Bachelor of Science in Religion An In-Depth Study of Religion
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Degree Options
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total
Strengthen Your Understanding of the Bible and Christian Ministry with an Online Religion Bachelor’s Degree
Do you want to build up your ministry skills so you can be a witness for Christ in the world? Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Religion is an online theology degree that offers a solid, biblical foundation to serve well in a ministry role through a 100% online degree program.
Through this degree, you can foster a solid understanding of the fundamental principles of the Bible, Christianity, theology, and the Church. Each area of study in our religion degree is designed to help you delve deeper into the Word of God. This degree in religious studies can also prove beneficial for those who wish to gain additional credentials in their current position of ministry.
Liberty’s bachelor’s degree in religious studies can provide the foundation for a lifetime of successful ministry. Come join us in our mission to Train Champions for Christ!
Your officially conferred degree name will be Bachelor of Science (BS) in Religion.
What is a BS in Religion?
While ministry takes many forms, pastors and ministry leaders often find that they need a wide range of skills that do not come easily from personal study. In fact, many church and parachurch organizations require specific, accredited degrees for their ministry leaders. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Religion is a specially crafted degree that covers a wide range of studies that can equip ministry leaders for many roles and situations.
As an accredited Christian university, Liberty’s online BS in Religion can carry weight as a Christian ministry degree. Our degree in religion is designed to equip you for the ministry field with biblical studies, theology, evangelism, and many more topics that can help you reach the world for Christ.
What Will You Study in an Online Religion Degree?
Our bachelor’s in religion can help you develop a superior understanding of God’s Word that can serve to strengthen your faith. The theology courses found within Liberty’s online religion degree can help equip you to apply biblical components and principles to many contemporary issues facing society today. In an online theology degree, you can develop exceptional written and oral communication skills that benefit you both personally and professionally.
Liberty’s mission is to prepare you in every way to fill personal and professional ministry roles more efficiently. With an online theology degree, you can gain insight into the major issues, themes, and ideas of religious studies, so you are better prepared for diverse vocational opportunities. With areas of study such as biblical and theological studies, Christian counseling, and Christian ministries, our online religion degree program produces graduates who are better prepared to continue their studies through our Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Religion.
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity.
- Review the Undergraduate Divinity Course Guides for this program (login required).
Why Choose Liberty’s Online Degree?
Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science in Religion is an online theology degree that integrates biblical principles into every class to help prepare you for a future both professionally and spiritually. If you are seeking an online theology degree, a religious studies program is an excellent option!
Our online theology courses are designed to strengthen your faith and help equip you with valuable training in the field of ministry. Because our university is built on Christian values, you can be confident that our religious studies degree online is helping to prepare you for success in your future career.
Unlike some bible colleges that offer religious degrees, Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Earning your online religious studies degree with Liberty means you are earning a degree that has met rigorous education standards. If you want to study theology, Christian apologetics, Christian ministry, biblical studies, or any other religious topic, you can find an area of study that can meet your needs.
Potential Career Opportunities for BS in Religion Graduates
- Administrator
- Advocacy advisor
- Author
- Business associate
- Chaplain
- Children’s pastor/director
- Christian camp director
- Christian nonprofit leader
- Church administrator
- Church and parachurch ministry
- Church leader
- Church social media manager
- Church staff
- Clergy member
- College ministry pastor/director
- Communications specialist
- Digital ministry assistant
- Digital ministry producer
- Disability ministry leader
- Disaster relief coordinator
- Educator
- Evangelist
- Global worker
- Humanitarian aid worker
- International humanitarian aid worker
- International relations specialist
- Lay ministry Christian counseling
- Local church staff
- Ministry assistant
- Ministry coordinator
- Ministry organization associate
- Missionary
- Missions mobilizer
- Next generation pastor
- Non-licensed Christian counselor
- Online ministry coordinator
- Outreach coordinator
- Pastoral assistant
- Refugee care worker
- Scholar
- Sunday school coordinator
- Teacher
- Youth director
- Youth pastor
Degree Options for Our Undergraduate Religion Program
If you want to pursue ministry and need training, Liberty’s Bachelor of Science in Religion has many areas of study to help fit your specific needs.
Check out our online religion program specializations to see which program best suits your career goals:
Generalized Track
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – generalized track* degree is designed to provide you with the backbone of an excellent religion program with the flexibility and freedom to select a large number of electives. With no specific specialization, you can mix and match, creating a personalized degree program that fits your passion and direction for the future.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
*Please note that this is not a specialization. Any reference using the term “General” is the main degree and is only used to differentiate from other specializations.
Apologetics
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – Apologetics provides a deeper understanding of the historical and philosophical arguments that support the validity of the Word of God, as well as the critical thinking skills you need to answer popular theological questions with courage and grace.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Bible Exposition
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – Bible Exposition aims to help you enrich your biblical knowledge and develop your leadership and ministry skills. Whether you’re aspiring to a ministry career, wanting to excel in your current position, or seeking personal spiritual development, this degree offers a versatile and thorough approach to help you accomplish your objectives.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Biblical and Theological Studies
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – Biblical and Theological Studies seeks to provide an understanding of the fundamentals of the Bible and Christianity. You can gain a rich understanding of the origin and contents of the Bible and will grasp its importance to the Christian faith.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Christian Counseling
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – Christian Counseling degree can help equip you to meet the growing need for trained counselors who can offer the highest quality care from a Christian perspective. You will be introduced to the issues facing today’s patients and the biblical basis for counseling as a ministry. Courses can provide you with a strong understanding of the principles and practices of care.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Christian Leadership
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – Christian Leadership is designed to help you uncover how God has gifted you to lead in your local church and community. Through this degree, you can enhance your leadership and administrative skills and explore foundational topics in religious studies to gain an understanding of the biblical principles you need to pursue ministry as a profession.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Christian Ministries
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – Christian Ministries is designed to equip you to meet the growing need for ministry leaders in churches across the country and around the world. An emphasis will be placed on training in Christian discipleship and outreach. You can explore a broad range of biblical leadership principles and strategies that can be utilized in your local church or community organization.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Digital Discipleship
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – Digital Discipleship is designed to help equip you with an understanding of digital evangelism. With this degree, you can learn to harness the power of social media and other digital platforms as you introduce others to the Christian faith.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Disability Ministry
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – Disability Ministry is filled with courses focusing on how to initiate, innovate, grow, and maintain a successful ministry focused on helping members of the community with disabilities.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Evangelism
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – Evangelism degree can help equip you to impact the world for Christ through a deeper understanding of theology and evangelism history. Courses within this specialization have been developed in partnership with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s School of Evangelism Online and can prepare you to effectively evangelize locally or across the globe and to teach the Word of God in private schools or within the Church.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Global Studies
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – Global Studies can help equip you to pursue a variety of international ministry opportunities. This degree can allow you to study not only important biblical topics but also relevant ministry practices, giving you the foundational knowledge you need to become a missionary, international scholar, or nonprofit worker. A wide range of international ministry careers can be available to you.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Humanitarian Action and Human Rights
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – Humanitarian Action and Human Rights can help you address human rights issues and humanitarian response as an evangelical leader with a solid foundation in Scripture and theology. Through this program, you can take an in-depth look at how Christianity has grown and developed over time and explore practical ways that Christians can help others in need.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
NextGen
Liberty University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Religion – NextGen degree can help prepare you to navigate the unique leadership challenges that come with ministering to minors. With a focus on NextGen, you can learn how to create safe environments across ministry programs, design a spiritual formation strategy for the family, and develop the leadership skills necessary to lead in the local church.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!
Undergraduate Full Time | $390/Credit |
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Undergraduate Part Time | $455/Credit |
Military Undergraduate | $250/Credit |
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our Online Undergraduate Religion Degree
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9595.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official high school transcripts or official GED test scores.*
- Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of our High School Self-Certification Form (login required – you will first need to claim your Liberty Account).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system).
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.
Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.
Transcript Policies
High School Transcript Policy
Applicants may submit a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.
- Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.
Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.
The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.
Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Military Transfers
If you have military-only transfer credits (completed basic training and enlistment), you must request an official military transcript. Please go to the Military Transfer Credit webpage to request your military transcript.
International Applicants
If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
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 – $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $565 per course)*
- 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)
- Potential college credit for military training
*Not applicable to certificates.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you get a degree in religion online?
Ministry is a very hands-on field, but the skills you need to bring the Word to people in need require in-depth studies. Liberty University’s online bachelor’s in religion degree can give you a wide selection of ministry topics and skills you need. We offer our courses in a flexible and affordable online format so you can earn your BS in Religion without commuting to a campus.
What can I do with a bachelor’s in religion degree?
By earning a religion or biblical studies degree online, you can enter many fields of ministry. Through theology classes, you can gain a strong foundation in the principles of the Christian faith and religious traditions. You can also study biblical apologetics, which helps provide you with tools to defend the faith in the public sphere.
You can also learn ministry skills that can help equip you to reach people for Christ in your community, and even in the missionary field. Liberty University’s religious studies degree can help provide you with a foundation of essential ministry skills and knowledge. A degree from Liberty is credible and can help you pursue roles in local churches, parachurch organizations, and many nonprofit organizations.
However, with a bachelor’s degree, you can also be eligible for many professional roles. With elective credit hours built into the degree, you can customize your degree plan to help you work in many industries to support your calling to the ministry field. This flexibility means that you can equip yourself for Christian service while also giving yourself the tools for a successful career in or outside of ministry.
How can you market yourself with a degree in religion?
Earning a bachelor’s in religion online means you can get ministry training in an affordable and flexible format. This format makes it possible to pursue your degree while not disrupting your responsibilities at work and in your community. Your studies will be guided by professors with advanced degrees and years of experience in the field who can pass on their expertise and wisdom to you as a student. With their mentorship, you can learn to apply your ministry skills to real-world problems in the field.
As an accredited university, Liberty’s religious studies online track meets the same standards of quality required for our residential degree. This means that you can rest assured that your degree has met rigorous education standards. The skills and knowledge you gain through this degree can help prepare you for professional ministry roles, roles in leadership in business and nonprofits, and many other fields that require compassion, a service mindset, and personal skills.
Is a degree in religion worth it?
If you want to enter ministry for the first time or better equip yourself for your current ministry, then a Bachelor of Science in Religion is a great path forward. With advanced studies in a bachelor of science degree, you can look forward to higher earning potential as a professional minister.
With a bachelor’s degree, you can pursue roles in church and ministry leadership that require a formal, accredited degree. If you want to pursue professional ministry, earning your Bachelor of Science in Religion from Liberty University is the best next step to take.
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