Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Leadership
Explore How to Lead the Church with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pastoral Leadership
Has God called you to a life of ministry and leadership in the Church? We want to provide you with education, skills, and resources to help you become a pastor or church leader. With our Bachelor of Science (BS) in Pastoral Leadership, you can receive training to help you get started.
Pursue our pastoral leadership degree, and you can become equipped to serve God and others in a position of leadership within the Church. Take the next step in living out God’s calling on your life today.
Credit Hours
View CoursesNext start date: Aug 18, 2025
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC
Highlights
Highlights of Our BS in Pastoral Leadership Degree
Study Under Active Scholars and Practitioners
John W. Rawlings School of Divinity professors are active in the classroom, as well as in research and publishing original works. Our School of Divinity is committed to the authority of Scripture and conservative evangelical theology.
Experience the Best of Both Worlds
Benefit from the teaching and professor involvement of a small Bible college combined with the experience and amenities of a large university. Internship opportunities with churches and parachurches are available locally, nationally, and globally.
Train with Cutting-Edge Technology
The Freedom Tower, home to our School of Divinity, houses a 7-projector immersive classroom, an interactive classroom that utilizes teleconferencing capabilities, and a state-of-the-art homiletics teaching lab. These are all designed to equip you with practical, real-world ministry skills.
Explore a Collection of Christian History
The Rawlings Foundation’s rare book collection is valued at over $1 million and contains a 111-foot-long Torah scroll dating back to the 16th century, along with a functioning replica of the Gutenberg Printing Press. These rare resources provide a tangible link to the rich history of Scripture and Christian scholarship.
Career Potential
What Can You Do with a Pastoral Leadership Bachelor’s Degree?
Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Pastoral Leadership can help prepare you to pursue the following occupations:
- Administrative pastor
- Children’s pastor
- Christian education director
- Church recreation director
- Evangelist
- Missions pastor
- Senior/associate pastor
- Young adults minister
#4 Best College Campus in America
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education designed to help equip students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com.
Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Courses
What Will You Study in Our BS in Pastoral Leadership Degree?
In the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, you can build a strong biblical foundation through courses such as inductive Bible study, hermeneutics, and Old and New Testament theology.
The pastoral leadership degree offers a focused study of topics including church planting and development, family ministry, and pastoral responsibilities, helping to prepare you to serve faithfully in a variety of ministry roles.
Additionally, you’ll receive real hands-on experience. You can take advantage of practicums in the following areas: small groups, outreach, and leadership. Plus, you’ll intern with a church to find out what it’s really like to work as a pastor.
Featured BS in Pastoral Leadership Courses
BIBL 324 – Pastoral Epistles and Leadership Development
BIBL 350 – Introduction to Biblical Interpretation
PLED 201 – Foundation to Pastoral Leadership
PLED 251 – Church Planting and Development
Degree Information
- This program falls under the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity
- View the Degree Completion Plan
- Check out our course catalog
- Transfer in up to 75% of the degree
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s Pastoral Leadership Bachelor’s Degree?
Equip Yourself for a Life of Ministry
We’re here to support and guide you every step of the way as you pursue a life of ministry. Through our pastoral leadership bachelor’s degree, you’ll gain access to valuable resources and personalized mentorship to help you grow and lead with confidence.
Study Under Experienced Pastors
We want to provide a quality and affordable education to you. Our professors are passionate and ready to educate, support, and mentor you throughout your program. Most of our divinity professors have pastored churches of their own, and they are excited to pass along their experiential wisdom to you.
Train with Exceptional Resources
You need resources. Our School of Divinity, housed in the Freedom Tower on campus, has state-of-the-art resources for a fruitful training experience. Our Scriptorium holds our rare book collection with a 16th-century Torah, and we have a new homiletics lab so you can record and dissect your sermons.
Gain Real-World Ministry Experience
Experience is crucial to pastoring a church. We have made sure that you have internships available to you locally, nationally, and abroad. We have partnered with churches, parachurches, and nonprofit organizations to give you connections to choose the internship that is right for you.
Admissions
How Do You Become a BS in Pastoral Leadership Student?
Every application is reviewed by the admission committee on a case-by-case basis, meaning there are no set minimums for acceptance. However, all applicants must submit the following documents* for admission:
- Admission application
- Official high school transcripts
- Official college transcripts (if applicable)
- Admission essay
Results from the CLT, SAT, or ACT are not required for admission, but may be used in consideration for merit-based aid.
*Note that additional documentation may be requested by the admission committee after your application has been received.
Have Questions?
We’ll make sure you have the information you need to take your next step.