Graduates From These Two GU Programs Regularly Find Jobs In Their Fields

Published: April 13, 2021

When colleagues from GUs records office and music department recently compared notes, they discovered this gem: Last year, nearly 100% of the graduates majoring inworship artsand/ormusic industry studiessecured full time jobs in their fields following graduation. Some secured jobs before they graduated.

While the news bodes well for students preparing for employment in both areas, the statistic comes as little surprise to those who know how the programs work.

Paul Sunderland, professor of worship arts, andSteve Cook, instructor in music industry studies, represent programs that thoroughly equip students to meet the needs of todays employers. They routinely create relevant experiences students can put on their resumes and talk about during job interviews.

Sunderland recently outlined the winning approach in worship arts.

By design, GUs Worship Arts program mirrors real-world work scenarios. Graduates emerge:

• Well-versed in teamwork. Every course integrates projects that require collaboration, a given for how todays churches operate.

• Familiar with real-world expectations. Course projectsconsistently include worship theology, multi-media, and musical arrangements and transitionselements common to worshipplanning and leading.

• Confident to lead. Relevant projects build confidence in the students. We have a very high ratio of students who actively serve in local churches, says Sunderland. These include churches that provide dynamic worship experiences.
  
  
• Beneficiaries of excellent leadership. Over the years, we have learned to identify signs of a healthy church for internships, says Sunderland. Pastors in his network often contact him about securing interns. The students, in turn, realize opportunities to shadow and learn from great leaders.

GUsPursuitworship bands allow students to implement lessons learned as they lead. Pursuit follows a model that develops two student leaders per band as the ensembles guide worshipers weekly in GUsChapelandVespersservices. Student leaders make decisions, plan, and put plans into action under Sunderlands supervision. Throughout, he engages them in discussions about effective worship.

Student leaders [also] take responsibility for administrative work, he says. They become proficient in Planning Center Online, a worship planning resource considered standard among churches. Students provide leadership, while I routinely check their work and offer feedback about potential improvements.

Sunderland also coaches students in how to prepare for job interviews, generally scheduling one-on-one sessions with graduating seniors in the final semester of their studies. Together, they review topics that search committees often address and imagine the students response to likely questions.

Sunderland says that he and his colleagues intentionally relate their own relevant career field experiences to students. While he holds a doctorate in worship arts, he also speaks from 15+ years of experience as a full-time worship leader.

Students routinely comment on how practical, yet informative the Worship Arts program is, he adds, a true testament to its design.

For more information about securing a GU Worship Arts major for an internship, contact Professor Paul Sunderland atpaul.sunderland@greenville.edu. For information about music industry studies at GU, contactGary Erickson atgary.erickson@greenville.edu.

The Clinic: GU Music Alumni Offer Hope To Exhausted Roadies
Calling: A Hymn Writers Story GU Alumnus Dan Damo
U2 Meets Courtney at the Top of The Rock
Prepared to Prepare: Rod Kim Talks About Transitioning from College to Career

Scholarships you help fund today help the church leaders of tomorrow.Thank you for giving.