Master of Arts in Religion Study the History and Intricacies of Religion
Serve Christ in Ministry With an Online Master’s in Religion Degree (MAR)
Liberty University’s 100% online Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) degree is designed to prepare students entering ministry with an in-depth but practical study of theology, biblical studies, and ministry practice. An online MAR will better equip you to minister in your current and future roles.
Students in Liberty’s MAR program can more effectively pursue ministry in churches, parachurch organizations, and nonprofits while opening the door to further study at the graduate and doctoral levels. You will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a program that provides a flexible degree plan tailored to your passions and needs.
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.
Master of Arts in Religion vs Master of Divinity
Master of Arts in Religion (MAR)
- 60 credit hours
- Required specialization
- Fulfills most ministry role requirements
Master of Divinity (MDiv)
- 75-93 credit hours
- Optional specialization or personalized electives
- Fulfills nearly all ministry role requirements
While these two programs do have some differences, they are both based on Christian evangelical theology. Either program can provide you with an advanced credential to get started in ministry or advance your knowledge and career options.
Plus, if you decide to pursue your MAR at Liberty, later you can potentially transfer up to 2/3 of your credits to a related M.Div.
What Will You Study in Our Online Master’s in Religious Studies?
Liberty University’s online master’s degree in religion contains extensive, well-rounded training in ministry, administration of Christian organizations, theology, and biblical studies. The core of the online master’s in religion provides in-depth religious studies of the Old and New Testaments, the history of Christianity, systematic theology, and the sermon preparation process.
Students who pursue the Master of Arts in Religion will also be prepared for an academic-focused career in writing and research. This can lead to further graduate studies through the Master of Divinity (MDiv) or a doctoral program such as the online Doctor of Ministry (DMin). The online MAR is a well-balanced, thorough blend of academic and practical studies that will suit students pursuing active ministry as well as academic careers.
Featured Courses
Degree Information
Why Choose Liberty’s Online Degree?
Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America
What Sets Us Apart?
- 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
Potential Career Options for MAR Graduates
- Associate pastor
- Bible instructor
- Campus pastor
- Chaplain
- Christian camp leader
- Christian educator
- Church administrator
- Communications liaison
- Cross-cultural educator
- Digital ministry leader
- Global mobilizer
- Humanitarian aid/relief worker
- Lay leader
- Ministry associate
- Missionary
- Non-licensed church counselor
- Nonprofit manager
- Pastor
- Worship leader
- Youth pastor
Degree Options for Our Master of Arts in Religion Program
We offer a variety of specializations for our graduate religion program:
Biblical Studies
Christian Apologetics
Church History
Church Ministry in the Digital Age
Community Chaplaincy
Discipleship and Church Ministry
Evangelism and Church Planting
Global Studies
Homiletics
Leadership
NextGen Ministry
Pastoral Counseling
Pastoral Ministries
Theology
Worship
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.
Electronic textbooks are provided for many divinity courses* all for one convenient fee. To continue our mission of providing affordable education, this fee is waived for students who enroll by Summer 2024 D-term.
*Electronic textbooks are not provided for courses that fall under departments outside the School of Divinity.
| Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours) | $2,750 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
These rates also apply to the MA in Pastoral Counseling, which falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our Online MA in Religion
Admission Requirements
Preliminary Acceptance
Dual Enrollment
Transcript Policies
Admissions Office Contact Information
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 service 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)
These benefits also apply to the MA in Pastoral Counseling, which falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences.
*Credits taken below 9 and above 15 credit hours per semester are charged at the part-time rate.
**Not applicable to certificates.
