Online Certificates
Biblically sound education for worship leaders.
Designed with the local church in mind.
Interested in studying worship at a deeper level, but unable to pursue a degree at this time?
Whether you are a volunteer, bi-vocational worship leader, or a well-seasoned minister or administrator, our certificate programs offer biblically sound worship instruction without the commitment of pursing a degree or attending classes on-campus. The Center for Worship and the Arts in partnership with Samford’s Ministry Training Institute offers two non-degree, Online Certificate Programs: Worship Leadership and Worship Administration.
Register for full certificates, or individual courses year-round.
While each class has starting and ending dates, actual classwork can be accomplished at the student’s convenience. You’ll have due dates for assignments, but there are no required synchronous class meeting times. We estimate you’ll spend approximately six hours per week on course work.
- $699 for the four-course certificate in either Worship Leadership or Worship Administration
- $199 for each individual course (Between the two certificates, 8 courses are available.)
Online Certificates
Register for the full certificate or click on each course title below for a description and registration links for individual courses.
Worship Leadership
Offers a strong foundation for biblically and theologically sound worship leadership.
- Introduction to Worship Leadership
- Designing Creative Worship
- Biblical, Historical and Theological Foundations for Worship
- The Worship Pastor
- Register for the Full Worship Leadership Certificate
Introduction to Worship Leadership
provides an overview of basic principles and skills for worship planning and leadership including:
- administrative and musical competencies
- enlisting, rehearsing, and preparing service musicians and leaders for a worship gathering
Dates: August 23- October 11
Instructor: Emily Andrews
Text: The Art of Worship: A Musician’s Guide to Leading Modern Worship (Greg Scheer)
Designing Creative Worship
Presents musical, biblical and philosophical principles that inform the design of public Christian worship, including:
- theologically perceptive worship planning/leading
- guided experience in multiple models of worship design
Dates: October 25-December 13
Instructor: Jonathan Welch
Text: The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services (Cherry)
Biblical, Historical and Theological Foundations for Worship
explores the history of worship, equipping leaders with background and foundations for biblically and theologically sound worship practices, including:
- application and guided reflection on concrete worship practices such as congregational prayer, scripture reading, and celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Dates: January 24-March 14
Instructor: Wen Reagan
Text: Christ-Centered Worship (Bryan Chapell)
The Worship Pastor
Examines the roles, function and theological considerations for the practice of pastoral worship ministry. Particular attention will be given to:
- pastorally sensitive leadership
- spiritual formation in private and corporate contexts
Dates: March 28-May 16
Instructor: Zac Hicks
Text: The Worship Pastor (Zac Hicks)
Worship Administration
Provides training in the day-to-day activities required for effective management of a music and worship ministry.
- The Administration of Worship Leadership
- Worship Technology and Production
- Music Principles: Theory, Conducting and Arranging
- Rehearsing for Worship
- Register for the Full Worship Administration Certificate
The Administration of Worship Leadership
briefly explores worship philosophy and vocational calling, and then more practically presents various strategies and models for organizing a worship leadership ministry including:
- information management, facilities, purchases and scheduling
- cultivating appropriate relationships with clergy and laity
Dates: August 23-October 11
Instructor: David Vaughan
Text: Postlude to Prelude, 2nd edition (Randall Bradley)
Worship Technology and Production
Teaches the basics of sound and projection technology for worship, including:
- key theological principles of worship technology
- basic techniques and practices for live sound and digital projection
Dates: October 25-December 13
Instructor: Wen Reagan
Text: Great Church Sound: A Guide for the Volunteer (Jason Wasem)
Music Principles: Theory, Conducting and Arranging
Takes classically-based music theory, conducting and arranging techniques and applies them to music notation and methodologies used in contemporary worship music.
Dates: January 24-March 14
Instructor: Emily Andrews
Text: Contemporary Music Theory: A Guide for the Worship Musician (Andrew Nicolette)
Rehearsing for Worship
Empowers worship leaders with wisdom and skills necessary to effectively rehearse in a variety of contexts. Explore preparation elements, including: prayer, scripture, song (solo/ensemble) and transitional words
Dates: March 28-May 16
Instructor: Paul Ryan
Text: The Praise and Worship Team Instant Tune-up (Douglas and Tami Flather)