and Society 3
THEO 496
Senior Seminar: Theology and Social Issues 3
Total Units12
1

Meets the General Education Writing 2 requirement.

2

Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.

3

Meets the General Education Integrative and Applied requirement.

Fine Arts Concentration

Select four of the following:12
ART 105
Ceramics I 1
ART 130
Two-Dimensional Design
ART 145
Drawing I 1
ART 146
Painting I
ART 150
Introduction to Art 1
ART 160
Photography I 1
ART 210
Printmaking: Relief
ART 260
Photography II
DSGN 281
Graphic Design I
ART 356
Writing 3: History of Modern Art and Architecture 2
ART 361
History of Early Christian and Medieval Art and Architecture 1
ART 362
History of Renaissance to Rococo Art and Architecture 1
DSGN 383
Graphic Design II
CINE 101
Christianity and the Creative Process 1
CINE 160
Introduction to Digital Filmmaking 1
CINE 274
Story and Character
CINE 280
Writing the Short Screenplay
DSGN 120
Introduction to Computer Graphics
THTR 110
Introduction to Acting 1
THTR 115
Introduction to Theater 1
THTR 221
Theatrical Sets and Properties
THTR 224
Introduction to Stage Management
Total Units12
1

Meets the General Education Humanities: Fine Arts requirement.

2

Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.

Music Production Concentration

MUS 223Web-Based Tools2
MUS 327Audio I2
MUS 328Audio II3
MUS 349Intermediate Logic Pro3
Electives 12
MUS 322
Score Preparation and Printing
MUS 377
Worship Studio I
MUS 378
Worship Studio II
MUS 401
Worship Studio III
MUS 402
Worship Studio IV
MUS 337
Music Business I
MUS 467
Advanced Pro Tools
MUS 474
Music Career Development
MUS 495
Production Techniques
Total Units12
1

Music and worship electives include all courses listed in the tracks not selected by the student as their primary track. Also included are MUS 321, MUS 422, MUS 320, MUS 423, MUS 427, and additional applied lessons. Students may petition to have other upper-division music courses count as Music and Worship electives.

Composing/Songwriting Concentration

MUS 324Songwriting2
MUS 337Music Business I2
MUS 474Music Career Development2
MUS 1C1Applied Composition Class2
Select two of the following:2
MUS 377
Worship Studio I
MUS 378
Worship Studio II
MUS 401
Worship Studio III
MUS 402
Worship Studio IV
Electives 12
MUS 322
Score Preparation and Printing
MUS 338
Music Business II
MUS 389
Commercial Styles I
MUS 390
Commercial Styles II
MUS 407
Commercial Styles III
MUS 408
Commercial Styles IV
Additional Applied Composition Units
Total Units12
1

Music and worship electives include all courses listed in the tracks not selected by the student as their primary track. Also included are MUS 320, MUS 321, MUS 422, MUS 423, MUS 427, and additional applied lessons. Students may petition to have other upper-division music courses count as Music and Worship electives.

Vocal Performance Concentration

Applied Music4
MUS 362Choral Conducting2
Select two of the following:2
MUS 377
Worship Studio I
MUS 378
Worship Studio II
MUS 401
Worship Studio III
MUS 402
Worship Studio IV
Additional Ensembles 14
Total Units12
1

Students may include up to four semesters of MUS 151 Chamber Ensemble (Chapel Band). In addition, students may choose from any ensemble within the School of Music, including: MUS 389, MUS 390, MUS 391, MUS 392, MUS 407, and MUS 408.  

Instrumental Performance Concentration

Applied Music4
MUS 363Instrumental Conducting2
Select two of the following:2
MUS 377
Worship Studio I
MUS 378
Worship Studio II
MUS 401
Worship Studio III
MUS 402
Worship Studio IV
Additional Ensembles 14
Total Units12
1

Students may include up to four semesters of MUS 151 Chamber Ensemble (Chapel Band). In addition, students may choose from any ensemble within the School of Music, including:  MUS 389, MUS 390, MUS 391, MUS 392, MUS 407, and MUS 408.  

Global Worship and Culture Concentration

GLBL 201Anthropology for Everyday Life 13
MUS 201Introduction to World Music 13
MUS 302Soul Music 13
Select one of the following3
MUS 204
Music of Latin America
MUS 205
Music of Asia
MUS 301
Music of Africa
Total Units12
1

Meets the General Education Intercultural Competence requirement.

Course Requirements Legend

Course Requirement Availability: Recommended Year:
F = Offered every fall Fr = Freshman
S = Offered every spring So = Sophomore
E = Even Year Jr = Junior
O = Odd Year Sr = Senior

Music Theory Proficiency

The Music Theory Placement Examination is given to incoming students who are not transferring credit for Music Theory I from another college or university. This examination measures the student’s background in music theory and ensures placement at the appropriate level. The examination is normally taken online. Students who are not ready for Music Theory I take MUS 120, and upon successful completion of MUS 120, begin the music theory sequence in the next semester. Music theory is taken in sequential order (I, II, III, IV). Before advancing to the next level, a grade of C or better is required. If a C or better is not achieved at any level, the course must be repeated.

Practical Musicianship

Practical musicianship is taken in sequential order (I, II, III, IV). Before advancing to the next level, a grade of C or better is required. If a C or better is not achieved at any level, the course must be repeated.

Piano Proficiency

Each student must register for a piano class or Applied Piano until the Piano Proficiency Examination is passed. Examination fact sheets are available in the School of Music office. Students will not be cleared to graduate until they have passed the proficiency examination, which is usually met at the conclusion of MUS 106.

Grade-Point Average

Music students must maintain a 2.5 GPA for all upper-division music classes (those classified as 300- and 400-level). Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 2.0 or who are on probation are not eligible to participate in a performing group other than Masterworks Chorale.

Performance Forum

MUS 210 meets every Monday at 4:20 p.m. and features a variety of presentations including student recitals, guest artists, and lecturers. Music students must be continuously enrolled in Performance Forum for eight semesters. This class is graded pass/fail based on attendance. Students who do not pass the course will be required to take MUS 353 Concert Music to make up the deficiency. Transfer students must enroll in MUS 210 and an approved ensemble every semester in attendance, up to eight semesters.

Recital Performance

Music and worship majors must present a solo performance annually in either a studio recital, performance forum student recital, or senior recital. In the case of a student who is taking instruction in more than one applied area, recital performance is required only in the primary applied area.

All students must take applied jury each semester. Students giving senior recitals should follow the guidelines in the Azusa Pacific University School of Music Recital Confirmation Packet (available through the School of Music office).

Applied Music

  1. Students must take at least 16 units of applied music study.
  2. Students must take at least 1 unit of applied lessons each semester, even if the minimum number of units for their emphasis has been met. Students must take 2 units of applied lessons the semester of their senior recital (capstone project).
  3. Jury examinations are required each semester for all students taking private lessons. Presentation of a junior or senior recital fulfills this requirement.
  4. All students, in conjunction with the instructor, are responsible for selecting an accompanist for juries by the indicated deadlines. There are three ways to select an accompanist:
    1. Faculty may request an accompanist with the Accompanist Request Form available in the School of Music office by the indicated deadlines.
    2. Faculty may request a specific accompanist by submitting an Accompanist Request Form available in the School of Music office by the indicated deadlines.
    3. If no Accompanist Request Form is submitted, or is requested after the published deadlines, faculty members are responsible to make arrangements for their students.
  5. Private lessons:
    1. Grades for private lessons are issued based on a minimum of 12 lessons per semester. The grade will be lowered if the student attends fewer than the minimum of 12 lessons. Additionally, if the student does not meet the mandatory annual solo performance requirement, an F will be assigned for the spring semester applied grade.
    2. The area director will assign an instructor.
    3. When the student is ill and notifies the teacher in advance, a makeup lesson will be rescheduled if possible. “No-show” students do not receive makeup lessons.

Upper-Division Concentration

Music and worship students must earn a grade of C or higher in all of their upper-division concentration classes. Otherwise, the course(s) must be repeated.

Ensemble Requirement

In each of eight semesters as music majors, students must participate in an appropriate performance ensemble. The information for the appropriate ensemble for each degree and concentration is clearly articulated in the Undergraduate Music Student Handbook and further communicated through the music student advisement process. Membership in multiple ensembles in a given semester counts as only one semester toward the ensemble requirement. Transfer students must participate in a performance ensemble each semester until they graduate or accumulate eight semesters.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a command of skills required for comprehensive musicianship, including sight singing/ear training, functional keyboard, music technology, and analysis.
    2.
  2. Demonstrate understanding of music in historical, cultural and stylistic context.
    3.
  3. Demonstrate creative or interpretive utilization of skills and contextual understanding.
    4.
  4. Demonstrate career-oriented application of skills.
    5.
  5. Demonstrate appropriate understanding of the intersection of music and faith.