The purpose of the Doctor of Worship Studies (D.W.S.) and Master of Worship Studies (M.W.S.) programs, offered uniquely through The Institute for Worship Studies Florida Campus, is to further equip worship leaders, and others interested in the theory and practice of Christian worship, for their responsibilities in the local church and other settings. These programs grew out of the need of worship pastors and leaders, often trained and credentialed at the master's degree level in church music, for additional study in the field of Christian worship. This constituency found that with its academic credentials in music it was difficult to be accepted into a graduate degree program other than one specifically related to music. The D.W.S. and M.W.S. programs are intended to fill this gap.

The Doctor of Worship Studies degree is a professional, terminal degree. Although it is a doctoral-level program, requiring a master's degree for acceptance, it is not represented as a research degree on the level of the Ph.D. Nor is it currently represented as a program that potentially transfers into another academic course of study.

The Master of Worship Studies degree requires a bachelor's degree for acceptance. It also is not currently represented as a program that potentially transfers into another academic course of study, other than the D.W.S. program.

The Institute for Worship Studies Florida Campus is a member of the Florida Council of Private Colleges, Inc. (FCPC) which represents its private, faith based, post secondary educational institution members before any individual, private or government educational organization.  The FCPC is an educational association that provides experienced, educational, quality peer review of the following: faculty, academic curriculum, course development, distance learning processes, campus operations, catalogs, brochures advertisements, application forms, financial information, and student records and transcripts to FCPC standards, which exceed the minimum standards of the State of Florida.  For verification of all FCPC standards to to www.FCPCamerica.org.

The Institute for Worship Studies holds applicant status with the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education, 5575 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando, Florida, 32822, (407) 207-0808.  Applicant status is a pre-membership status granted to those institutions that meet the COA--ABHE Conditions of Eligibility and that possess such qualities as may provide a basis for achieving candidate status within four years.

The Institute for Worship Studies Florida Campus upholds a high standard of academic excellence. All faculty in charge of a course module must have an earned doctoral degree (Ph.D., Th.D., D.Min., D.M.A.). Candidates accepted into the D.W.S. program must have earned a graduate degree, such as M.Mus., M.C.M. or M.Ed. Candidates must demonstrate an active engagement with the subject matter of their courses proportionate to the number of credit hours in question, and give evidence of this through the submission of supporting documentation in either electronic or hard-copy form appropriate to their specific assignments, as evaluated by their course instructor-mentor.

It is the hope of the faculty, administration and supportive constituency of The Institute for Worship Studies Florida Campus that, because of the high standards of the institution, the degrees it awards will enjoy a certain prestige and recognition within the academic, as well as the ecclesiastical, community, regardless of the status of accreditation. Nevertheless, full accreditation remains a high priority.

October, 1999; revised April, 2005

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