Music: B.A. (Worship Studies Concentration)

Worship is vital in the life of the local church and in the spiritual formation of its people. Ouachita takes seriously the opportunity to develop the young men and women who will be placed in these ever-changing leadership roles. At Ouachita, students are equipped not only with superior musical skills but also with a biblical foundation for ministry. With vocal, keyboard, instrumental and guitar emphases, the Bachelor of Arts degree program in music with a concentration in worship studies trains future worship leaders to embrace diverse worship styles. With state-of-the-art facilities like the new Worship Lab, students will have opportunities not only to learn, but to put what they have learned into practice.

At Ouachita, our Worship Studies slogan speaks of preparing students to lead in Any Church, Any Size, and Any Style. During their time here, students will begin to create a network with current worship leaders across our state and the nation. They will have opportunities to lead other students in worship, to serve in internships and to lead a senior worship project. Our students will be prepared to follow their calling wherever the Lord may lead them.

Church worship pastor/leader

Student ministry worship leader/mentor

Church planter

Missionary

Song writer

Musician

Congregational Worship

NextGen Worship

Songwriting and Arranging for Worship

Technology and Media for Worship

Worship Administration and Leadership

Worship Practicum

Senior Worship Project

View the Ouachita catalog for a full course listing with course descriptions.

Christian Studies

Communications & Media

Music Performance

Music Industry

Music Education

Community & Family Services

Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in music while preparing for the field of worship studies with focused vocal, keyboard, guitar and instrumental studies.

View the detailed degree requirements PDF to see all courses included in the program.

Learn more about the School of Performing Arts and the Department of Worship Studies.

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Graduation Rate

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150-Hour Internship

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Program Emphases

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Semesters of Hands-On Practicum

"My time and experience as a worship arts student were invaluable and extremely formative. With complete integrity, I can say I would not be where I am today if not for Ouachita’s worship arts program. In areas such as personal relationships, practicality and theology, I benefit daily from what I learned as a student at Ouachita. The program continues to be a strong and relevant training ground for worship leaders."

Cory Epps headshot Cory Epps, 2013 Bachelor of Arts in music graduate
worship leader, First Baptist Church of Rogers, Ark.

Ministry Training

We believe nurturing your spiritual walk and biblical understanding is essential to your effectiveness in serving the Church. While every worship studies student will be trained in voice, keyboard and guitar, this is just one facet of your education. You’ll study the transformation of worship over the centuries as well as today’s ever-changing landscape; you’ll also take courses in Christian studies to biblically ground your approach to worship.

Immersive Education

As a worship studies student, you will take eight semesters of Worship Practicum—providing opportunities for rehearsing and leading with bands/praise teams and worship choirs. And because you will share these training experiences collectively with your classmates and under the expert teaching of professionals in the field, you will gain a breadth of experience, be encouraged and challenged alongside your peers and be strengthened in each area of ministry.

Hands-on Experience

Thanks to Ouachita’s strong history of producing worship leaders and more than 130-year relationship with Arkansas Baptist churches, students often are placed in long- and short-term ministry roles during their college career. And they all complete a 150-hour ministry internship that includes one-on-one leadership training with a mentor and a broad array of stylistically-inclusive training opportunities to prepare them for service in Any Church, Any Size, and Any Style.

The Larry Grayson Worship Studies Lab

Dedicated in April 2025, the Larry Grayson Worship Studies Lab offers students a microcosm of the local church in which they can put classroom discussions into practice. The Worship Lab is a ninety-seat worship space that is used for rehearsals, worship gatherings, classes and Senior Worship Projects. The Worship Lab contains a Nord Stage 4, Kasey Earl designed Drum Set and other instruments commonly used in worship settings. The Worship Lab also boasts equipment for learning about lights, audio, projection and live streaming.

Ouachita dedicates Larry Grayson Worship Studies Suite

Ouachita Baptist University’s new worship studies facilities in Mabee Fine Arts Center have been named in honor of Larry Grayson, instructor and chair of the university’s Department of Worship Studies. The suite, which includes a lab-style worship space and a multipurpose lobby area, was officially dedicated in a ceremony on April 24.

A musical presented in Jones Performing Arts Center

Ouachita's Department of Theatre Arts presents "Hello, Dolly!" April 10-13

The Department of Theatre Arts in Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Performing Arts will present its spring musical, “Hello, Dolly!,” from Thursday-Sunday, April 10-13 in Jones Performing Arts Center. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

Ouachita concert and lecture to honor McBeth

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music in the School of Performing Arts will host a concert to honor the legacy of Dr. W. Francis McBeth (1933 – 2012), professor emeritus of music, on the 50th anniversary of his being named Arkansas’ composer laureate.

McBeth Recital Hall at Ouachita Baptist University

Ouachita seniors Hardin and Ricks to perform recital November 15

The Division of Music in Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts will present Amaya Hardin and Mac Ricks in their senior musical theatre recital, entitled “Curtain Call,” at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, in McBeth Recital Hall.

Ouachita's School of Performing Arts offers first music therapy class

Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Performing Arts is offering its first music therapy course beginning in Fall 2024.

Program Details

Worship Practicum (7 semesters required, or 1 per semester for transfer students)
Foundations of Worship Ministry
Survey of Worship Music
Foundation for Next Gen Worshipers
Worship Administration and Leadership
Technology and Media for Worship
Song Writing and Arranging for Worship
Directing for Rhythm Section
Congregational Worship
Internship
Senior Worship Project

Spiritual Formation
6 hours of Christian Ministries courses
6 hours from Biblical Studies and Theology courses

Vocal Diction
Applied Guitar (2 semesters)
Principles of Conducting
Choral Conducting
Ensembles (each semester of enrollment)
2 hours of music electives

Piano Seminar (each semester of enrollment)
Applied Guitar (2 semesters)
Principals of Conducting
Choral Conducting OR Instrumental Conducting
Ensembles (each semester of enrollment)

Guitar Seminar (8 semesters)
Applied Voice (2 semesters)
Principles of Conducting
Choral Conducting or Instrumental Conducting
Ensembles (each semester of enrollment)
Concert Choir

Instrumental Seminar (Applied area, each semester of enrollment)
Applied Guitar
Applied Voice (2 semesters)
Ensembles (each semester of enrollment)
Concert Choir (2 semesters)
Principles of Conducting
Instrumental Conducting

School of Performing Arts

The School of Performing Arts is committed to providing you with an outstanding experience in wonderful facilities with cutting-edge instruments and equipment. We strive for a balance between a Christian education and professional education through a challenging atmosphere of creativity and collaboration. We are dedicated to facilitating critical thinking, the creative process and personal expression by developing and maintaining curricular and performance programming which emphasizes the creative process.

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