The purpose of the Doctorate program is not only to educate, but to encourage spiritual formation so as to prepare the student to minister to both the minds and hearts of God’s people. The Institute for Worship Studies will help you:
The Doctoral program requires 36 credit hours, consisting of one online course earning 2 credit hours, four hybrid on-campus core courses of 6 credit hours each, one hybrid on-campus core course of 8 credit hours, and 3 practicum lab courses totaling 2 hours. The D.W.S. program can be completed in 3 years. To access a course schedule for the D.W.S. program, please see “How Does IWS Work?” New DWS students are evaluated in terms of their scriptural knowledge and application competency. Some applicants may need to complete additional work in this area based on their master’s level courses. In some cases, new students will be required to complete a Bible Self-Assessment and to matriculate in the IWS course BIB 501B. This self-assessment module and the BIB 501B course would be taken to meet additional biblical studies and hermeneutics requirements.
The first online course is designed to be taken prior to DWS 701 and if BIB 501B is required, it will be taken concurrently with DWS 701. All online courses are sequenced so that no student is working on more than two courses at any one time during the semester. Any online courses may be taken prior to DWS 701 if the timing works, at either the student’s request or the registrar or academic dean’s request.
Melody Kuphal, 2 credit hours
This course guides a student through researching and writing graduate-level papers, particularly in the discipline of worship studies. It is offered in a completely online, six week format.
Andrew Hill & Alan Rathe, 6 credit hours
Beginning with a study of the theology, institutions and practice of worship in Scripture, this course explores the ways in which biblical models can inspire worship renewal today. The biblical foundations side of the course surveys the history of biblical worship, it’s theological foundations, and the practice of worship as reported in the old New Testament. Special emphasis includes investigating the relationship between spirituality and corporate worship, addressing the concepts of sacred time and sacred space, examining the place of the Psalms in Hebrew and Christian worship, probing the idea of worship as spiritual warfare, and exploring the Hebrew roots of Christian worship. His historical side of the course includes a survey of Christian worship through the centuries. This section of the course exposes the students to worship in every period of Christian history in both the eastern and western churches. Special attention is given to exploring historical ships and how Christian people have understood God, the church, salvation, and the church-culture intersection with respect to worship.
Constance Cherry and Jeff Barker, 6 credit hours
Corporate worship of the Triune God is the yet Worship is always offered and changing central Corporate worship of the Trion god is the central, ongoing occupation of the Christian community. Yet Worship is always offered and changing times, places and cultural context. Therefore worship renewal that is grounded and some theological reflection is often necessary. This is especially true. Today churches seek to take into consideration the shift into a post-modern world. This course explains how the content, form, and styles of worship are in live and through intentional worship design and the expression of the arts. Special attention is given to the ministries of music, the performing arts, and the fine arts.
Daniel Sharp and Jack Van Marion, 6 credit hours
This course focuses on the way the church celebrates the mighty acts of God in Jesus Christ to the observance of the Christian year. It deals with services of worship for the seasons of the Christian year, from advent through Pentecost, and also addresses ordinary time and the daily office of prayer. Special emphasis is placed in the Evangelical nature of the Christian traditions to current practice. Because the study of the Christian year typically leads to the scriptures, this course guides students to the biblical theological significance of each season, including the Saint Toral cycle. This course gives students insights to be used in their ministries of music and worship through the Christian year.
Reggie Kidd and Amy Davis Abdallah, 6 credit hours
This course explores the sacred actions of worship, particularly baptism and communion, from biblical and historical perspective. It also addresses a relationship of these two actions with Christian formation and pastoral care.
Kent Walters, 2 credit hours
DWS 702P (0.5 hour credit), DWS 703P (0.5 hour credit), DWS 704P (1 hour credit)
The practicum course is designed to enable students to explore and apply principles of worship renewal that correspond with their current course of study. The practicum experience allows students to focus purposefully and creatively on areas of worship renewal addressed in their classes and in their places of ministry. Students collaborate to plan and lead the IWS community in worship on Friday. Monday and Tuesday evenings of each on/campus session. Following the 702P and 703P Worship segments, fellow students and members of the faculty offer feedback for the purpose of celebrating and reinforcing the worship values that shaped the worship and facilitate genuine worship renewal. Students receive a grade of pass or fail for the course, and must complete each course concurrently with the corresponding course in the DWS curriculum.
Vaughn Crowe-Tipton and Jessica Jones, 8 credit hours
The on-campus section of this class provides specific direction on how to write a thesis or prepare a project. Guidance is given on the specific nature of the proposal, and the means by which proposal is translated into a finished project. Special attention is given to the integration of the theological disciplines into the thesis/project writing.
Students then complete their thesis or professional project at their home site under the direction of a supervisor. They are encouraged to do a thesis/project that is integrated with our ministry. The method of doing a thesis fall, the same pattern and expectation of the D. Min. thesis standards and seminary education.
Initially, one year is allotted for thesis completion. Beginning with the January 2023 term, this course incorporates a virtual oral presentation of the student’s thesis as part of the approval process.
