Online Master’s in Professional Writing and Publication Develop Your Craft. Understand the Industry. Write with Purpose.

36
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Available Fall 2025
Prepare to Lead in Writing, Editing, and Publishing Through Liberty’s Master’s in Professional Writing and Publication
Whether you dream of publishing your own work, editing others’ words, or shaping the next generation of writers, Liberty University’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Composition – Professional Writing and Publication can help equip you for your calling. This program blends the study of rhetoric, research, and writing with a specialized focus on the publishing industry. Designed for writers who want to do more with their craft, our master’s in in professional writing and publication can help prepare you to contribute to the literary world – and to influence it with purpose.
Through this degree, you can build advanced communication skills while developing insight into the business of writing and publishing. You’ll explore strategies for print and digital publishing, author development, and editorial practice – all taught through a lens that emphasizes integrity, excellence, and stewardship of your creative gifts. Whether you aspire to write books, launch your own publication, or shape content behind the scenes, this program can help provide a strong foundation in many different types of writing and publishing.
An editing and publishing program can also help prepare you for teaching opportunities in higher education, offering a path toward a career as a lecturer, tutor, or composition instructor. With a flexible online format and courses grounded in both timeless rhetorical principles and emerging publishing tools – including digital platforms and AI-assisted content development – this composition studies degree can help support professionals like you who want to adapt, lead, and thrive in today’s evolving literary landscape.
Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts (MA) in Composition – Professional Writing and Publication.






Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked among Niche.com's Top 5 College Campuses 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
Why Choose Liberty’s Professional Writing and Publication Degree?
When you pursue your online MA in Composition – Professional Writing and Publication at Liberty, you’re choosing more than a graduate education – you’re choosing a values-driven approach to communication. Our courses are designed to help refine your voice while also shaping your vision. You’ll be encouraged to think critically, write persuasively, and create work that reflects both clarity and conviction.
Liberty’s faculty are committed Christians and experienced professionals who understand the intersection of faith, story, and culture. As a student, you can benefit from mentorship that emphasizes ethical publishing practices, thoughtful author development, and effective market engagement. From learning how to write and edit for specific audiences to navigating the expectations of print and digital publishing, you can receive guidance from instructors want to see your writing reach its full potential – both professionally and spiritually.
As the world of publishing evolves, our program keeps pace with new platforms and tools. You can explore modern publishing models and trends, including digital-first strategies and independent publishing routes. At the same time, you can engage with enduring literary theory and rhetorical methods that provide depth and context for your work. Your education from Liberty can help you pursue a range of careers with purpose and precision – whether in academia, freelance markets, or industry settings.
What Will You Study in Our Online Writing and Publishing Master’s Degree?
As a student in Liberty’s online master’s in professional writing and publication program, you’ll explore the foundations of rhetoric, composition, and literary theory. These core courses are designed to help you think critically about how language shapes culture, argument, and identity. You can examine classical and modern rhetorical frameworks, research
methodologies, and instructional approaches that support clear, compelling communication.
Your studies will also incorporate practical components as you engage with the writing and publishing process in greater depth. Our courses are designed to help you develop skills in editing for clarity and impact, explore best practices for both print and digital publishing formats, and learn how to refine your voice across genres and platforms. Courses will also guide you through real-world writing exercises, such as preparing manuscripts for submission, developing proposals, or creating publication-ready digital content.
In addition to technical development, the program encourages thoughtful reflection on the ethical, spiritual, and cultural dimensions of writing and publishing. Our goal is to help you consider your role as a Christian communicator in a global literary environment and think deeply about how your words can influence readers and contribute to meaningful discourse. Throughout the program, Liberty’s faculty aim to foster both excellence and purpose in every assignment and academic milestone.
Potential Career Opportunities
- Adjunct professor
- Author
- Teacher
- Technical editor
- Writer
- Writing tutor
Featured Courses
- ENGL 600 – Editing and Publishing
- WRIT 620 – Writing for Print Publication*
- WRIT 621 – Writing for Digital Publishing*
- WRIT 622 – Agency and Author Development*
*Course guide coming soon
Degree Information
- This program falls under the College of Arts and Sciences.
- View the Graduate Arts and Sciences Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan coming soon

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.
Graduate Full Time | $565/Credit |
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Graduate Part Time | $615/Credit |
Military Graduate | $275/Credit |
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our Online MA in Composition – Professional Writing and Publication Degree Program
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 3.0 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.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Admission to this program requires a Statement of Purpose. Applicants must submit a 300- to 500-word statement as to why they want to pursue a Master of Arts in Composition or Master of Arts in Professional Writing at Liberty University.
- 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 graduate courses
- 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)
*Not applicable to certificates.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
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- Overview
- What Sets Us Apart?
- Why Choose Liberty?
- What Will You Study?
- Tuition & Aid
- Admission Information
- Military
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