Master’s in Global Studies Online Study Cultures of the World
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Degree Options
Online,* 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Prepare for Careers Around the World with a Global Studies Master’s Degree
Do you love learning about other cultures? Are you passionate about keeping up with current events? Do you want to learn more about what makes various countries unique and what links them together? If so, Liberty’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Global Studies may be right for you! This degree can help equip you to serve in a variety of careers around the globe.
Explore the unique dynamics that come with living and working in multicultural contexts. In this program, you’ll look at the distinctive aspects of various cultures. More importantly, you will explore how global studies transcends regional differences and relates to the big picture of the world as a whole.
If you want to enter the global workforce or advance in your current career, our MA in Global Studies can help. Partner with us and develop a solid basis for global involvement as you learn about cultures and religions from around the world.
*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.
Why pursue a degree in global studies?
Our world is becoming increasingly globalized and interconnected. Because of this, it’s vital that you understand how to communicate with people across borders, regions, and cultures. By completing a degree in global studies, you can learn how to adapt to different environments and forge meaningful relationships around the globe.
Is global studies the same as international relations?
While these fields are related, there are some key differences between international relations and global studies. International relations usually focuses on political science and history, with the goal of understanding how governments and nation-states interact.
In contrast, global studies is an interdisciplinary field that looks at broad trends and analyzes many aspects of globalization, including political, economic, social, and ideological phenomena.
What Will You Study in Our Online Global Studies Degree?
In this program, you will examine the historical and theoretical foundations of global engagement and learn how to meet the needs of a culturally diverse world. You’ll also analyze past and present global issues so you can more fully understand how to serve in a multicultural context.
Develop skills that can make you a valuable asset in many international careers, including business, nonprofit work, and more. This degree explores how to communicate effectively across borders and cultivate healthy intercultural relationships. You will also take an in-depth look at cultural anthropology and world religions, allowing you to gain an appreciation of how diverse our world is.
Learn how to communicate with cultures that rely on oral rather than written stories. With this knowledge, you can prepare to connect with people of various backgrounds and help meet their unique needs. Toward the end of this program, you’ll complete an internship so you can gain practical, on-the-job experience.
Earn your degree today and learn how to effectively engage in a global context!
Featured Courses
- GLST 500 – Global Studies Survey
- GLST 600 – Cultural Anthropology
- GLST 650 – Intercultural Communication
- GLST 655 – Orality – The Power of a Story
For more information about the specifics of these courses, please contact an admissions counselor at (800) 424-9595.
Degree Information
- Download and review the Degree Completion Plan for our master’s in global affairs.
- View the Graduate Divinity Course Guides (login required).
Why Choose Liberty’s Online Degree?
This degree is offered online, and the classes have no set login times. You can complete your courses wherever and whenever it’s most convenient for you — without sacrificing your other priorities, like your family and job.
Maybe you are already serving in a global context and want to gain additional credentials. Or perhaps you would like to launch a new career at the international level. Either way, our master’s program provides the affordable tuition rates, real-world training, and top-notch curriculum you need to prepare for effective cross-cultural engagement.
Potential Careers for Master’s in Global Studies Degree Graduates
- Global mobilizer and leader
- Global nonprofit/non-governmental organization (NGO) service worker
- Global refugee worker
- Human rights advocate
- International development/aid worker
Master of Arts in Global Studies Degree Options
The following specializations allow you to make the best of your global studies master’s degree by matching it with other skills. These can open new areas of opportunity and allow you to focus on knowledge that can make you more marketable in the global studies field.
Generalized Track (No Specialization)
Liberty University’s online Master of arts in Global Studies — generalized track* is designed to help equip you to serve in a variety of careers around the globe. With no specific specialization, you are able to focus on deepening your knowledge of global studies and gain the skills you need to prepare for effective cross-cultural engagement.
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.
Linguistics
Liberty University’s online Master of Arts in Global Studies — Linguistics specialization can help provide you with an in-depth knowledge of intercultural communication, global engagement, and the building blocks of language. You’ll have the opportunity to analyze linguistic data across several world languages – allowing you to see how these languages differ and what patterns they have in common. This can help you become better equipped to connect with people from a variety of regional and cultural backgrounds.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Teaching English as a Second Language
Liberty University’s online Master of Arts in Global Studies — Teaching English as a Second Language specialization is designed to provide you with the skills you need to live and work in multicultural contexts. This program blends courses from a master’s in English as a second language with courses from an online global studies degree – giving you the tools you need to communicate with people across borders, regions, and cultures.
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 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) | $2,750 |
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Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (0-8.99 or over 15 credit hours) | $395/Credit |
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours) | $2,475 |
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (0-8.99 or over 15 credit hours) | $275/Credit |
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our MA in Global Studies
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.
Dual Enrollment
Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
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
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 – $275 per credit hour for part-time graduate and postgraduate divinity courses
- Discounted divinity block rate – $2,475 per semester*
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 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)
*Credits taken below 9 and above 15 credit hours per semester are charged at the part-time rate.
**Not applicable to certificates.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Liberty accredited?
Liberty is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Are there resources available to online students?
As a global studies major, you can access a wealth of resources through our research portal.
Is the program flexible?
Our online courses are only 8 weeks long, with 8 different start dates offered each year and no set login times.
Inner Navigation
- Overview
- What Will You Study?
- What Sets Us Apart?
- Potential Careers
- Specializations
- Tuition & Aid
- Admission Information
- Military
- FAQs
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