Defend Your Faith and Point Others to God with a Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.) – Christian Apologetics
The term apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia, which means “defense.” By studying Christian apologetics, you can learn how to give a reasoned defense of the Christian faith against objections.
Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.) with a specialization in Christian Apologetics can provide the background and training to defend the Christian faith and fulfill the Great Commission by bringing more people into the loving arms of Christ. The Apostle Peter commanded us, “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15).
Through rigorous study of the Old and New Testaments and the lives and works of some of the great Christian apologists, you can develop reasoned arguments and the ability to answer questions raised by congregations on the truthfulness of Christianity.
Liberty University’s Freedom Tower, which houses the School of Divinity
Accreditation
Your seminary degree is approved by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and has met rigorous accreditation standards. You can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.
Award-Winning Campus
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education that equips students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence helped us rank among Niche.com’s Top 3 college campuses in America. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Why Choose Liberty’s Master of Arts in Religion – Christian Apologetics Degree?
Liberty University’s mission to Train Champions for Christ is fulfilled in this Master of Arts in Religion – Christian Apologetics degree. We help you learn how to defend the Christian faith through the vast resources we have from being one of the largest Christian universities in the nation. Furthermore, you can learn how to convey the important messages in the Bible through rigorous theological studies under the mentorship of Liberty University School of Divinity theologians, such as Dr. Elmer L. Towns, Dr. Harold Wilmington, and Dr. Gary R. Habermas.
With the state-of-the-art facilities in our Freedom Tower, you will gain the knowledge you need to defend your faith and teach others to do the same. You can also benefit from the instruction our excellent and experienced professors provide. If you have previous college credit or professional experience, you can complete Institutional Challenge Exams (ICE) to get college credit for personal studies and expertise in ministry.
What Will You Learn in Our Master of Arts in Religion – Christian Apologetics Degree?
Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Religion provides extensive, well-rounded training in ministry, theology, and biblical studies. The core courses of our M.A.R. look at the Old and New Testament, the history of Christianity, systematic theology, and the research, writing, and sermon preparation process. You can also learn how to interpret the Bible and provide your congregation or audience with a deeper understanding of the Word of God.
Our Christian apologetics specialization offers a contextualized study of some of the key apologists in the history of Christianity. Understanding how Christians have explained and defended their faith in historical contexts will help you prepare to do the same in our religiously diverse world. You can also study some of the basic issues in the intersection between faith and reason and learn how to develop logical responses to the challenges of Christianity.
One of the biggest objections non-believers have to Christianity is, “How can an all-powerful God allow evil to exist?” You will explore the problem of evil in and how to answer this question when it arises. Your studies will also include the accuracy and historical reliability of the New Testament and how to defend the veracity of the core of Christianity.
We invite you to look at our featured courses for an exciting preview of the M.A.R. program we offer at Liberty University. You can also review the Degree Completion Plan.
Featured Courses
APOL 520 – History of Christian Apologetics
APOL 550 – Faith & Reason
APOL 620 – Evil, Suffering & Hell
NBST 640 – Apologetics & the New Testament
Highlights of Our Master of Arts in Religion Degree
- Monday-only classes for masters’ programs allow students to complete large portions of their M.A. degree by only attending class one day a week.
- We have a state-of-the-art homiletics/teaching lab in our School of Divinity building.
- Our Scriptorium houses the Rawlings Foundation rare books collection valued at over $1 million, a 111 ft.-long Torah scroll that dates to the 16th century, and a functioning replica of the Gutenberg Printing Press.
- Local church ministry training is embedded within our programs.
- We provide experiential learning opportunities through church and para-church ministries.
Functioning replica of a Gutenberg Printing Press in the Scriptorium of the Freedom Tower
Master of Arts in Religion Degree Information
- Residential
- 60 total credit hours
- Transfer in up to 50% of your credits
- This program falls under John W. Rawlings School of Divinity
- Download and review the Degree Completion Plan
- Find more information in our course catalog
Potential Career Opportunities for Master of Religion – Christian Apologetics Graduates
- Chaplain
- Head pastor
- Missionary
- Teaching pastor
Admission Requirements for Graduate Degrees
Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Official bachelor’s degree transcripts with a 2.0 GPA or higher
- Self-certification form for students in the final term of their bachelor’s degree
- John W. Rawlings School of Divinity questionnaire
- Pastoral recommender contact information
- Current Liberty undergraduate students seeking preliminary acceptance into a graduate program must complete a degree completion application through their ASIST account
