Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.) – Homiletics Learn Effective Preaching
60
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Learn to Preach Engaging Sermons by Taking Homiletics Courses with Our Online Master of Arts in Religion
Do you love the Word of God and sharing biblical principles with others? Homiletics may be the field for you. But how do you define homiletics? It is the research, preparation, and writing that goes into delivering a powerful sermon.
If you feel like this is your calling and want to learn the art of effective preaching, then Liberty University has the program for you. Our Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.) prepares students with an in-depth, practical education in theology, biblical studies, and ministry training. We understand that flexibility is important to our students, so this program is 100% online. You can earn your degree while working and serving your church.
Whether you want to start your ministry career now or work toward further education, a M.A.R. from Liberty is the answer. This degree can help you in church leadership, parachurch administration, and nonprofit roles. Plus, this program can prepare you for a Master of Divinity or doctoral degree if you decide you want to expand your knowledge later on.
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.
Why Choose Liberty’s Online Master of Arts in Religion and Homiletics Classes?
As an accredited online Christian college, Liberty University’s online ministry degrees make pursuing your education easier with the flexibility of a 100% online format. Our online seminary programs can equip you for ministry in a variety of fields. The homiletics area of study provides detailed and in-depth teaching for students who want to become more effective teachers and preachers of God’s Word.
The core content of the online Master of Arts in Religion provides advanced techniques for preaching and sermon writing. Students in the homiletics track will also benefit from studying the best preachers and writers in Christian history.
What Will You Study in Our Homiletics Online Courses?
Our Master of Arts in Religion contains extensive, well-rounded training in ministry, administration of Christian organizations, theology studies, and biblical studies. The core of the online master’s in religion will cover the Old and New Testament, the history of Christianity, systematic theology, and the research, writing, and sermon preparation process.
The online Master of Arts in Religion’s core content will focus on researching and writing sermons as well as practical ministry, theology, and biblical studies. You will also receive advanced training in specific topics in sermon writing as part of the homiletics specialization. After completing your Old and New Testament courses, you will understand how to take the overall themes in the Bible and turn them into timely and relevant teaching for your congregation.
You will also build on your research, writing, and ministry preparation techniques to develop your expository preaching skills. These skills will help you educate your congregation on important biblical teachings. Additionally, you can learn to create persuasive Gospel sermons to help you reach others for Christ.
Potential Career Opportunities
Graduates of our seminary’s online Master of Arts in Religion will be prepared to tackle challenges in active, full-time ministry with churches and parachurch organizations. Here are some of the positions that you may qualify for upon graduation:
- Associate pastor
- Church education administrator
- Lay ministry leader
- Missionary
- Religion professor
- Sermon writer
- Teaching pastor
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity.
- View the online Graduate Divinity Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan
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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.
Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours) | $2,750 |
---|---|
Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (1-8.99 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 (1-8.99 or over 15 credit hours) | $275/Credit |
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Requirements for Our Online Graduate Divinity Programs
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. *Please note: the M.A. in Christian Apologetics requires a 2.5 GPA for admission in good standing.
- 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.
Dual Enrollment
Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
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
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
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 serve 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)
*Credits taken below 9 and above 15 credit hours per semester are charged at the part-time rate.
**Not applicable to certificates.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
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 are the benefits of Liberty's online seminary degrees?
- Unlike many online Bible colleges or online seminaries, Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.
- Liberty University online seminary students can complete Institutional Challenge Exams (ICE) to potentially get college credit for personal studies and expertise in ministry.
- Liberty’s online degrees of divinity have a discounted graduate tuition rate of $395 per credit for part-time enrollment.
- Students attending full time (9-15 credit hours) are eligible for our online seminary block rate of $2,750 per semester!*
*Credits taken below 9 and above 15 credit hours for the Master of Arts in Religion online are charged at the part-time rate.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
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