Bart Millard and The Center for Worship Arts at Grand Canyon University

With Bart Millard, the lead singer of MercyMe, serving as Grand Canyon University's inaugural director of the Center for Worship Arts, students will be prepared for careers ranging from national recording artists to worship leaders at local churches. The four Bachelor of Arts in Worship Arts programs GCU is offering are more than just music - the programs are also based on a solid theology. In a press release, Bart talked about what attracted him to the program, saying, "Anyone can sing the message, but first you have to get the message right. Parents who might be concerned their son or daughter wants to perform for a living will know that they will be able to follow their dream and still earn a four-year degree. We will equip students for worship leadership that is relevant and theologically sound."

At the center of GCU's Center for Worship Arts will be a performance band that will write its own songs, release albums and tour the country sharing the music. But that hardly makes up the entirety of the program. It will also train students in all aspects of the music industry so they can get jobs in a world where contemporary worship services increasingly consist of high-tech tools such as computerized lighting, video screens, electric guitars and amplifiers, wireless technology and social media. The bachelors program will offer four emphases - digital media, worship production, worship management and worship ministry - and all will incorporate courses from GCU's College of Theology, the Ken Blanchard College of Business and the College of Fine Arts and Production to help students develop the skills necessary to work in the contemporary worship and ministry fields.

Millard shared, "Students and parents can feel comfortable that they can come into this worship arts program with no other intention than to serve God. Maybe they will do accounting for a Christian band, be a church worship leader, or serve in a communication capacity for some sort of worship. Whatever their path, they get to come away with a solid understanding of Scripture, a degree that prepares them for a wide range of worship opportunities, and the ability to truly follow their calling and find their purpose."

The program includes 32 credit hours of theology across the four-year program.

Bachelor of Arts in Worship Arts with an Emphasis in Worship Ministry: 120 credits
Bachelor of Arts in Worship Arts with an Emphasis in Worship Production: 120 credits
Bachelor of Arts in Worship Arts with an Emphasis in Worship Management: 120 credits
Bachelor of Arts in Worship Arts with an Emphasis in Digital Media: 120 credits