Bachelor of Arts
Worship Leadership
Samford’s Worship Leadership degree equips students for a life of leadership and skilled service in the local church or church-related ministries.
Is This Program for Me?
The Bachelor of Arts in Worship Leadership is a liberal arts degree designed to train students for worship ministry in the local church, providing concentrations in worship production, songwriting, and ministry.
Worship Leadership majors gain a solid foundation for ministry through music and worship classes, as well as participation in ensembles like the Samford Worship Collective. The curriculum focuses on the principles of Christian worship and ministry, with specialized coursework in one of three concentrations: worship production, songwriting, or ministry. The program culminates in a practical ministry internship within a local church. Upon completion, graduates are prepared for careers in worship ministry or further studies at a seminary.
This major may be right for you if you desire:
- to serve as a worship leader, songwriter, production leader or artist/creative in a local church or church-related ministry.
- to gain skills in leadership, discipleship, or ministry for use in congregational worship.
- to minister through creative planning and working with a team of ministry leaders.
- to explore your call to serve the Lord in a way that combines music and artistic creativity with ministry and discipleship.
- to consider graduate studies at a seminary.
What Will I Learn?
Worship Leadership graduates will be able to:
- Articulate the responsibilities of God’s call on their lives for worship leadership.
- Think pastorally and creatively about Christian worship ministry.
- Identify the history, theology, and practice of worship leadership throughout the Church’s history.
- Collaboratively design, plan, and implement a comprehensive worship ministry that supports the local church and its worship practices.
- Perform fluently in a particular musical medium in service to congregational worship.
- Reflect biblically, theologically, and pastorally on the ministry of worship.
- Create original songs for use in corporate worship.
- Oversee the technological and artistic production of corporate worship.
Career Preparation
A Bachelor of Arts in Worship Leadership leads to a variety of careers:
- Worship leader
- Christian singer-songwriter
- Worship band leader or member
- Worship musical director
- Production team director or member
- Church ministry staff leader
What Makes Us Different?
- Faculty/student ratio – 10:1
- Hands-on experience through classes and ensembles, observations and field experience
- Hands-on experience through our worship leadership team, Samford Worship Collective, including travel and ministry leadership opportunities and recording projects
- Experiential learning through conference attendance, Songs for Worship writing contest, study abroad opportunities.
- Students are required to complete a 2-semester supervised internship experience in a local church worship ministry. A primary goal is to develop practical leadership skills to implement in future leadership roles.
- Technology Resources: Fully-portable audio road system, ProPresenter, Finale/Sibelius, ProTools, Ableton, Multitracks, Planning Center Online, On-site recording studio
- The Center for Worship and the Arts, housed in the School of the Arts, allows students to teach and explore worship and the arts, connect with local ministry leaders, and learn from outside clinicians and practitioners through a variety of ongoing, Church-facing programs.
- Worship Leadership Network of professional church and ministry leaders in worship, music and the arts.
Meet the Faculty
Emily Andrews
Jonathan RodgersAdmission and Scholarship
Appointments for auditions and placement examinations are scheduled upon receipt of the School of the Arts application materials. Students are notified by mail of the results of the auditions and are admitted for registration only if they have acceptance notices sent by the Dean of the School of the Arts. Transfer students must audition in the principal performance area(s) and take a music theory and piano placement examination to determine both acceptance and transfer of credit. Transfer of credit for other music courses is determined by either placement examinations or review of the student’s previous work in an equivalent course.
Ministry Concentration
- Common Application
- Division of Music/School of the Arts application
- Audition/interview in principle area (see details below)
- Interview with worship faculty
- Music theory placement exam
- Piano placement exam (non-keyboard majors)
Students auditioning for the Ministry Concentration should:
- Perform two pieces in contrasting style that showcase the best of the applicant’s abilities. Students have the option of choosing two of the following selections: a) a contemporary worship song; b) a standard hymn arrangement; or c) an art song.
- Perform exercises in sight-reading, ear-training and major scales as requested.
- Upload a reference letter from a pastor, elder, deacon or church leader who can attest to the student’s current service in the local church.
- Participate in an interview discussing interests in worship leadership and specific career goals.
Christian Ministry students are eligible for university scholarships.
Worship Production Concentration
- Common Application
- Division of Music/School of the Arts application
- Audition/interview in principle area (see details below)
- Interview with worship faculty
- Music theory placement exam
- Piano placement exam (non-keyboard majors)
Students auditioning for the Worship Production concentration should:
- Perform two pieces in contrasting style that showcase the best of the applicant’s abilities. Students have the option of choosing two of the following selections: a) a contemporary worship song; b) a standard hymn arrangement; or c) an art song.
- Perform exercises in sight-reading, ear-training, and major scales as requested.
- Upload two, 1–3-minute samples of music you’ve recorded, composed, and/or produced. Include a description of the examples of technology you’ve developed (e.g., programming, electronics—the software projects or hardware/schematics of your past projects), or anything else that highlights your skills in music technology, production or STEM. If you are submitting a website link, upload it as a separate PDF file containing a clickable link.
- Upload a reference letter from a pastor, elder, deacon or church leader who can attest to the student’s current service in the local church.
- Participate in an interview discussing interests in worship leadership and specific career goals.
Songwriting Concentration
- Common Application
- Division of Music/School of the Arts application
- Audition/interview in principle area (see details below)
- Interview with worship faculty
- Music theory placement exam
- Piano placement exam (non-keyboard majors)
Students auditioning for the Songwriting for Worship concentration should:
- Perform two pieces in contrasting style that showcase the best of the applicant’s abilities. Students have the option of choosing two of the following selections: a) a contemporary worship song; b) a standard hymn arrangement; or c) an art song. One of these two pieces should be an original song. At least 50% of the original song should be authored by the applicant.
- Upload a PDF file of the student’s original song.
- Perform exercises in sight-reading, ear-training and major scales as requested.
- Upload a reference letter from a pastor, elder, deacon or church leader who can attest to the student’s current service in the local church.
- Participate in an interview discussing interests in worship leadership and specific career goals.
