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Applications are now open for January 2024!

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.

Upcoming Events

  • Intensive week for MWS & DWS Students: June 21-28, 2023
  • New Student Orientation: Wednesday, June 21
  • Opening Convocation: Wednesday, June 21
  • Graduation: Sunday, June 25
  • Worship Seminar: June 26 & 27, 2023

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.

Why IWS?

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! 

Prospective Student Event

June 29, 2023 at 7pm EDT

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:

  • What makes IWS unique?
  • What is the program commitment like?
  • How do I finance my education?

Mission

The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies forms servant leaders in Christian worship renewal and education through graduate academic praxis, grounded in biblical, historical, theological, formational, cultural and missiological reflection in community.

Vision

IWS graduates will be academically and spiritually formed servant leaders who participate intentionally in the story of the Triune God, fostering renewal in the local and global church by shaping life and ministry according to the fullness of that story.

Values

We are committed the unity of all knowledge of God’s story in history and in ministry as applied theology. We do not sever ministry from God’s story, but situate it in God’s story through reflection in the biblical, historical, theological, formational, cultural and missiological disciplines. We seek therefore to form all ministry by the Divine Narrative.

Education & Community

At IWS, you will meet other Christian leaders and teachers who share your same visions, passions, struggles, and questions. We value providing an environment that fosters and nurtures relationships over shared meals, morning chapel sessions, and evening worship workshops during the campus sessions. We are a community that prays, studies, and grows together.