MDiv Degree | Christian Leadership and Church Ministries

Credit Hours

Online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026 | May 18, 2026

Study How to Shepherd a Fruitful Ministry with a Master of Divinity Online – Christian Leadership and Church Ministries Degree

Do you feel called to a leadership role within church ministry? By studying Christian leadership and church ministries at Liberty University, you can receive the training you need to take on pastoral or leadership roles within the church and community.

Our 75-hour degree program is available online, providing the flexibility you need to complete your degree on your schedule and accelerate your career in ministry. Your training will include advanced study in apologetics, homiletics, hermeneutics, leadership, and theology. Our Christian leadership and church ministries specialization will provide a focused study on discipleship, leading small groups, and developing a mission, vision, and strategic plan for your church. If you are a rising church leader, conferring Liberty’s online Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Christian Leadership and Church Ministries degree can set you up for success as a godly leader to the church.

*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.

Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026

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

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty University’s Online Master of Divinity – Christian Leadership and Church Ministries Degree?

Liberty University is one of the largest Christian universities in the world. With our mission of Training Champions for Christ, you can rest assured that you will receive the support and training you need to be successful in your career. We are passionate about teaching students how to disciple others and lead effective small groups. Our online seminary program through the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity focuses on leadership techniques taught by professors who have doctorates and years of experience in the ministry field.

Our Master of Divinity program is among the most affordable MDiv programs you will find, as we offer low tuition rates and specific block rates for those pursuing their degree full time. You do not have to sacrifice quality for flexibility when you pursue our Christian leadership and church ministries degree, as our Master of Divinity degrees can be completed online.

Get the Tools You Need for Ministry Success – Included with Your Program

As a student at Liberty University, you get access to the Logos Bible app at no extra cost. If you’re in a Rawlings School of Divinity program, you receive a Logos Max subscription – unlocking a robust library of biblical and theological resources while you study.

The majority of our Liberty Theological Seminary master’s programs even integrate Logos into your courses, teaching you how to use it effectively and giving you additional resources and training to help you dig deeper into Scripture and prepare for ministry.

What Will You Study in Our Master of Divinity Online – Christian Leadership and Church Ministries Degree?

Our Master of Divinity online programs feature a wide variety of in-depth coursework ranging from the study of apologetics, church ministry, evangelism, and homiletics, to Old and New Testament study and theology. Our Christian leadership and church ministries degree specialization courses provide exciting training in family discipleship, small group ministries, team leadership, and conflict resolution. Most importantly, you can learn how to create and carry out a mission and vision for your church and ministry.

We encourage you to review our featured courses section and explore what you could be studying as early as our next start date!

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Degree Completion Plan

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

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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 Liberty’s MDiv in Christian Leadership and Church Ministries

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. *Please note: the MA in Christian Apologetics requires a 2.5 GPA for admission in good standing.
- 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 the Online MDiv

How long does it take to earn a Master of Divinity?

The pace at which you could earn your MDiv at Liberty University depends on the number of credits you are able and allowed to complete each semester. The great thing about our program is that it is offered online. This means you can continue to remain present in work, ministry, and family while completing your courses. You can also have the chance to complete your degree at your own pace within the guidelines of the program.

What jobs can you get with a Master of Divinity?

When deciding to pursue a master’s program, it’s important to know jobs you might qualify for once you’ve received your degree. Our MDiv can prepare you to work in churches, ministries, or nonprofit organizations.

Here are some of the positions that may be available to you upon graduation:

Christian educator
Lead pastor
Ministry associate
Missions organizer/director
Youth pastor

What are the benefits of an MDiv online?

The Master of Divinity is one of the most comprehensive graduate seminary programs available to ministers, missionaries, and other ministry professionals.
Liberty University is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The Master of Divinity degree has been approved by the Commission on Accrediting of ATS, the Association of Theological Schools.
Those with shorter graduate seminary degrees may find that most or all of their previous coursework can be transferred to the MDiv online program.
Institutional Challenge Exams (ICE) are available to test out of foundational biblical and theological studies content for the online MDiv program.

Are you ready to change your future?

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App Fee Waived This Week*

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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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MDiv Online – Christian Leadership & Church Ministry Shape Tomorrow’s Church

Study How to Shepherd a Fruitful Ministry with a Master of Divinity Online – Christian Leadership and Church Ministries Degree

Accreditation

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty University’s Online Master of Divinity – Christian Leadership and Church Ministries Degree?

Get the Tools You Need for Ministry Success – Included with Your Program

What Will You Study in Our Master of Divinity Online – Christian Leadership and Church Ministries Degree?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Liberty’s MDiv in Christian Leadership and Church Ministries

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

Ready to Apply?

Military

Frequently Asked Questions for the Online MDiv

How long does it take to earn a Master of Divinity?

What jobs can you get with a Master of Divinity?

What are the benefits of an MDiv online?

Are you ready to change your future?

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