Online MA in Chaplaincy | Sports

Credit Hours

Online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Become a Sports Chaplain with Our Master’s in Sports Chaplaincy Degree Online

Embarking on a chaplaincy career can take many forms, including the unique role of a sports chaplain. At Liberty University, you can pursue a Master of Arts (MA) in Chaplaincy – Sports through our online program geared to equip you with the skills to provide spiritual guidance, counseling, and mentorship in the sports world. This program is designed to prepare you for a biblically based ministry in both religious and secular sports settings, teaching you effective methods and strategies to become an integral member of any team.

Liberty’s MA in Chaplaincy enables you to delve into in-depth studies of Scripture, Christian doctrines, and leadership strategies. This comprehensive approach aims to prepare you to meet your chaplaincy practice’s diverse cultural and theological needs. The program also encompasses a broader scope and may be suitable for those seeking to serve in various chaplaincy roles beyond sports, such as in businesses, college campuses, and among first responders. This sports chaplaincy degree can help you learn to minister to and guide others effectively, no matter the setting.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts (MA) in Chaplaincy – Sports.

*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.

Accreditation

Liberty Theological Seminary, as part of Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Your seminary degree is approved by ATS and has met rigorous accreditation standards, so you can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.

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Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

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Why Choose Liberty’s Sport Chaplaincy Degree Online?

The sports chaplaincy program at Liberty University is tailored to help equip individuals with the foundational biblical principles necessary for effective sports ministry. The program addresses the increasing need for spiritual leaders in sports and can help you prepare to step into these roles. We are committed to cultivating leadership through a robust educational experience, supported by faculty who bring extensive firsthand ministry experience.

As part of the master’s in sports ministry program, you will engage in a shadowing requirement under multiple chaplains. This hands-on experience is designed to help prepare you for both the theoretical and practical demands of sports chaplaincy, pushing you to achieve excellence in your field.

What Will You Study in Our Sports Chaplain Program?

The MA in sports chaplaincy program at Liberty University is designed to help equip you with leadership and organizational skills tailored for ministry within the sports industry. The curriculum includes online courses that focus on developing culturally aware ministry leadership plans, ethical advisement, counseling, and teaching applicable across both religious and secular settings.

This comprehensive approach uses current research and field experiences to shape effective strategies in sports chaplaincy. Additionally, your training emphasizes resilience, helping future chaplains learn to foster recovery and apply biblical principles in personal and organizational challenges.

Students in this program will complete a shadowing requirement to gain an in-person look at the sports chaplaincy field. For this experience, you will study under multiple chaplains. Observing chaplains can challenge you to blend your online sports chaplaincy training courses with practical application, equipping you with a deeper understanding of sports chaplaincy. The goal is to develop not only proficient chaplains but also effective communicators of the Good News in various sports and community settings.

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Tuition & Aid

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.

To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for many divinity courses* all for one convenient fee.

*Electronic textbooks are not provided for PACO courses or courses that fall under departments outside the School of Divinity.

Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours)	$2,850
Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (1-8.99 or over 15 credit hours)	$410/Credit
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours)	$2,575
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (1-8.99 or over 15 credit hours)	$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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Admission Information for the Online MA in Chaplaincy – Sports

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- 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 college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Admission to this program also requires:
- The School of Divinity Questionnaire (login required).
- Submission of contact information (login required) for 1 pastoral recommender.
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.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

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.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

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 part-time graduate and postgraduate divinity courses
Discounted divinity block rate – $2,575 per semester*
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)

*Credits taken below 9 and above 15 credit hours per semester are charged at the part-time rate.

**Not applicable to certificates, postgraduate, or doctoral programs.

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.

View Military Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions for Our Online Sports Chaplaincy Master’s Degree

What does the shadowing opportunity require?

The shadowing opportunity (CHPL 598) requires you to shadow 4 chaplains for 3 hours each. For each chaplain you shadow, you will complete an assignment detailing your experience. You must also interview each chaplain you shadow.
While approved chaplains are not required to identify with any particular denomination, the chaplains you shadow must be Evangelical Christians and agree to Liberty University’s doctrinal statement.
There are several accepted observation settings. In addition to athletic settings, you can shadow chaplains in church, hospital, law enforcement, military, and university settings. Your shadowing requirement can allow you to fully grasp what it is like to be a chaplain.

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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Master of Arts in Chaplaincy – Sports Prepare for a Career in Spiritual Leadership in Sports

Become a Sports Chaplain with Our Master’s in Sports Chaplaincy Degree Online

Accreditation

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Sport Chaplaincy Degree Online?

What Will You Study in Our Sports Chaplain Program?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for the Online MA in Chaplaincy – Sports

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Military

Frequently Asked Questions for Our Online Sports Chaplaincy Master’s Degree

What does the shadowing opportunity require?

Are you ready to change your future?

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