Master’s in Composition – Biographical Writing Degree Online Turn True Stories into Lasting Narratives

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100% online, 8-week courses

Some programs have courses that follow a full-semester schedule or are offered in specific terms only.

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: August 24, 2026 | September 21, 2026 | October 26, 2026

Available Fall 2026

Every life holds a story, and thoughtful writers can help shape those stories with honesty, care, and purpose. Readers often look to biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs for more than facts. They want meaning, context, and a deeper look at the choices, struggles, and experiences that shape a person’s life.

Liberty’s Master of Arts (MA) in Composition – Biographical Writing offers graduate-level study in writing, rhetoric, and creative nonfiction. In this biographical writing master’s degree, you will study how strong life writing depends on both careful research and narrative craft. The program connects composition theory with the art of telling true stories in clear and compelling ways. Through this focus, you can explore how writers represent real people with accuracy, empathy, and integrity.

Because strong writing skills are valued across many fields, this biographical writing degree online can apply to industries such as publishing, education, journalism, media, nonprofit work, and professional writing. As you study the art of biographical writing, you can see how this important creative form contributes to historical preservation, personal storytelling, editorial work, and more.

For students enrolling today, who are placed on the current academic year’s degree completion plan, the officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts (MA) in Composition – Biographical Writing. Degree details, including name, may be subject to change between academic terms.


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What Sets Us Apart?

  • Private Nonprofit University
  • 600+ Online Degrees
  • No Standardized Testing for Admission
  • Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
  • Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

At Liberty, we believe your studies should fit seamlessly into your life. That’s why we’ve designed 100% online courses that can help you pursue a master’s degree in writing while balancing work, family, and community commitments. Because the program has no set login times, you can access course materials on your schedule.

As a pioneer in distance education, Liberty has extensive experience developing programs that balance flexibility with academic rigor. Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This institutional accreditation reflects our adherence to recognized standards for academic quality.

Because this program emphasizes research-driven nonfiction and revision, faculty guidance can be especially valuable as you refine your writing voice. At Liberty, our courses are taught by professors who hold both strong academic credentials and extensive professional writing experience. They can provide constructive feedback on your assignments and offer insight into the realities of the industry.

During your studies, you won’t have to navigate the writing process alone. Through our Online Writing Center, you can access grammar assistance, formatting and citation style resources, and feedback from tutors who are dedicated to helping you improve your writing. In addition, our Career Services can allow you to access resources focused on interview preparation, résumé and cover letter guidance, and job search tools – so you can prepare to pursue writing-related opportunities after graduation.


In this master’s degree in writing and composition, you will study core topics such as classical rhetoric, modern rhetoric, composition studies, literary theory, and research methods. These areas can help you learn how writers build arguments, analyze texts, conduct research, and communicate ideas with clarity. You will also examine how to teach effective writing skills to others.

The biographical writing specialization focuses on the major forms of life writing. You will explore techniques for crafting biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs while considering how each form handles voice, evidence, scope, and personal reflection. Biography study centers on writing about another person’s life, while studies in autobiography and memoir writing focus on how to convey your own experiences in different ways. Through a creative nonfiction workshop, you can learn about important aspects of revision and publication as they relate to works such as travel and food articles, memoirs, and biographies.

The program also offers elective courses that allow you to tailor your studies to fit your specific writing interests and professional goals. Depending on your selections, you can delve into areas such as persuasive tactics, cultural engagement, English grammar, grant writing, fiction writing, technical writing, or speech writing. These electives can help broaden your writing expertise while complementing your studies in composition and biographical writing.

Degree Completion Plan coming soon


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At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Graduate Full Time $580/Credit
Graduate Part Time $645/Credit
Military Graduate $290/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.


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Military

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

  • Active Duty
  • Reserve/National Guard
  • Veterans/Retirees
  • Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
  • Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

  • Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
  • Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
  • 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)

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.