Why Major in Worship & the Arts?
Christians through the ages have explored and expressed their faith through music, poetry, visual art, liturgy, and many other forms of artistry. In the Worship & the Arts major, you will be introduced to the history, theology, and practice of Christian worship and the arts. As you move through the program, you will be equipped with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and practical skills you need to use your creative gifts to serve the church and the world. Within our vibrant and supportive community, you will find friends and faculty mentors who invest in your academic work, spiritual formation, and vocational discernment.
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What You'll Learn
- You will gain deep knowledge of the history, theology, and practice of Christian worship and the arts.
- You will gain valuable practical experience designing and leading worship services.
- You will have great conversations about worship and the arts.
- You will grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially.
- You will explore what it means to be wise and to live a good life.
- You will be mentored by excellent professors.
Program Details
Curriculum
The Worship and the Arts major can be combined with a variety of minors, including those that equip students with skills that support the practice of worship and the arts. This major leads to the Bachelor of Arts(B.A.) and requires a totla of 128 credit hours of coursework:
- BELL core requirements: 55 hours (includes 9 hours of specific religion courses)
- Religion Core courses: 18 hours
- Bible and Theology Area courses: 15 hours
- Minor area: 18 hours
- General electives: 22 hours
Courses You'll Take
- REL 1410, Vocation and the Christian Life
An introduction to the study of religion with emphasis on research skills, writing, and personal development. - REL 2310, Turning Points in Christianity
A survey of the history of Christianity from the first century to the present that explores significant ideas, persons, movements, and institutions. - REL 2350, Who is God?
A study of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. - REL 2360, Interpreting the Bible
Course explores the practices of interpretation, biblical interpretation, and the influences of culture, environment, and presupposition in the interpretive experience. - REL 2410, Spiritual Formation
An emphasis upon using an entire lifetime to be formed by God. The course focuses upon personal discipline, spiritual reading, journal keeping, and dream interpretation as a means of being attentive to God. - REL 2510, The Meaning of Life
An introduction to Christian Ethics, with attention given to methodology, biblical foundations, types of ethical thought, and Christian responsibility in relation to current social problems.
Area Courses
- REL 2450, Dynamics of the Local Church
A course designed to develop practical leadership skills for Christian ministry including time and money management, interpersonal relationships, decision making, leadership style, planning, organizing, and directing. - REL 3430, Pastoral Care
The course will introduce students to the ministry of pastoral care, its history, traditions, and necessary skills within a variety of ministry settings. - REL 3450, Missions and Church Development
Course explores historic approaches to the missionary emphasis and development of the Christian church, with emphasis given to emerging strategies for missions and church development. - REL 3460, Worship and Preaching
A study of worship as the rehearsal of the acts of God by a believing community. Attention is given to the principles of preaching as part of worship. - REL 4410, Servant Leadership
Exploration of current leadership theories and their application to the Christian Leadership environment. Particular attention given to the transformational aspects of servant leadership. - REL 4440, Pastoral Counseling
An emphasis upon uniqueness of the pastoral role, levels of counseling, theoretical frameworks for counseling, attention to specific crises, and practical steps in learning the art of counseling. - REL 4450, Studies in Spiritual Formation
This course will include a historical survey and research into current implications of the contemplative tradition. - REL 2340, Martyrs, Mystics and Saints
A historical, biographical, and theological approach to significant lives and practices from Judeo-Christian tradition. - REL 3380, Faith and Beauty
Course explores the interaction between aesthetics and theological reflection. Emphasis placed upon historical, theological, and philosophical discussions that engage culture and religion. - REL 4310, History of Religion in America
A survey of the history of American religion from colonial beginnings in the New World to contemporary religious expressions that explores the interaction of American culture and religious faith. - REL 4355, Theology and the Worship Arts
Examines the role theology plays in the development and presentation of worship arts and worship leadership. - REL 4360, Theology and Literature
Examines the role theology plays in the development and presentation of literature. Particular attention given to the influence of the biblical canon in literature and literary themes. - REL 4380, Theology and the Arts
Examines the role theology plays in the development and presentation of art. - REL 4390, Religion and Arts Symposium
An integrative experience that requires the student to bring together the theory and practice of religion and the arts. - REL 3210, Gender and the Bible
Students will investigate the interplay of male and female in scripture and in religious contexts, the dynamic of gender in biblical narratives, the teachings of scripture related to gender and religious traditions. - REL 3220, The Pentateuch
A comprehensive study of the first five books of the Bible. Some attention is given to theories of composition, with the primary focus being the literary structure of the final form of the text. - REL 3250, Johannine Literature
A study is made of the Gospel of John, the epistles of John, and the Revelation. - REL 4220, The Prophetic Literature
A survey of the Old Testament Prophets in their cultural and historical setting, with a focus on the literary structure of the prophetic scrolls and their theological teachings. - REL 4250, Life and Letters of Paul
A study of the Acts of the Apostles as it relates to the life and work of Paul, also the Pauline epistles as related to the history of Acts. - REL 3510, Poverty and Justice
A study of poverty and homelessness in the United States and the world in light of social, biblical, and theological approaches to economic justice. - REL 3520, Faith and Justice
An introduction to a theology of justice in the history of Christian thought, to theories of justice in the Western intellectual tradition, to contemporary practices of justice and the issues which initiated them, and the contemporary components of social change that draw up on the rich tradition of justice grounded in Christian faith. - REL 3540, Eco-Justice and Faith
This course explores ways in which theologies, spiritual traditions, and social ethics guide and motivate human beings in their interaction with the environment. The course examines the tensions between religion and science in order to see how those have an effect on the way we think about the environment. - REL 4560, Moral Vision of the Bible
An examination of the Bible as a primary source for Christian ethics. Attention will be given to the moral norms, critical challenges, and interpretive methodologies that accompany the function and place of the Bible in Christian moral discourse. This course will make explicit the relationship between Christian ethics, the Christian canon, and the life of the church. - REL 3550, Faith and Popular Culture
Course explores the cultural dimensions that affect faith formation and attitudes. Examines how faith acts to enable individuals to construct meaning, understand life purpose, and move toward greater authenticity. - REL 3440, Internship
A field experience designed to provide practical experience in a ministry setting. - REL 4015, Senior Capstone*
A colloquium designed as a capstone experience for majors that integrates biblical, theological, historical, and practical studies. The course focuses on the student as a practicing theologian.
*Hours for this course reside in the BELL Core requirements
Every major in the School of Theology and Christian Ministry aims at whole person formation. Students are invited into a vibrant and supportive academic community and are offered numerous opportunities to grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially. As they learn to see in the light of Christ and grow in knowledge and wisdom, students develop the skills and habits they need to creatively pursue lives of meaning and purpose. This process happens inside and outside the classroom as students make use of the wide range of opportunities available to them.
- Explore the world. From addressing the AIDS epidemic in Botswana to visiting important biblical sites to walking pilgrimage in Scotland or Spain, our numerous study-abroad programs immerse you in transformative experiences around the globe.
- Engage in service. From mentoring refugee families to providing art therapy for the homeless, you will find countless opportunities to serve.
- Gain practical experience. Our internship program offers hands-on opportunities to explore your vocation and receive valuable insight from mentors. Our students gain experience in ministry, media, education, legal advocacy, non-profit work, community arts, and countless other settings. They are involved in everything from educating children to opposing human trafficking and food insecurity to leading worship and offering pastoral care.
- Join a club. From honor societies to faith-based groups, our student organizations help deepen your faith while broadening your horizons and creating enduring friendships.
- Conduct original research. Our students partner with professors, create original research, travel to deliver papers at academic conferences, participate in Belmont’s SPARK Symposium, and engage in numerous other forms of research.
The STCM has benefitted from the generosity of many donors over the years. This allows us to award scholarships to multiple students each year, including two full-tuition scholarships: the Madden Scholarship and the Servant Leader Scholarship. If you apply to any STCM major before December 1, you will automatically be considered for scholarships.
Learn from the Best
Our Christ-centered faculty represent a wide range of Christian traditions and theological perspectives. Each is an excellent teacher and mentor to students, and many are also well-known scholars and authors.
Christina Carnes Ananias
Marty Bell
Email: marty.bell@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2022
Cory Bishop
Email: cory.bishop@belmont.edu
Office Location: JMC 361
Manuel Cruz
Email: manuel.cruz@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2033
Cynthia A. Curtis
Email: ca.curtis@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2004
David Dark
Email: david.dark@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2026
Bradley Daugherty
Email: brad.daugherty@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2060
Steve Guthrie
Email: steve.guthrie@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2025
Darrell Gwaltney
Email: darrell.gwaltney@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2037
Donovan McAbee
Email: donovan.mcabee@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2024
Mark McEntire
Email: mark.mcentire@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2028
Amanda Miller
Email: amanda.miller@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2012
Gideon Park
Email: gideon.park@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2033
Adam Perez
Email: adam.perez@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2015
Steve Reed
Email: steven.reed@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2060
Dr. Christy Ridings
Jon R. Roebuck
Email: jon.roebuck@belmont.edu
Office Location: Barbara Massey Rogers Center 215
Judy Skeen
Email: judy.skeen@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2008
Chris Thiessen
Email: chris.thiessen@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 3033
Andy Watts
Email: andy.watts@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2021
Career Possibilities
As students are formed by their experiences in the Worship and the Arts major, they grow in knowledge and wisdom, and they develop the skills employers across all industries today are seeking: clear and persuasive communication; the capacity to see issues from multiple perspectives; the ability to listen with empathy and curiosity; the emotional intelligence to work well in teams; the creativity to solve complex problems; and the patience and attention needed for deep literacy and conceptual analysis. Here are just a few of the career paths Worship and the Arts majors take:
Worship leaders guide congregations in musical and artistic expressions of praise, creating meaningful and spiritually rich worship experiences. The Worship and the Arts major equips students with the theological grounding for developing creative vision, as well as wide array of experiences to lead worship that are both theologically beautiful and artistically engaging.
Artists use visual, musical, or performance mediums to express truth, evoke emotion, and inspire reflection. With a background in Worship and the Arts, artists are empowered to create work that communicates faith, beauty, and meaning rooted in a deep understanding of the Christian worship tradition, contemporary worship practices, scripture and liturgy, and the theology of art.
Professors teach and mentor students in higher education, often specializing in the arts, theology, or worship studies. The Worship and the Arts major provides students with a strong foundation in both creative practice and theological reflection, allowing aspiring professors to learn what it looks like to guide students in integrating faith and artistic expression in the classroom and the church.
Pastors provide spiritual leadership, preach the Word, and cultivate worship and community life within the church. The Worship and the Arts major prepares future and present pastors to foster vibrant worship cultures, understand liturgy and creativity, and minister in ways that engage the heart, mind, and senses.
Entrepreneurs develop innovative businesses, ministries, or creative ventures that meet needs or inspire change. With training in Worship and the Arts, they can build ventures that merge creativity, worship, and mission—bringing beauty and purpose into the marketplace or church context.
Authors craft stories, devotionals, teaching materials, or theological reflections that inform, inspire, or challenge readers. The Worship and the Arts major equips aspiring writers with biblical tools to weave insights about humanity, artistic insight gained from the writings of a deep tradition, and a spiritual depth gained through critical reflection into their written work.
Mikey Rogers
“My time in Belmont’s School of Theology and Christian Ministry was wonderful and challenging. I was able to learn from and alongside an amazing community of faculty and students, many of whom have experiences, convictions, and expressions of Christian faith that differ from my own. This community of faithful learning softened my heart and sharpened my mind, teaching me to think through what I believe and learn from and appreciate others even if we disagree. As a Religion & The Arts Major, many of my class conversations explored how the Christian story relates to cultural expressions like poetry, music, and paintings. Those classes and the conversations they fostered taught me how to see God at work in every corner of our beautiful and broken world, and for that I am deeply grateful.”
FAQs
Belmont is a Christ-centered ecumenical university. Our faculty are committed Christian scholars and teachers who represent a wide range of Christian traditions and theological perspectives.
No, an audition is not required because the program is not a music performance degree, but rather focuses on the hands-on experience and the practical skills needed to use your creative gifts to serve the church and the world.
In addition to various kinds of hands-on experiences built into the courses you will take, every student also does an intership that offers valuable hands-on experience in worship settings.
Yes, while this program is open to students with a variety of creative interests, those interested in music can collaborate with Belmont's music programs in multiple ways.
Yes. All four majors in the School of Theology and Christian Ministry include an internship. These internships are in a wide variety of contexts. Study abroad and international mission opportunities are widely available.
Contact Us
College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Addison Wallace
Admissions Coordinator
615.460.8335