Joint Master of Divinity/Master of Music
The Master of Divinity degree is designed primarily for students preparing for pastoral ministry, though it also provides preparation for other specialized ministries. The Master of Music degree in church music is a professional graduate degree for those who plan to serve in the music ministry. The degree is designed to develop proficiency in performance, a knowledge of church music (including music history, music theory and conducting), and an understanding of the theological context of church music and the administration of a church music program.
Admission
Students seeking admission to the joint degree program will be required to fulfill admission requirements to the George W. Truett Theological Seminary, the Graduate School, and the School of Music. Students must apply and be admitted to each of the programs. Upon commencing seminary studies, the student may enroll in courses in both programs.
Requirements
Students will complete sixty semester hours of the theological education core, three hours of elective, twelve hours of music concentration courses, and twelve hours of Master of Music courses to satisfy requirements for the Master of Divinity. To complete requirements for the Master of Music degree, an additional eighteen semester hours will be taken from the Church Music degree program in one of the following five options: Thesis, Performance, Conducting, Church Ministry, or Composition. Since both degrees are awarded simultaneously, all requirements in both schools must be completed in order to receive either degree.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Theological Education Core Courses | ||
| Introductory Courses 1 | ||
| THEO 7340 | Introduction to Christian Scriptures | 3 |
| THEO 7341 | Introduction to Christian History and Theology | 3 |
| Spiritual Formation | ||
| PRTH 7101 | Spiritual Formation I | 1 |
| PRTH 7102 | Spiritual Formation II | 1 |
| PRTH 7103 | Spiritual Formation III | 1 |
| PRTH 7004 | Spiritual Formation Retreat | 0 |
| Christian Scriptures | ||
| THEO 7370 | Christian Scriptures I | 3 |
| THEO 7372 | Christian Scriptures II | 3 |
| THEO 7371 | Christian Scriptures III | 3 |
| THEO 7373 | Christian Scriptures IV | 3 |
| Christian Theology | ||
| THEO 7360 | Christian Texts and Traditions I | 3 |
| THEO 7361 | Christian Texts and Traditions II | 3 |
| THEO 7362 | Christian Texts and Traditions III | 3 |
| THEO 7382 | Constructive Theology | 3 |
| THEO 7396 | The Baptist Identity | 3 |
| Christian Ministry | ||
| LEAD 7301 | Leadership for Ministry | 3 |
| or PAST 7330 | Introduction to Pastoral Care | |
| WOCW 7385 | Introduction to Christian Witness and Mission | 3 |
| PRCH 7316 | Preaching I | 3 |
| THEO 7316 | Christian Worship | 3 |
| PRTH 7391 | Integrative Seminar: Faith and Practice | 3 |
| MENT 7V00 | Mentoring in Ministry | 9 |
| Elective | ||
| Select three semester hours | 3 | |
| Music Concentration Courses | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| MUS 4374 | The Song of the Church | 3 |
| MUS 4375 | Leadership in Music Ministry | 3 |
| MUS 5342 | Choral/Vocal Music Ministry | 3 |
| or MUS 5351 | Sacred Choral Literature | |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Studies in Worship | ||
| Congregational Song in Global Perspective | ||
| Congregational Song in Historical Perspective | ||
| Leading the Church's Song | ||
| Perspectives on Worship | ||
| Worship in Global Perspective | ||
| Liturgical Traditions | ||
| Resources for Worship | ||
| Master of Music Courses | ||
| These courses are credited toward the Master of Divinity degree upon the successful completion of the Master of Music degree. | ||
| MUS 5302 | Analytical Techniques | 3 |
| MUS 5320 | Research Methods and Bibliography | 3 |
| Musicology Seminar | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Seminar in The Middle Ages | ||
| Seminar in The Renaissance Era | ||
| Seminar in The Baroque Era | ||
| Seminar in The Classic Era | ||
| Seminar in The Romantic Era | ||
| Seminar in Music of World War I to the Present | ||
| MUS 4259 | Fundamentals of Conducting | 2 |
| or MUS 5251 | Advanced Choral Conducting | |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Special Research Problems | ||
One hour of graduate applied music | ||
| MUS 5037 | Church Music Forum (4 semesters) | 0 |
| Ensemble (4 semesters) | ||
| Covenant Group | ||
| Complete 4 semesters | ||
| Lifelong Learning Units | ||
| Satisfactory completion of 200 Lifelong Learning Units. | ||
| Master of Divinity | ||
| Six hours of Master of Divinity credits are accepted toward the Master of Music degree upon the successful completion of the Master of Divinity degree. | ||
| Master of Music | ||
| The Master of Music degree requires an additional eighteen hours of Music School courses selected from one of the five options below: | 18 | |
| Option A: Thesis | ||
| Thesis | ||
Applied | ||
Additional course from Church Music core (under III above) | ||
Church Music Electives | ||
General music Electives | ||
After the completion of applied study, students are required to present a performance project (representative program of works appropriate for church in the student’s performance medium) to the church music faculty. | ||
| Option B. Performance | ||
Applied | ||
| Graduate Recital | ||
| Performance Document 2 | ||
Church Music Electives | ||
General music Electives | ||
Piano proficiency of level IVs is required for vocal, instrumental, and organ emphasis areas, level VIIs for piano emphasis. In the vocal and organ emphasis areas the recital will consist primarily of sacred music; a collaborative and/or solo recital will be acceptable for a piano emphasis. | ||
| Option C: Conducting | ||
Conducting and Choral Literature 3 | ||
| Graduate Recital 4 | ||
| Performance Document 5 | ||
Church Music Electives | ||
General music Electives | ||
To be admitted to the conducting option the candidate must submit a video of conducting which will be evaluated by the conducting and church music faculties. In consultation with the church music faculty and appropriate conducting faculty, the student will select repertoire that reflects music from a variety of styles and periods. Approximately six anthems will be prepared under the supervision of the church music and choral conducting faculties. | ||
| Option D: Church Ministry | ||
Additional course from Church Music core (under III above) | ||
Applied | ||
Church Music Electives | ||
General music Electives | ||
| Option E: Composition | ||
Composition 6 | ||
| Graduate Recital | ||
Church Music Electives | ||
General music Electives | ||
| Total Hours | 105 | |
- 1
These are required courses; however, based upon previous academic experience, students may petition to waive or substitute these courses. Introductory courses are waived from the degree plan by passing an advanced standing exam.
- 2
The document that accompanies the recital MUS 5141 Performance Document will be supervised by the church music faculty in cooperation with the appropriate applied faculty member(s).
- 3
Courses to be selected from MUS 5260 Orchestral Conducting, MUS 5251 Advanced Choral Conducting, MUS 5282 Band Conducting, MUS 4337 Choral Literature, and MUS 5270 Applied Conducting.
- 4
For the conducting project (MUS 5170 Graduate Recital) the student will assemble a choir.
- 5
The document (MUS 5141 Performance Document), which will be related to the repertoire of the concert or service, will be written under the supervision of the church music faculty.
- 6
Courses to be selected from MUS 4203 Electroacoustic Music Composition, MUS 5207 Graduate Composition I, MUS 5208 Graduate Composition II, MUS 5209 Graduation Composition III, or MUS 5V89 Special Research Problems.