MA in Religion | Biblical Studies Degree Online

Credit Hours

100% 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

Enrich Your Knowledge of Scripture with a Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) – Online Biblical Studies Degree

Do you want to deepen your understanding of the Bible so you can enhance your ministry? Whether you are interested in full-time ministry or desire to work in research and academia, conferring Liberty’s 100% online Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) – Biblical Studies degree can help you develop a solid foundation in theoretical concepts and practical skills.

Throughout this program, you’ll embark on an extensive study of theology and ministry practice with an emphasis on advanced biblical studies. You can become equipped to more fully grasp the Bible’s purpose and meaning while preparing to share your knowledge with others.

After completing your MAR in Biblical Studies degree online, you could pursue ministry in churches, parachurch settings, or nonprofit organizations as well as explore opportunities in academia. The biblical studies specialization provides in-depth examination of individual books, topics, and themes in the Bible, so you can develop core knowledge that is essential for teaching, ministry, and personal growth.

Partner with us and see how far a master’s in biblical studies can take you!

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

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty University’s Online MAR in Biblical Studies?

If you are seeking an accredited online Bible college or seminary, Liberty University’s religious studies degree in biblical studies may be right for you! This program holds weight as a master’s-level credential while providing the flexibility of a 100% online program. Our mission is to Train Champions for Christ, so we offer online degrees that blend accessibility, affordability, and high-quality academics.

Prepare to pursue ministry in a variety of settings. Liberty University’s Bible study faculty are well versed in their field, firmly rooted in Scripture, and committed to your success. By studying under experienced professionals, you can develop the practical skills and knowledge you need to more fully understand God’s Word and minister to others.

Throughout this program, you’ll dive into a curriculum that has been developed by prominent biblical studies scholars, such as Dr. Elmer L. Towns, Dr. Harold Willmington, and Dr. Gary R. Habermas. Whether you want to strengthen your ministry effectiveness or grow in your personal walk with Christ, our Bible degree online can help you pursue rewarding opportunities.

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 MAR Online Degree in Biblical Studies?

This program offers a mix of core religion classes and specialized biblical studies courses. You can enrich your understanding of Christianity while taking an in-depth look at certain parts of Scripture. With this knowledge, you can prepare to serve in a variety of ministry roles, both inside and outside the church.

The core of this program covers topics like apologetics, discipleship ministries, evangelism, hermeneutics, and systematic theology. You can also study the art of researching and writing sermons so you can more effectively serve those in your congregation.

Within the biblical studies specialization, you’ll explore particular books of the Bible and dive into the overall themes and ideas that weave throughout Scripture. In addition to studying the historical and cultural context behind individual books of the Bible, you can learn about the important people and events that shaped biblical history. You’ll also examine the major hermeneutical issues associated with various biblical texts.

After earning this Bible studies degree, you may want to pursue our online Doctor of Ministry (DMin).

Potential Career Opportunities

By earning Liberty University’s biblical studies MAR degree, you can prepare to tackle challenges in active, full-time ministry with churches and parachurch organizations. You could also pursue college-level or non-licensure K-12 religious studies teaching positions.

Some of the roles you may qualify for include:

Adjunct religion instructor
Associate pastor
Church education administrator
K-12 religion instructor (non-licensure)
Lay ministry leader
Missionary

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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 Our Biblical Studies Master’s Degree

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

Is Liberty accredited?

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.

What’s the difference between the MDiv and MAR in Biblical Studies?

Liberty’s Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) programs have much in common, with both offering a solid foundation in topics such as sermon preparation, the Old and New Testaments, and the history of Christianity. However, the online MDiv is a more comprehensive program that also covers subjects like Greek and Hebrew language tools.

If you earn your MAR and later want to pursue an MDiv, you can potentially transfer 2/3 of your MAR degree into our online MDiv program — so you can save time and money! For instance, you may be interested in our MDiv in Biblical Studies.

What are the benefits of pursuing Liberty’s Biblical Studies Master’s Degree?

Unlike many online Bible colleges and seminaries, Liberty is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
As an online seminary student, you can complete Institutional Challenge Exams (ICE) to receive potential college credit for prior knowledge.*
Liberty University’s Bible classes are available 100% online, so you can earn your degree without putting your life on hold.

*Subject to transfer limits.

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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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MAR in Biblical Studies Degree Online Deepen Your Biblical Knowledge

Enrich Your Knowledge of Scripture with a Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) – Online Biblical Studies Degree

Accreditation

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty University’s Online MAR in Biblical Studies?

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

What Will You Study in Our MAR Online Degree in Biblical Studies?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Biblical Studies Master’s Degree

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

Ready to Apply?

Military

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Liberty accredited?

What’s the difference between the MDiv and MAR in Biblical Studies?

What are the benefits of pursuing Liberty’s Biblical Studies Master’s Degree?

Are you ready to change your future?

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