What is the Bachelor of Arts with Church Music Concentration ?
The B.A. with Church Music Concentration prepares students to serve as ministers of music in churches with comprehensive music programs spanning children and adults as well as choral and instrumental music. Students pursuing this degree also serve in private school music programs as well as private applied music instructors.
What do students enrolled in the Church Music program do?
As a church music major, you will apply principles of the Christian faith in different musical and life settings. You do this through dedication to excellence in the study of music theory (scales, chords, chord progressions, musical forms, etc.), music history, conducting, keyboard proficiency, ensemble participation, as well as diligent practice in your applied instrument (voice, piano, organ, and wind, percussion, or string instruments). You will have the opportunity to apply musical concepts using a specialized computer lab. Additionally, you will develop performance techniques and poise and receive personalized instruction from music professors for vocal and instrumental performance. On top of this, the church music major will learn the techniques to communicate the love of Christ and music in the church and para-church settings through coursework and significant experience in real life settings. The church music ministry today is a multifaceted world. To succeed in that world, the SWU church music major is expected to work toward the highest levels of competence in leading choirs, instruments, and small ensembles. At SWU, we have highly skilled professors who take a personal interest in guiding and inspiring each music major to achieve the plan God has for his or her musical, spiritual, and intellectual life.
Is this major right for you?
You might consider a church music major if you are passionate about serving Jesus Christ through music, wish to sharpen your skills as a musician, and wish to be skilled at helping others encounter the power of Christ through music. You probably have had an excellent music experience at church or school during your middle school and/or high school years. Your church’s music minister/director showed you how powerful God’s Word coupled with music could be. This major is right for you if you understand that the dynamic church music program is more than just working with a small group of musicians in the church. It is developing and enabling as many people as possible to do the work of music ministry through graded programs from children to adults.
About our students
In our church music program, students have many opportunities to develop in areas outside the university while a student. They have directed church choirs in the surrounding area as well as led music at local churches. They have been involved in conducting master classes sponsored by the South Carolina American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). Choir and band students have participated in the South Carolina honor ensembles. Church music majors have multiple opportunities to work with our campus ministry teams. The opportunities for professional music and music ministry development while a student is limitless at SWU.
About our graduates
When you graduate from Southern Wesleyan University with a B.A. with Church Music Concentration, you can join alumni and graduates in prestigious graduate schools and programs all across the nation, including:
- University of South Carolina
- University of Georgia
- Geneva College in Pennsylvania
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- Converse College
- Florida State University
- Southern Baptist Seminary
- Radford University
- Lee University
You will be prepared for a career as:
- Church music director
- Worship team leader
- Private music teacher
- Private school music teacher
- Various jobs in music-related businesses
Our church music graduates have landed jobs at:
- First Baptist Church in Pickens, SC
- Calvary Hill Baptist Church in Easley, SC
- The Grove Church in Fort Collins, CO
- Community Wesleyan Church, Newark, OH
- First Wesleyan Church in Central, SC
- Trinity Wesleyan Church in Clemson, SC
- Hayworth Wesleyan Church in High Point, NC
- Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC
- Mt. Zion Wesleyan Church in Thomasville, NC
- First Wesleyan Church in Kannapolis, NC