Master of Sacred Music

People playing music on stage during a worship service

The Master of Sacred Music is a Hybrid, Low-Residency degree intended to advance the careers and enhance the ministerial effectiveness of Worship Leaders, Music Ministers, and students of Sacred Music who have already achieved an undergraduate music degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. This highly selective program offers limited enrollment, with no more than 12 students being allowed per year across all programs (Certificate and Masters combined). Residency requirements are 2 non-consecutive weeks per year, with 1 required week coinciding with the Sacred Music Summit in late January or early February. The second week of residency requirement may be fulfilled by participating in Mercer’s international programs such as the Mercer on Mission in Morocco – Waging Peace Through Music program, which is available to students at no extra cost, or by recording a Capstone project at Macon’s world-famous Mercer Music at Capricorn studio. Compelling Capstone projects will be eligible for complementary studio time. Students who participate in the Mercer on Mission program in addition to the annual Summit will be considered to have met all residency requirements for their degree. Other options for fulfilling the second week of annual residency are available on a case-by-case basis.

Utilizing technological innovation to resource Sacred Musicians where they are, all courses will be delivered either as online or distance education, or as intensives during Summit Week or Mercer on Mission. Online courses will be taught as 8- or 16-week semester courses. Sacred Music courses will be taught as 8-week courses consisting of 4 modules, with 2 courses being offered each semester.

Sacred Music Courses (17 credits)

  • TMI 632: Music in Christian Worship (3 credits)
  • TMI 631: Song of the Church (3 credits)
  • TMI 622: Music Theology (2 credits)
  • TMI 621: Philosophy and Administration (2 credits)
  • TMI 611-614: Spec. Tpcs: Ethics, Race, Research Methods, Pop, MoM 3 credits (pick)
  • TMI 690: Thesis (1-3 credits per semester) 4 Credits
  • TMI 691: Thesis Defense (0 credits)

Other Studies in Music and Theology (14 hours)

  • MAC 605: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Music | required (3 credit)
  • THPT 507: The Theology and Art of Gathering God’s People | required (3 credit)
  • THSP 511: Spiritual Formation 1 (1 credit)
  • THSP 512: Spiritual Formation 2 (1 credit)
  • MAC 620: Historical Study of Musical Styles and Literature (3 credit)
    or
  • THCH 500: Foundations in Church History
  • MAC 656: Analytical Techniques I (3 credit)
    or
  • THTP 500: Foundations in Theology (Pre-Req: TMCH 500)

Total: 31 Credits