Institution

Why did you decide to attend Liberty University to get your masters degree in religion?

I chose Liberty University for my masters degree in religion for 3 major reasons. First, the school and the religion program are very well-known. Second, it is cheaper than other programs that I considered. And finally, the program only takes 1 year to complete. I knew graduate study was going to be expensive so an online program that could be completed in a year was very attractive to me.

What are your school’s biggest strengths?

It is difficult for me to say what Liberty University’s biggest strengths are because I have only just begun my program. However, in the 8 weeks that I have been here, I have noticed that the professors have been very interactive with students. They exhibit a strong passion and enthusiasm for the subjects that they teach and they work hard to communicate.

Do you view Liberty University as a community?

Yes, Liberty University is absolutely a community. All Liberty students share a common bond and we all get along well. For instance, I recently met with a coworker who was an alumna of Liberty and we made an instant connection over our shared educational experience.

Does Liberty University have brick-and-mortar campuses?

Yes, Liberty does have brick-and-mortar campuses. However, my transcript will not specify that I was exclusively an online student. Even if it did, I do not think future employers would consider my online education to be any different from a traditional education.

Cost

How are you paying for college?

I am paying for my education with federal loans. I had already completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA application, for my undergraduate education and all I had to do in order to receive funding was to update my tax information and resubmit my application. There was no reason to ask for help from Liberty University’s admissions advisors to get my financial aid.

Other than tuition, books are the only additional cost that I have to pay. I pay about $500 a semester for books, depending on my course load.

Do you feel like your overall cost of education is more or less than the cost of a degree at a traditional institution?

I feel like I am definitely paying less for Liberty University’s online religion program than I would pay at a traditional institution. I know this because I researched the costs of other programs. For instance, even taking my degree program as a Liberty on-campus student is more expensive than the online option. And I am already paying much less than I did for my recent undergraduate studies.

Admissions Requirements

Can you describe the admissions process from start to finish?

Admission to the masters program in religion at Liberty University required an online application, transcripts and a recommendation from my pastor. The process only took a few days, but I was able to be admitted for a probationary period while my transcripts were being sent. This was helpful because I was able to start classes before becoming an official student. Overall, it was a relatively streamlined process.

What did you write about in your personal statement?

In my personal statement, I wrote mostly about my relationship with Christ and how struggles in my life have gotten me closer to Christ. I did not include a lot of information about academic or professional goals.

How many letters of recommendation did you submit in your application?

I submitted just one letter from my pastor. I approached him because he is my mentor and I have always referred to him for that kind of support. Over the years, he has written many letters of recommendation for my various jobs and educational programs.

Classroom Experience

How is class material presented?

There are several different ways that students learn and receive subject material in the religion program at Liberty. These include video conferences, discussion boards and live learning events. Most of the material is presented in the form of pre-recorded audio or video. Often, professors provide this material. However, in the case of my apologetics class, the author of 1 of my books provided class materials.

I choose to watch lectures between 9 and 10 at night, after I get home from work. I work full time and occasionally skip lectures when I do not have time to watch them. In those instances I have to find my own way in assignments. Generally when I watch lectures, I treat them as if I were in a live classroom environment.

Class materials are available for students to study at their leisure. Students are able to review, take notes or discuss class materials with other students when they want. There are some classes that take place live, but I have yet to experience any of those. Liberty also provides some opportunities for online students to learn on campus. The school hosts conferences in which online students can go to Virginia for a short period of time and take classes in person.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of this style of presentation?

One benefit of the various formats that Liberty uses in its online classes is that I am able to work at my own pace. If I work a night shift I can watch lectures during the day and vice versa. If I am totally occupied by work I can do schoolwork during the weekends. The class style is flexible to my lifestyle and needs.

Are you able to stay engaged in your online coursework?

The classes that I have taken so far have been very easy to stay engaged in because I find the subject material interesting. I took a New Testament class that had no video component and was all discussion based. Initially, I was concerned that I may have difficulty staying focused, but I understood the material well.

The material is engaging enough that I do not multitask, except to take notes while watching. During my undergraduate courses at a traditional campus I would often multitask and for that reason I think online learning may actually be beneficial. Since I am entirely self-taught, the attention I pay to my studies is vital.

Do your professors encourage class participation?

Yes, professors encourage class participation by giving us quizzes and requiring us to post a certain amount of threads on online discussion boards.

What method of communication do you use to keep in touch with your professors?

If I need to speak with 1 of my professors I can e-mail them directly, which I do infrequently. I am very independent and have little need for contact with my professors. I did e-mail a professor recently who had given me an incorrect grade. Otherwise, I have little personal communication with them and do not really know them at all on a personal level.

Please rate your faculty in terms of the following criteria:

Criteria	Rating	Reasons
Overall	Excellent	So far my professors have been great and some of them are well-known in their specialties.
Qualifications	Excellent	All of my professors have doctoral degrees. Their degrees are listed in their personal bios.
Knowledgeable	Excellent	All of my professors have been very knowledgeable and some have published articles and books in their fields.
Lectures	Content: Excellent Clarity: Excellent	Professors are very thorough and explain subjects well. Some may even give too much information.
Assignments	Relevance: Average Reasonable: Average Clarity: Excellent Assistance Provided: Excellent Feedback Given: Excellent	Assignments have been relative to coursework, but some classes have too many. For instance, some classes have 2 to 3 assignments per week, which is a difficult course load for someone who is working full time.
Grading	Excellent	Assignments are graded fairly.
Responsiveness	Excellent	Professors have been very open to students needing help.
Reliability	Excellent	Professors have been very accommodating, though I have had little need to contact them so far.
Interest taken in class as a whole	Good	Professors are enthusiastic about the subjects that they teach.
Interest taken in student as an individual	Good	I definitely feel that my professors want each student to succeed.

What resources does Liberty University provide to help you succeed in the classroom?

Liberty provides online databases and libraries, which I have found helpful. I have not explored any other resources at Liberty.

What advice would you give to students to help them succeed in an online classroom?

Time management is the most important skill that you can learn in order to succeed as an online graduate student. If you are organized, complete your work on time and read sufficiently, you will not be too stressed out by deadlines.

Program

Why did you choose to enroll in your religion program?

I chose a program in religion with a specialization in biblical studies because it was a good complement to my undergraduate degree in practical theology. I want to work in a ministry, so I chose a course of study that would provide me with in-depth knowledge of the Bible. I thought biblical studies would be the best program I could take to achieve that goal.

Does your program include a thesis component?

I do not have a thesis requirement and I don’t believe that there is a thesis path offered in my religion program.

What are your program’s biggest strengths and weaknesses?

I like the biblical focus of the program. I explicitly study what the Bible says and am given the tools to understand it as it was written in its time. I am also learning Greek and Hebrew, which are important languages to be familiar with in order to understand the historical context of the Bible.

I think that the greatest weakness of my program is the lack of availability of courses. The catalog lists a large number of courses but when it is time to enroll, many of them are not available. For example, I was excited to take a Revelations course which was offered and I have yet to see it available.

If you were to do it again, would you sign up for Liberty University’s masters program in biblical studies?

If I were to repeat the masters degree process, I would definitely pick Liberty University’s biblical studies program. If other students are considering the program, they need to be sure they are very interested in biblical history and have a strong desire to gain an intimate knowledge the Bible. If not, they may find it very tedious.

I would even recommend the program to those without a personal relationship with Christ. I feel that an interest in the subject is enough to make this a desirable program. A personal Christian faith does make the program feel more valuable, though.

Closing

What general advice would you give to a student who is considering a masters degree in biblical studies at Liberty University?

I would say that graduate study requires more self-discipline and self-teaching than undergraduate study. Professors will guide you, but they will not hold your hand. Many students may find that shocking.