Do you long to think more deeply, purposefully, and formationally about your own tradition’s approach to worship? Do you desire to understand worship from a biblical and theological perspective? Do you feel unprepared to apply principles of worship in an applicable and practical way to your congregation each week? Do you need a community of like-minded worship leaders to pray and have fellowship with?
At The Institute for Worship Studies, you will accumulate more than mere head knowledge and a graduate degree in worship — you will apply what you learn in the classroom within your own ministry context and develop lifelong friendships that encourage and inspire you in your own relationship with Jesus Christ as you lead others in Christian worship.
IWS offers two worship graduate degree programs, the Master of Worship Studies (MWS) and the Doctor of Worship Studies (DWS), and two non-degree certificate programs that are grounded in biblical theology. Courses are offered through a hybrid of on-campus intensives and distance learning to offer both a deep sense of connection among our community along with the convenience of online learning.
Students, faculty, and staff gather from around the globe for our upcoming intensive session for eight days at our Jacksonville, FL, campus.
The on-campus experience is semi-monastic, designed to create a strong sense of community among the students, faculty, and staff of the Institute. The rhythmic daily schedule allows the community to focus on corporate times of worshiping, studying, eating, fellowshipping, and ministering together.
More and more worship leaders, professors of church music, music ministers, and pastors realize there is a gap in their education.
They have the music education and the skills for music and worship leadership, but they lack the knowledge of the biblical foundations, historical development, theological reflection, formational content, and cultural analysis for effective worship ministry in today’s world.
IWS was founded by Robert E. Webber to meet this need and prepare leaders for the challenging task of worship ministry in a complex and rapidly changing world.
We’re glad you’ve found your way here. We hope can impact your ministry and explore worship transformation together!
You are warmly invited to our free online preview event for prospective students on Thursday, June 29th, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (US Eastern Time) via Zoom.
Spend an hour with us exploring your options as a student, hear from a faculty member and a current student or alumnus, and let us know what questions you have!
We will cover the following topics and more:
