Music degrees

The B.A. with a major in music is the most flexible music degree offered. It provides by far the greatest number of elective hours, so there is room for students to design their programs to fit their needs and desires. If career goals don’t require a church or state certification, then this program will be a good fit. The degree works well with Concordia’s pre-seminary and director of Christian education curricula, and a double major with other subjects is also possible.

A graduate with a B.A. in music can enter just about any career in music with the exception of teaching in grades K–12. This program is especially recommended for students who wish to study performance, composition, or music theory and history. With additional study, students can qualify to be a music therapist, music librarian, or college instructor. Some other careers may also require additional on-the-job or formal training.

Graduates with this degree receive a Nebraska endorsement to teach both instrumental and vocal music in grades K–12. Teachers with this endorsement teach only music, not other subjects. Of all the Nebraska music endorsements, this one transfers most readily to other states without additional coursework in music being required. This is Concordia's most popular program that combines education and music

Concordia’s Bachelor of Music in parish music is a professional degree that prepares students to direct all aspects of a large or small church music program. It is the only one of its kind in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod: other synodical colleges and universities offer only the less comprehensive Bachelor of Arts. LCMS students who complete the Bachelor of Music program and are recommended by the Concordia faculty receive synodical certification as Directors of Parish Music and are therefore eligible to receive calls to churches.

The parish music program is rooted in the liturgical heritage common to Lutherans and other Christians, yet students are prepared to lead all types of music current in our churches. The coursework includes music theory and history, theology, conducting, arranging and/or composition, keyboard improvisation, liturgy, Christian song, world music, children and music, and parish music administration.

All students study (or pass examinations in) piano, organ, and voice. Students also select either organ or voice as a track for intensive study: Parish music students gain experience as musicians in area churches, and organists play regularly for daily chapel services.

This program may be combined with a pre-seminary curriculum. Students desiring a less intensive preparation in church music may elect the Bachelor of Arts in Music with organ or voice as a principal instrument. They may then take additional courses in church music as electives. The B.A. program, unlike the B.Mus., does not lead to synodical certification as a Director of Parish Music.

An endorsement is a credential issued by the State of Nebraska certifying that an individual is qualified to teach a particular subject. Endorsements may typically be transferred to other states, although additional coursework or an examination is sometimes required.

Most universities offer only a single comprehensive music education degree covering both elementary and high school. Concordia has this as well (the Bachelor of Music in Music Education ), but we also offer more specialized endorsements that students can combine with other subject areas, giving them more flexibility in designing their program:

• K–8 instrumental music
• K–8 vocal music
• 7–12 instrumental music
• 7–12 vocal music

At the elementary level, an instrumental or vocal music endorsement is added on to the regular elementary education program and takes the place of a subject concentration. A student would want an endorsement rather than a concentration if (1) the student desires the additional music courses that an endorsement requires; or (2) the student would like a state certification in music, which might make a graduate more marketable. An endorsement is recommended for students who see themselves teaching formal music classes or directing ensembles.

At the secondary level, all students select two subject areas for an endorsement. Either instrumental or vocal music may be combined with a subject other than music. If a student desires to teach both instrumental and vocal music, he or she should be in the Bachelor of Music in Music Education program.