The B.Mus. is a professional music degree and requires more courses in music (including church music) than the B.A. The B.Mus. leads to certification as a director of parish music in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; the B.A. does not. The B.A. is often selected by students pursuing a second major outside music or who plan to attend seminary to become a pastor or deaconess (though some of these do choose the B.Mus.).