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Our musicianship program will develop your vocal and instrumental skills, grounding you in scripture and giving you new ways to express yourself and your faith.
Our four-year Worship Leading and Music program prepares you for a career in worship ministry. Excellent classroom instruction will be enhanced by multiple opportunities to lead worship throughout the program.
We believe that your educational journey is best when you have faculty and peers that support you. Prairie is a place where everyone knows your name and cares about your growth as an individual.
Box 4000
Three Hills, AB T0M 2N0
Canada
Phone: 403.443.5511
TollFree: 1.800.661.2425
admissions@prairie.edu
info@prairie.edu
2024 © Prairie College
All rights reserved
All courses are three credits unless shown otherwise.
In this course, students are introduced to the story of Jesus Christ and his earliest disciples as told by the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Students will grow in their understanding of who Jesus is as well as in their ability to interpret the bible by attending to its literary, historical, and theological character.
This course is an introduction to the life and letters of the apostle Paul. Students will gain a basic understanding of the historical, literary, and theological characteristics of each of Paul’s letters, and in the process will further develop their skills in attentive and critical bible reading.
In this course, students are introduced to the book of Hebrews, the Catholic epistles (James, 1, 2 Peter, 1, 2, 3, John, Jude), and the book of Revelation. This course will focus on the ways in which the earliest Christians navigated the eschatological tension between the first and second comings of Jesus. In the process, students will gain further understanding of the historical circumstances of Christians living in the late first-century Roman empire, as well as extend interpretive skills development (esp. literary analysis, canonical integration, history of interpretation, and theological appropriation).
A study of the first five books of the Bible, focusing on the historical, literary and theological features of these books as well as establishing a strong grounding in Torah principles as preparation for interpreting the rest of Scripture.
A study of the books of Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings and Ezra-Nehemiah in their cultural, historical, and literary setting. Brief interaction with Ruth, Esther, and 1-2 Chronicles as they relate to the books associated with them. Focuses on interpretive and contextual issues, historical setting, cultural concerns, and their relevance in developing a strong biblical theology in today’s world.
A study of Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, focusing on historical, literary, and theological features of these books with special emphases on Hebrew poetry and ancient Near Eastern Wisdom literature.
A study of the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve), with Daniel and Lamentations, focusing on developing sensitivity to the historical, literary, and theological dimensions of these books. Class time will include discussion of the relevance of the prophetic books for contemporary critical issues.
The Christian life is the experience of God drawing us into a relationship that is nothing less than the believer’s participation in the life of God through union with Christ. This is the Good News (i.e. Gospel) that takes root through sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone). The transformative participation in Christ and His purposes gives this present life value, direction and hope. The believer is called to the quest of faithful discipleship in this participation and engagement with Christ.
The course is an exploration of and involvement in that quest. You will be challenged toward intentional participation in the life of God through your faithful discipleship response to His person and work. The content will explore a Christian spiritual theology and practice of participation with Christ. The theological approach to this participation is as a transformational relationship with the triune God in which you have both responsibilities and privileges. The course is designed to stretch beyond a cognitive/intellectual exercise and therefore you will be encouraged to actively engage in whole-hearted participation with God, both inside and outside of the classroom. The desired result is that you will know God more deeply, relate to Him as one intimately known by Him, and desire to make Him known to others.
This course introduces students to the biblical, doctrinal, philosophical and historical “big picture” outlines of the Christian faith. The course aims to equip students with the skills to develop a Christian mind by assisting them in constructing a theological foundation for thinking and dealing with life’s most important issues. This course will also enable students to begin to think theologically and to construct a Christian worldview for the edification of the community of faith and to the glory of the almighty God whom we serve.
A systematic orientation to the center of Christian theology—the life of the Triune God. This course will cover the doctrines of God, Trinity, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and Revelation. It will also consider questions of method, including the sources and norms of theology. The discipline of theology will be approached as a practice of the church, both local and global, carried out for the benefit of the church’s life, its proclamation, and its service to the world.
The purpose of this course, following TH 210, is to provide a systematic orientation to the second half of the field of Christian theology—God’s creation. This course will cover the doctrines of creation, humanity, sin, salvation, church and last things. The discipline of theology will be approached as a practice of the church, both local and global, carried out for the benefit of the church’s life, its proclamation and its service to the world.
This course focuses on helping students bring the living Word of God to the world and the church in effective and creative ways. A significant aspect of the course is to address important issues in biblical, historical and theological exegesis. In addition, the course would also help students develop a broad theological and practical framework for the ministry of the Word of God within the modern world and the life of the church.
This course focuses on a variety of aspects of academic research. The student will critically assess a variety of sources that mostly pertain to the task of apologetics. The primary focus of this course is research and writing, and the secondary focus is apologetics. This means that the student will assess, analyze, summarize, and review source documents that pertain to apologetics. The student will learn how to write academically and how to properly paraphrase source documents in order to enhance their critical thinking skills. Additionally, the student will be familiarized with the library and information literacy. In sum, this course is designed to introduce the student to the task of sound research and proper academic writing.
This course covers, in survey fashion, the events and themes which make up the early part of the story of the western world. The chronological range extends from the period of the earliest known ancient near eastern civilizations through to the end of the medieval period (mid-15th century) in Europe. While related historical events in other parts of the globe will be used as reference points, the primary geographical stage will be the regions of the Middle East, the Mediterranean basin and the wider European subcontinent. The course focuses on key events, people and ideas which played a formative role in developing this collective entity referred to as Western Civilization.
This course picks up the narrative of western civilization where HF 231 left off. It covers the period from the late Middle Ages to the late 20th century. Two key questions which the course raises and then seeks to answer is: 1) what is modernity? and 2) how has it formed western civilization and then the world beyond the west? Or, to put it another way, ‘how did The West become The West?’ While using political events as the primary reference points in mapping the historical narrative, the course will also explore a variety of other cultural events, people and movements which shaped the modern age. These include: religious/philosophical ideas, especially as they are expressed in art, architecture, music and literature; developments in the fields of science and commerce; and key social institutions/practices. In addition to studying these developments through the writings of academic historians, students will also have an opportunity to practice the craft of producing an historical account of their own.
This course surveys the historical development of scientific thought, primarily in the western tradition, from its origins in ancient Greece to the twentieth century. While the course does examine major figures and their scientific achievements, it does not do so in the context of “science as the inevitable march from primitivism to progress,” i.e. science as the continuous accumulation of knowledge and mastery of the natural world. Rather these events will be studied in the context of the prevailing worldview or philosophical paradigm which provided the framework for scientific inquiry and discovery in various cultural periods. As such particular attention will be given to the interplay between philosophical-religious and scientific ideas.
This course describes and analyzes the range and nature of Christian expression around the world. This will be done in three ways: 1) by briefly describing the four main streams of Christianity evident today; 2) by examining the variety of expressions of indigenous Christianity in the various geographical regions of the globe, and major challenges Christians face in each region; and 3) by getting a brief introduction of how Christianity spread from its Hebrew roots in Palestine to becoming a global faith which is known today as World Christianity (Christianity whose agenda is no longer determined by churches in the nations of the West). The underlying question for Christians living in the West is, ‘What is our place and role in this recently altered global landscape of Christianity?’ This course will offer some possible answers to that question.
In this course students will study the fundamental principles of human behavior and cognitive processes. Students will learn to recognize and interpret various psychological theories and approaches, apply basic psychological principles and strategies to contemporary issues, accomplish a research project involving a major psychological concept and work cooperatively with classmates to begin to formulate an integrative approach to psychology.
This introductory course will assist in nurturing leadership character, convictions and competencies. The foundational content will explore a theology and philosophy of leadership, investigate the formation of a Christian leader and survey the primary tasks of leadership. Building on this foundation, you will receive contextualized training for the specific leadership ministry in which you will be serving during the academic year. You will be challenged toward becoming a godly influencer of others.
The purpose of this seminar is to aid students in the process of bringing faith, learning, vocation, and ministry into a coherent way of life. Any understanding of such a life is always worked out in reference to the vital questions and concerns of our cultural moment, as well as the enduring, universal questions faced by each successive generation. Students will study a range of cultural theologies from a variety of vocational perspectives and then present their own theological findings on a topic pertinent to their vocational future.
The Performance Ensemble class is designed to give Music and Worship Arts students practical experiences in singing and in playing their instrument as part of a larger music ensemble. Students will be members of the Community Choir, which has a weekly rehearsal and an end-of-semester concert, to aid in the practice and training of the voice through singing. In addition, students will be placed into groups and through a given assignment will practice the art and craft of creating and playing music together.
The Performance Ensemble class is designed to give Music and Worship Arts students practical experiences in singing and in playing their instrument as part of a larger music ensemble. Students will be members of the Community Choir, which has a weekly rehearsal and an end-of-semester concert, to aid in the practice and training of the voice through singing. In addition, students will be placed into groups and through a given assignment will practice the art and craft of creating and playing music together.
Private lessons are taught weekly on a one-to-one basis. Subject material is chosen by the instructor from a range of styles and genres to meet the needs of each student while fulfilling the guidelines set out by each respective area. Students are expected to participate regularly in performance classes. End-of-semester adjudications and/or recitals serve as final exams.
Private lessons are taught weekly on a one-to-one basis. Subject material is chosen by the instructor from a range of styles and genres to meet the needs of each student while fulfilling the guidelines set out by each respective area. Students are expected to participate regularly in performance classes. End-of-semester adjudications and/or recitals serve as final exams.
An introduction of Digital Media for all the students enrolled in the Music & Worship Arts Program, this course will give students an overview of digital photography, social media design, video production, and filmmaking. Anyone who aspires to be a recording artist or worship pastor at a modern church will need to know the basics of how digital media works and how to work with visual artists. This course will help prepare recording artists, songwriters, musicians and worship leaders to co-work and complete projects and live events with visual artists.
The music that we write and love today comes from somewhere. It’s like a branch connected to the trunk and ultimately the roots of the tree. Our enjoyment of the current branch of music will grow as we are able to survey and take in the beauty of the full tree. This class will be an overview of the essence and history of music. Together we will explore why music moves us emotionally and what the connection is between music and spirituality.
Worship has been described as a multifaceted jewel. No matter what side from which the jewel is viewed, there is always something new to see, a new depth to experience. Individuals seeking to lead congregational worship have undertaken a fascinating and lifelong journey. What view does the worship leader have of the worship of the triune God? What part of worship is most familiar? What part is most challenging? This course seeks to introduce the student to the breadth and depth of topics that encompass worship leading and ministry.
This course will introduce you to the basics of how songwriting works and will cover the primary building blocks of lyrics, melody, harmony and rhythm as well as song form. Students will have a chance to try their hand at songwriting in a safe and instructive environment. This course also explores questions such as: How a songwriter can influence culture? What are the functions of music in society?
Introduction to the foundations of the language of music based on five aspects: Melody, Harmony, Rhythm, Dynamics, and Articulation. This is an overview of the basis of reading and writing music, setting a foundation for writing songs, for arranging music, for reading and transcribing music, for making music charts and for self-publishing music via computer software.
This course will be a continuation of the study of the foundations of the language of music based on the three aspects: Melody, Harmony and Rhythm. This study will build on the basics of reading and writing music setting a foundation for writing songs and music charts.
This course will cover basic concepts and techniques of arranging songs. Practically, students will apply these concepts and techniques to writing music charts for rhythm section, vocals, strings, woodwinds and horns. Students will be using music software (Sibelius, Finale or Musescore) to create arrangements for song assignments as well as their own songs.
This course introduces students to basic audio recording: including digital recording, tracking & editing. There is an emphasis on critical listening and analysis, as well as discussion of music and musical form. We will also explore how to think critically about music from an artistic view as well as a Christian viewpoint.
This course focuses on applying the foundations of melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, and articulation in creating melody and accompaniment, and short songs. Application to the writing of music in various structures and forms is emphasized.
Students will learn to create professional music charts using music manuscript and the Musescore music software. Basic foundations for writing arrangements of songs will also be introduced including the creation of different types of charts for a variety of styles and instrumentation. This course will be more project-based as students will work on charting their own songs as well as others that will be given for assignments giving them the opportunity to be self-publishers of their musical creations. Students will also practice transcribing melodies and chords as well as identifying intervals and cadences.
What is the mindset of a “working musician?” What are the essential marks of a musician who is in demand? How does a musician make a living and navigate the new music business realities? How does a musician, singer, artist and one who uses music in ministry best serve an audience? The beginning of a career can be very scary because we don’t always know where or how we should start, especially when it seems necessary to wear so many hats to get things going. This course intends to give students very practical directions and tools in order to start their musical careers with confidence.
This course is designed to lead the student in a study of worship through the content of the Old Testament, New Testament, and early centuries of Church history. The study will establish a foundation upon which the practices of worship will be discussed and evaluated. Does God require humankind to approach him in a certain way? Major components of worship practices and their meaning comprise the study of biblical sources and early Christian history. Is it God’s story we tell or is it our story to live?
This course is designed to lead the student in a study of corporate worship through the content of gathered worship service activities. Not only are worship service components studied and reviewed, the delivery of the elements is also examined. Service parts such as sermon, communion, baptism, parent/child dedication, funeral, wedding, seasonal days, prayer, and Scripture reading will be examined. Students will be encouraged to consider their own service tradition and compare it with other forms in the Christian tradition. The course will involve the student in widening and deepening their perspective and understanding of the relationship between general worship design and the individual service elements. This understanding will contribute to the student’s overall concept of the purpose of worship and the role of the worship leader/planner.
The corporate worship service of a local, Christian congregation will be the focus of this course through exploring and studying a variety of worship service design methodologies where each method brings with it its own set of ideas and implications. Students will study the philosophical background of service design methodologies with the intention of using evaluative tools and methods to quantify the pros and cons of various service designs.
This course will explore two main components of media and technology as it pertains to worship in ministry application –theory and practice. In other words, why do we use media/technology in worship ministry and how is it used? Theological and philosophical discussion on the use of technology in the church will explore a variety of pastoral sensibilities and implications of the use of media/technology in worship ministry. Students will experience practical hands-on training in the major technologies used in many churches today such as lights, sound, video/projection and the software used in the design and delivery of corporate worship services.
What is the relationship between worship and Christian formation? How is the Church leadership and congregants formed through week-by-week corporate worship services? Is this a missed category when thinking about how people are discipled in the Christian faith? An introduction to the use and meaning of rituals, symbols, and how people grow in faith will be discussed to assist the student to begin the development of a philosophy of worship as Christian formation.
This course is designed as an integrated practical work experience in cooperation with a local church in order to provide the student with a supervised and evaluated experience in active worship ministry by qualified field supervisors/trainers.
All courses are three credits unless shown otherwise.
In this course, students are introduced to the story of Jesus Christ and his earliest disciples as told by the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Students will grow in their understanding of who Jesus is as well as in their ability to interpret the bible by attending to its literary, historical, and theological character.
This course is an introduction to the life and letters of the apostle Paul. Students will gain a basic understanding of the historical, literary, and theological characteristics of each of Paul’s letters, and in the process will further develop their skills in attentive and critical bible reading.
A study of the first five books of the Bible, focusing on the historical, literary and theological features of these books as well as establishing a strong grounding in Torah principles as preparation for interpreting the rest of Scripture.
A study of the books of Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings and Ezra-Nehemiah in their cultural, historical, and literary setting. Brief interaction with Ruth, Esther, and 1-2 Chronicles as they relate to the books associated with them. Focuses on interpretive and contextual issues, historical setting, cultural concerns, and their relevance in developing a strong biblical theology in today’s world.
This course focuses on a variety of aspects of academic research. The student will critically assess a variety of sources that mostly pertain to the task of apologetics. The primary focus of this course is research and writing, and the secondary focus is apologetics. This means that the student will assess, analyze, summarize, and review source documents that pertain to apologetics. The student will learn how to write academically and how to properly paraphrase source documents in order to enhance their critical thinking skills. Additionally, the student will be familiarized with the library and information literacy. In sum, this course is designed to introduce the student to the task of sound research and proper academic writing.
Private lessons are taught weekly on a one-to-one basis. Subject material is chosen by the instructor from a range of styles and genres to meet the needs of each student while fulfilling the guidelines set out by each respective area. Students are expected to participate regularly in performance classes. End-of-semester adjudications and/or recitals serve as final exams.
Ear training and Sight-singing is a core requirement for all musicians; it assists them in mastering the technical and stylistic aspects of an instrument, in notating original music and arrangements, and in understanding what they are hearing. In this course, students will develop basic ear training & sight reading skills through performance and dictation. They will study melodies, intervals, harmony, and solfege in major keys, as well as basic rhythms in the most common meters.
The Community Choir is designed to provide Music and Worship Arts students with an opportunity to gain further experience and opportunity to sing in a large ensemble. Voice part singing along with a variety in repertoire will provide the music student with ample opportunities to improve their vocal singing as well as part and blending components
This performance ensemble class is designed to give Music and Worship Arts students practical experiences in singing and in playing their instrument as part of a larger music ensemble. Students will be placed into groups and through a given assignment will practice the art and craft of creating and playing music together.
Worship has been described as a multifaceted jewel. No matter what side from which the jewel is viewed, there is always something new to see, a new depth to experience. Individuals seeking to lead congregational worship have undertaken a fascinating and lifelong journey. What view does the worship leader have of the worship of the triune God? What part of worship is most familiar? What part is most challenging? This course seeks to introduce the student to the breadth and depth of topics that encompass worship leading and ministry.
This course will introduce you to the basics of how songwriting works and will cover the primary building blocks of lyrics, melody, harmony and rhythm as well as song form. Students will have a chance to try their hand at songwriting in a safe and instructive environment. This course also explores questions such as: How a songwriter can influence culture? What are the functions of music in society?
Introduction to the foundations of the language of music based on five aspects: Melody, Harmony, Rhythm, Dynamics, and Articulation. This is an overview of the basis of reading and writing music, setting a foundation for writing songs, for arranging music, for reading and transcribing music, for making music charts and for self-publishing music via computer software.
This course will be a continuation of the study of the foundations of the language of music based on the three aspects: Melody, Harmony and Rhythm. This study will build on the basics of reading and writing music, setting a foundation for writing songs and music charts.
Our graduates go on to:
Our graduates go on to:
Academic Admissions Requirement:
For Homeschool students and applicants outside of Alberta please visit our Steps to Apply page.
Christian Life & Testimony:
Prairie College requires that students demonstrate a Christian life and testimony in order to effectively participate in our Christ-centered community. Applicants show evidence of meeting this requirement in the following application items:
English Language Proficiency:
Applicants whose first language is not English must show proof of English Proficiency. See International Admissions Procedures for more information.
For our Tuition & Fee rates as well as Room and Board please see Fees & Financial Aid
Program Specific Costs:
Worship Leading and Music students are charged a $800 program fee. ($400 charged in the fall & winter semesters)
Winter 2025 (January start), Fall 2025 (September start) and Online Education (start anytime) applications are open.
Prairie welcomes applications from individuals all around the world! To begin the International Student Application please click the link below.
If you are applying for the Master of Christian Ministry Leadership or the Master of Global Christian Educational Leadership please click the link below.
Tell us a bit about yourself and an admissions representative will be in touch shortly!
We have launched our Campaign for Greater Impact to provide students with the very best learning opportunities and campus facilities for the decades ahead.
In Phase One of this Campaign, we plan to invest in much-needed campus renewal, including: upgraded Infrastructure, a new Student Residence, Cafeteria, Worship Auditorium, and expanded Aviation Training Centre. A modern campus requires an investment that is bold, and even expensive, but each Campaign Project is strategic, and designed to enhance Prairie’s campus and student life experience.
This expansion of PATC’s facility is a key project of Prairie’s Campaign for Greater Impact. It will increase the College’s capacity to train a new generation of Christian aviators to serve God in missions, and also address the growing need for trained pilots in the commercial aviation sector.
Invest in the next generation of missional professionals. Each year Prairie College distributes over $500,000 in scholarships and bursaries to students. We are grateful for each gift that reduces the burden of students’ tuition and allows students to fulfill their God-given professions.
Encourage inmates in five institutions across Alberta to discover or reconnect with Jesus Christ. This fund assists the students studying the Certificate in Bible program with scholarships, resources for classes, and instruction.
Prairie College is educating students to pursue a Biblical foundation for life and career. Your contribution to this fund assists in minimizing the College’s general operating expenses.
To allocate your gift, please select one of the donation buttons below.