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Minor
An 18-credit minor across theology of worship, worship leadership, band leadership, worship technology, and creative innovation — for students preparing to lead worship in real church settings.
Theology + Practice
BIB 323 Theology of Worship + worship leadership courses
Three MMN Courses
Band Leader, Worship Leader, Worship Desk
Tech and Innovation
MTE 220 + MTE 325 Music, Technology, and Creative Innovation
ACU’s Worship Minor is built for students preparing to lead worship in churches, parachurch organizations, and Christian schools — and for non-music majors who want to engage worship leadership with both theological depth and practical skill. The 15-credit core combines Theology of Worship (BIB 323), three Music Ministry courses (Band Leader, Worship Leader, Worship Desk), and Music, Technology, and Creative Innovation (MTE 325). Computer-Based Music Production (MTE 220, 3 cr) is the foundational prerequisite that may overlap with other coursework.
The minor adds two credits of applied lessons on the instrument or voice you want to develop and one credit of worship-focused performance ensemble — Chorale (MEC 100) or Praise Band (MEP 100). The combination of theology, leadership, technology, and performance gives you the integrated preparation real worship leadership requires.
Pairs especially naturally with Christian Ministries, Communication, Education, Music, and any major where leading worship will be part of where you’re headed after ACU.
Engage Theology of Worship
Work through what Scripture and the Christian tradition teach about worship — the theological foundation worship leadership requires.
Lead a Worship Band
Build the practical skills of leading a worship band — musical direction, communication, rehearsal, performance.
Lead Worship Itself
Develop the skills specific to leading worship — congregational engagement, song selection, transitions, pastoral awareness.
Operate Worship Tech
Learn the worship desk — audio, lighting, presentation tech, and the broader production work modern worship requires.
Innovate Creatively
Apply music technology and creative innovation to worship — how worship arts can serve congregations in new and faithful ways.
Stay Anchored in Musicianship
Take two credits of applied lessons and one credit of ensemble work — worship leaders should be musicians, not just leaders.
A Biblical Worldview takes worship seriously — both as the central act of the church's life and as work that requires careful theological, musical, and pastoral preparation.
Worship as Church's Central Act
Scripture treats worship as central to the people of God — from the Psalms forward, gathered worship is where the church meets, encounters, and responds to God. BIB 323 Theology of Worship treats that conviction as foundational rather than peripheral to the minor's work.
Grounds your worship leadership in the conviction that what you're doing matters far beyond the music.
Leadership as Service to the Congregation
Worship leadership done well serves the congregation — helping people engage God, not performing for them. The three Music Ministry courses (Band Leader, Worship Leader, Worship Desk) treat that service posture as the working assumption, not as an aspirational slogan.
Equips you to lead worship in a way that points away from yourself.
Excellence as Stewardship
Musical, theological, and technical excellence in worship aren't ego pursuits — they're forms of stewardship of what congregations have entrusted to worship leaders. The minor's combination of theology, leadership, tech, and musicianship reflects that conviction."
Anchors your worship leadership in patient skill development.
The Worship Minor opens doors across worship ministry, music ministry, worship arts, and any setting where leading congregational worship is part of the work.
Worship Pastor or Worship Leader
Step into worship leadership roles in churches, college ministries, and parachurch organizations.
Music Ministry Director
Lead broader music ministries that include worship, choirs, ensembles, and special-occasion music.
Worship Arts Production
Combine the minor's worship leadership and music technology preparation for worship-production careers.
Christian School Chapel and Worship
Lead chapel programs, worship gatherings, and music ministry in Christian schools.
Worship Songwriter and Recording
Apply MTE preparation and worship leadership together for worship songwriting, recording, and creative ministry work.
Bridge to Seminary Worship and Music Programs
Build foundation for graduate worship studies, sacred music, or seminary programs with worship-arts emphasis.
The Worship Minor at ACU stands out for combining theology, leadership, music technology, and applied musicianship — the four pieces real worship leadership requires.
Theology of Worship Required
BIB 323 Theology of Worship sits in the required core — theological grounding for the practical leadership work.
Three Music Ministry Courses
Band Leader (MMN 300), Worship Leader (MMN 301), and Worship Desk (MMN 424) cover the leadership and technical sides of worship work.
Music Technology Built In
MTE 220 Computer-Based Music Production (prereq) and MTE 325 Music, Technology, and Creative Innovation bring the modern production side into the minor.
Applied Lessons + Performance Ensemble
Two credits of applied lessons and one credit of Chorale or Praise Band keep the minor anchored in real musicianship.
Same Faculty as the BS Music Worship Concentration
Worship Minor students sit in the same courses with the same professors as ACU's BS Music students pursuing the Worship concentration.
The Worship Minor builds on MTE 220 as a prerequisite — talk with the Music Department early to plan your applied-lesson placement and ensemble audition.
Talk With the Music Department
The Department of Music will help you place into the right applied lesson and audition for Chorale or Praise Band.
Take MTE 220 Early
MTE 220 Computer-Based Music Production is the prerequisite that opens MTE 325 in the required core. Schedule it freshman or sophomore year.
Build Toward MMN 300 and 301
MMN 300 Band Leader requires MUS 293. If you're planning to add Music Theory work, plan the sequence with the department.
Audition for Praise Band or Chorale
The 1-credit performance ensemble requirement (MEC 100 or MEP 100) requires audition or instructor approval.
The Worship Minor pairs theology, leadership, music technology, and applied musicianship — the integrated preparation real worship leadership requires. Apply or reach out today.
