Master of Arts in Religion - Church History Online Degree Program
0
Credit Hours
Degree ATS
Accreditation
Class Type
Residential
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
Aug 19, 2024
Accreditation
ATS Commission on Accrediting

Understand the Beginnings of Christianity with a Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.) – Church History

Understanding the early history of the church and the changes it has gone through is essential in providing stability and guidance for the future generations of Christians. Through Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.) in Church History, you can participate in an in-depth study of theology, biblical studies, and ministry practice while learning the extensive history of the Church.

Throughout our church history specialization, you’ll examine the early foundations of the Christian church and delve into the unique history of American Christianity and evangelism. A firm knowledge of Christianity and the changes in the church will help you as you teach or lead a congregation in the study of Scripture. By learning the history of the Church, you can ensure that modern Christians know their heritage as believers so that they can make their faith their own. 

Accreditation

Your divinity 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.

ATS Accreditation

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.

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Why Choose Liberty’s Master of Arts in Religion – Church History Degree?

If you are passionate about history, more specifically biblical history, then look no further than our M.A.R. in Church History! This degree will help you turn your passion for the Word of God, and the cultural studies of the church both past and present, into the knowledge that will help you instruct and guide your congregation or small group. Throughout this degree, we provide instruction in the history of Christianity through the study of the personalities and movements of the past. Our professors are well-known biblical scholars and apologists who both teach in the classroom and conduct research and publish their findings. You will benefit from the instruction and mentorship they provide as you pursue your degree.

As a church history enthusiast, you will be in awe of our Scriptorium in the Freedom Tower, which houses the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity. The scriptorium holds 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 Gutenberg Printing Press!

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 – Church History Degree?

Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Religion provides extensive, well-rounded training in ministry, management, and leadership, and theology and biblical studies. You will participate in an in-depth study of the Old and New Testament, the history of Christianity, systematic theology, and the research and writing that goes into sermon preparation.

Our church history specialization offers a broad study of the history of global Christianity from the first century to the present day. It is important to understand the humble beginnings of the church to appreciate its global reach today. You will be inspired by the missionary work of the early Christians. By studying the classical reformation of the church in Europe, you will have the foundational knowledge you need to study the beginnings of Christianity in America to the present. Understanding the relationship between Christianity and the founding of this nation are imperative to finding direction for the future. You will also learn about the Great Awakening and how it became the primary catalyst of the Evangelical Movement. That 20th-century movement remains a core premise of what drives it today.

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

CHHI 620 – History of Global Christianity

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • This course explores the historic expansion of global Christianity from the first century to the present day.
  • Attention given to cultural contexts, key personalities, and movements that contributed to the spread and identity of global Christianity.

CHHI 650 – Classical Reformation

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • A study of the magisterial phase of Protestant Reformation, especially as promoted in Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, and
  • Special emphasis placed on one of its major personalities: Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Knox or the Anglicans and Puritans.

CHHI 660 – American Christianity

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • A study of the beginnings of Christianity in America to the present.
  • Includes the European background, colonial Christianity, the first Great Awakening, the rise of the United States, the separation of church and state, the second Great Awakening, the development of religious diversity, the impact of the Civil War on religion, denominational development, the impact of immigration and industrialization, and the modern period.

CHHI 670 – History of Evangelicalism

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • This course will explore the development of Evangelicalism in the 20th century.
  • This course explores the major issues that gave rise to Evangelicalism, such as its background, beliefs, and major personalities, the development of the Evangelical movement in America in the 20th century, fundamentalism, and the current state of Evangelicalism today.

 

Highlights

Degree Information

Careers

Admission Requirements

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.R. 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.

Master of Arts in Religion Degree Information

Career Opportunities for Master of Religion – Church History Graduates

  • Associate pastor
  • Lay ministry leader
  • Missionary
  • Religion adjunct teaching
  • 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: