Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.) – Discipleship and Church Ministry
Help Others in Their Walks with Christ by Earning a Master’s in Religion
Do you have a passion for sharing the Gospel? Are you interested in learning how to construct different types of ministry plans? Liberty University’s online Master of Arts in Religion – Discipleship and Church Ministry degree offers distance learning classes to lead you to careers that will help you spread the Word and train a new generation of Champions for Christ.
Liberty University’s 100% online M.A.R. in Discipleship and Church Ministry is designed to introduce you to the foundations of ministry and discipleship by introducing you to various opportunities within the church. This program will provide you with courses that study the dynamics of family discipleship, building effective small group ministries, and the details of properly structured church administration.
What Will You Study in Our M.A.R. in Discipleship and Church Ministry?
- Small Group Ministries: Explore the different approaches to leading small groups effectively.
- Church Administration: Learn the organizational details of running a church and the different aspects involved with administration.
- Leading a Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Church: Examine different strategies for managing a church that is expanding in a tasteful manner.
The Master of Arts in Religion – Discipleship and Church Ministry degree uses cutting-edge technology and up to date lesson plans so that you can learn in-demand skills while you study on your schedule. These distance learning classes are designed to accommodate you. The flexible and affordable 8-week format makes it easy to complete your courses without disrupting your current lifestyle.
Career Options for Discipleship and Church Ministry Graduates
- Associate pastor
- Church education administrator
- Lay leader
- Missionary
- Youth pastor
Benefits of Earning Your M.A.R. from Liberty University
As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.
Here’s what sets us apart:
- Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your online Master of Arts in Religion – Discipleship and Church Ministry degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
- Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity has been accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Your divinity degree has been approved by ATS and has met rigorous accreditation standards. Because of our accreditation, you can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.
- Your ministry matters – so when you take 9-15 credit hours per semester in your divinity program, you’ll pay a discounted block rate of $2,750. It’s our way of supporting all you do to serve others.
- The majority of tuition for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs has not increased in 9 years. While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university.
- To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for many divinity courses* all for one convenient fee.
- You can complete our Master of Arts in Religion – Discipleship and Church Ministry online in 2 years!
*Electronic textbooks are not provided for courses that fall under departments outside the School of Divinity.
Military Benefits
Service is important to us, so whether you’re currently serving in the Armed Forces, have served, or are married to someone who serves, we’re here to serve you. Liberty’s military benefits are available to:
- Active duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/retirees
- Spouses of service members and veterans/retirees
- Current Department of Defense employees
We are proud to support you in your pursuit of a flexible and affordable online education by offering you the following benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)
- Discounted Divinity Block Rate: $2,475 per semester when taking 9-15 credits – only $165/credit at 15 credit hours*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
*Credits taken above 15 credit hours for the religion master’s degree are charged at the part-time rate.
Credit Hours

Available Online
Class Type
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
Jun 23, 2025
Accreditation
ATS Commission on Accrediting