liberty university essay questions

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Course Catalog | Liberty University

Admissions - resident program.

Ron Kennedy, B.S., M.B.A., Ed.D. Executive Vice President of Enrollment Management & Marketing

Chris Jones, B.S., M.A.C.M. Director of Admissions

Stephanie Smart, B.S., M.A. Sr. Director of Event & Guest Operations

General Requirements

Admission to Liberty University’s undergraduate program is governed by policies and procedures approved by the Undergraduate Administrative and Curriculum Committee of the Faculty Senate.

The mission of Liberty University is to develop Christ-centered men and women with the values, knowledge, and skills essential to impact the world. We expect that our students understand and respect our mission and purpose while enrolled at Liberty University.

The Liberty University resident undergraduate admissions department operates on a rolling admission basis. This policy means that we do not have a final deadline for applications to be considered and will consider each applicant on a case-by-case basis. However, we do have a priority deadline for submission and it is recommended that applicants strongly consider adhering to that deadline as the majority of our applications are received by that date.

Prospective students are assessed according to academic background; personal moral behavior and character; personal philosophy; and willingness to follow Liberty’s rules, regulations, and policies. In the consideration process, the applicant’s complete prior academic record, recommendations, plans for the future, and personal information will be reviewed upon request. Applicants meeting the required standards in these areas may be admitted to one of the academic terms at the University.

Liberty University does not engage in unlawful discrimination or harassment because of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability or military veteran status in its educational programs and activities. Liberty University maintains its Christian character and reserves its right to discriminate on the basis of religion to the extent that applicable law respects its right to act in furtherance of its religious objectives. The following persons have been designated to coordinate Liberty University’s compliance with certain anti-discrimination laws:

• Vice President for LU ONE at (434) 592-3888 or [email protected] ;
• Senior Executive Director of Disability Accommodation Support at (434) 592-4026 or [email protected] ;
• Title IX Coordinator at (434) 592-4999 or [email protected] .

The University reserves the right to refuse or revoke admission or readmission to any prospective student or returning student. Any applicant who intentionally withholds pertinent information or who falsifies information may be required to withdraw from Liberty.

The Office of Admissions may request additional documentation from applicants who do not meet admissions standards. If the Office of Admissions, in its professional opinion, determines that the documentation justifies the candidate’s potential for success, the Office of Admissions may present the documentation to the Office of the Provost with a request to admit the student.

The regulations listed herein are subject to change after the date of publication through established procedures. Liberty University reserves the right to make necessary changes without further notice.

Contact Information

Prospective students who wish to speak to an admissions counselor about the admissions process or admission policies may do so by contacting our Resident Admissions office.

Resident Admissions Office: Phone: (800) 543-5317 Fax:      (800) 542-2311 Text:    49596 Email: [email protected] Websites: https://www.liberty.edu/residential/undergraduate/

Hours of Operation: M,Tu,Th,F   10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST Wed.    9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST SAT     10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST

Mailing Address: Liberty University Attn: Resident Admissions Office MSC Box #710278 1971 University Blvd. Lynchburg, Virginia 24515

Prospective students are encouraged to apply online at apply.liberty.edu .

Application for Admission

The Admissions Committee welcomes applications for first-year, transfer and readmit admission. When we read undergraduate applications, we value intellectual ability, academic achievement, and personal qualities that will contribute to the University mission and campus community. The university also reserves the right to withdraw an application for admission after 60 days of inactivity.

Admission decisions are competitive and are based primarily on the following factors:

• Cumulative, unweighted High School GPA and college (if applicable)
• GED, HiSET, or TASC scores (if applicable)
• Consistency and trends of grades
• Essay submission

Note: Other documentation such as reference letters, community service, and leadership, may also be helpful or required by the admissions committee.  Results from the CLT, SAT or ACT are not required for admission, but may be used in consideration for merit-based aid.

Items to be Submitted

Prior to an admissions decision, applicants must submit an official transcript from an accredited high school or an official transcript of the General Educational Development (GED) test scores. Applicants with prior college coursework may submit a high school self-certification in lieu of an official high school transcript, or an official high school transcript, and unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. Please note: Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes when a Transcript Request Form is also submitted. An official transcript will be required in order to register for a second semester. To be considered complete, a high school transcript must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Preliminary transcript – must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-11, an overall grade point average (GPA), and should be signed by the school administrator.
• MENT 101 or
• ASCS 101 This course should be taken if transferring 12 or more hours of college credit. These courses are designed to help students develop reading and study strategies necessary for success in college.  
• Exception: Students may be admitted into the Certificate in Aviation Maintenance Technician with the completion a High School Diploma or a GED, regardless of GPA. Students admitted under academic caution or probation in into the Certificate in Aviation Maintenance Technician are not limited in the number of hours taken per semester or required to take MENT 101 or ASCS 101 .
• Test Scores Applicants are not required to submit test scores as part of the admissions process.  Students seeking to maximize merit-based aid are encouraged to submit their highest scores from the CLT, SAT or ACT for review.   Information on the CLT may be at https://www.cltexam.com . Information on the SAT may be obtained at https://www.collegeboard.org . Information on the ACT may be obtained at www.act.org . Liberty’s Institutional Codes are 5385 for the SAT and 4364 for the ACT.
• Essay All resident applicants must submit an essay between 200 and 400 words describing how their personal faith and beliefs will allow them to contribute to Liberty University’s mission of developing Christ-centered leaders.
• Other Documentation If the Admissions Committee determines that additional information is needed in order to make a determination on the applicant’s status, the applicant may be required to submit letters of recommendation or other relevant documentation such as a guidance counselor letter. U.S. Citizens and those with Legal Permanent Residency in the U.S. who have completed a secondary education outside of the U.S. will be evaluated as international students for admission purpose.
• Application: December 15
• Accept and Confirm: February 28
• Financial Check-in: April 30
• Course Registration: June 15
• Application: November 1

“These dates are subject to change”

Homeschool Applicants

The University recognizes that the academic records of home-educated students vary widely. However, records of academic work plus any evaluations or grades awarded by the parent or other evaluator must be included on the academic records to properly evaluate the applicant’s eligibility for college-work. Additionally, homeschooled applicants must also submit:

• Verification that they have completed the equivalent of a standard secondary school education. This requirement may be satisfied by a statement signed by the parent or guardian, a home-education diploma, or a graduation date posted on the home education records.
•  Verification that the home education was carried out in compliance with applicable commonwealth or state laws. The form of this documentation will vary depending on the state statutes governing home education. The documentation may be a letter from the local school board or public school superintendent, a letter from an umbrella school, or a signed affidavit from the parent or guardian. Students homeschooled outside of the United States must submit a transcript that confirms completion of a secondary education according to an identified standard or authority. Note: See www.liberty.edu/homeschool for a sample home school transcript. (Do not submit portfolios, photocopies of awards, or photographs of school projects.) 

Private School Admissions

Applicants from nonpublic high schools, whose accreditation cannot be confirmed, must have their school submit a self-certification form to confirm their curriculum meets state standards. Statements printed on the official transcript, confirming that the curriculum meets state standards will also be accepted.  Applicants must also satisfy the same admissions requirements as other applicants, including applying and paying the application fee.

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants must complete all of the forms that are listed for the initial application procedure. However, undergraduate transfer applicants who earn an Associate’s degree from an accredited institution do not need to submit standardized test scores except when specifically requested to do so by the University.

A copy of the official transcript from each college or university that the transfer applicant attended must be sent directly to the Admission’s Office from the Registrar(s) of the respective institution(s) of higher learning.

Unofficial transcripts will allow for acceptance and registration. Unofficial transcripts will not be reviewed for transfer credit. Before submitting unofficial transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

• Student's full name
• School name or logo printed on the document
• List of completed courses and earned credit in a term-by-term format

Official transcripts are required in order to register for a second semester.

All students who intend to transfer to Liberty must be eligible for readmission at the last institution attended. The record is reviewed based on Liberty’s scholastic regulations. Any applicant whose GPA does not meet Liberty’s scholastic standards, even though the applicant may not have been placed on Academic Caution or Probation at the last school attended, may be denied or placed on Academic Caution or Probation.

Transfer of Credits

Normally courses and degrees from regionally accredited institutions or those nationally accredited by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (e.g., SACSCOC, TRACS, ABHE, etc.) will be evaluated for transfer of credit. However, on a limited basis Liberty does accept transfer credit via experiential learning, advanced placement and professional certificates from unaccredited institutions under certain terms and conditions established by Committee on Academic and Admissions Standards. Credit earned through this process will not be counted toward the required minimum of 25% of the major and minimum of 25% of the credit hours that must be completed through Liberty University for a bachelor’s degree. Also, credit earned through the portfolio process or professional certificate evaluation cannot exceed 30 credit hours. Applicants must request that official transcripts be sent directly from the Registrar(s) of the previous school(s) to the Registrar’s Office at Liberty University. These transcripts must be received before an admission decision will be made.

Credit will be accepted for those courses that are undergraduate level in which applicants have made a grade of C- or better. Transfer credit will be awarded grades of P and will not be used in computing the Liberty GPA. Transcripts are evaluated under the guidelines established by the Senate Committee on Academic and Admissions Standards. Internships, capstone courses, special topics, remedial courses, workshops, seminars, independent studies, and varsity courses are not transferable. Students may appeal their transfer evaluation via the LU Transfer Suite  with a course description or course syllabus.

In order to receive direct credit for a course, the description must overlap the Liberty University course content at least 60%. Courses that do not match a Liberty University course by at least 60% are eligible to transfer as elective credit where allowable.  Elective credit is coded as 1XX – 4XX, depending on the level of the course.

At any point prior to degree conferral, students may petition to have courses that are listed as electives substitute for required courses by using the Course Substitution form. Additionally, duplicated or repeated institutional and/or transfer credit will only be counted once toward total earned credit hours, unless courses are deemed repeatable.

Military Evaluations

Liberty University will evaluate students’ prior military experience and develop a degree plan for each student to follow. Evaluations will be based solely upon the recommendations of the American Council of Education (ACE) guidebook,  A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services . Military applicants should send in military transcripts or documentation from their particular branch of service. If those documents are unavailable, applicants should submit a copy of their DD214, 2-1, 2A, or DD295 for evaluation.

Outgoing Transfer Credit  

Transferability of credit earned through Liberty University is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Admission Notification

Applicants must submit all of the required documents to complete the admission file. When all documents have been received and evaluated, applicants will be notified of their admission decision. Following notification of acceptance, applicants will receive information relating to Financial Check-In and course registration.

Enrollment Deposit

New students who decide to attend Liberty University must submit a $250 Enrollment Deposit. This deposit secures any available institutional grants or scholarships; however, only completion of Financial Check-In ensures the availability of a class schedule and housing assignment. The $250 Enrollment Deposit may be submitted online at www.liberty.edu/Deposit .This deposit will be credited to the student’s account as a deposit toward the upcoming semester.

Should the student decide not to attend, the University must be notified in writing with an Enrollment Deposit refund request by May 1 of each academic year for those who confirmed for fall term, and by December 1 for those who confirmed for spring term. After these deadlines, the $250 Enrollment Deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. The credit, however, may be deferred up to one academic year should the student be able to attend in a subsequent semester. However, if you update your deposit to any other semester, you will no longer be eligible for a refund.

Health Record

All resident students must complete and submit an online Health Form through their Liberty ASIST account. This form does not need to be submitted prior to acceptance. Any accepted applicant who withholds pertinent health information may be required to withdraw from the University.

Special (Non-Degree-Seeking) Students

Status 1 Special Students are early enrollment or dual enrollment students who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent. These students must show evidence of ability to complete the courses selected. They may become candidates for a degree after completing high school diploma requirements.

Status 2 Special Students are those students who are not interested in obtaining a degree; however, they are interested in taking one or more college level courses up to a maximum of 12 credit hours. Additional courses may be approved if the student has no intention of being a degree-seeking student. This decision is based off review by the Registrar’s Office.

Residential students:   Applications are available upon request from the Resident Admissions Office.

Online students:   Apply at  https://apply.liberty.edu/?acode=C27223&page_placement=mega_menu .

Students deciding to enroll as degree seeking students in the future must complete a new application and fulfill all admissions requirements.

Students who have been Academically Dismissed from Liberty University are not eligible for Special Student status. Students who have completed 12 or more credit hours at their current level are not eligible for Special Student status. 

Financial Aid is unavailable under Special Student status.  

Break in Enrollment

A break in enrollment occurs when the student fails to matriculate in at least one course during a fall or spring semester. Students who break enrollment must apply for readmission and will be subject to the requirements of the Catalog and degree requirements in effect at the time of their readmission.

Any military students wishing to be readmitted who broke enrollment due to deployment must contact the Office of Military Affairs.

Readmission

Students who have withdrawn from the University or who have broken enrollment must apply for readmission through the Admissions Office. Admission status is subject to the terms of any previous academic or disciplinary suspension or probation. Applicants must provide official transcripts from all educational institutions attended since enrollment at Liberty. Students must receive approval from the Registrar’s Office, Office of Community Life, and Student Financial Services before an acceptance decision can be made.

Dual Enrollment

Undergraduate students may enroll in master’s-level courses during the semester in which they have nine or fewer semester hours remaining to complete their bachelor’s degrees. Students must meet the cumulative GPA requirement for admission in good standing into a graduate program to be eligible to register under dual enrollment for that program.

Students may be dually enrolled for a maximum of two semesters and may enroll for a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate course work. 

Non-Liberty University undergraduate students must send in their Graduate admission application, official transcripts, and a letter from their current Registrar’s Office indicating their current Grade Point Average, the specific degree they are pursuing, the estimated date of graduation, and the number of remaining credit hours for degree completion. Once these documents have been received by the Office of Graduate Admissions, the student must contact the Liberty University Registrar's Office to request approval for dual enrollment.

Currently enrolled Liberty University undergraduate students do not need to send in an application; they must submit a request via the Dual Enrollment Request Form .

For information concerning how dual enrollment impacts tuition rates and financial aid eligibility, visit the following links: 

• Student Financial Services > Eligibility & Enrollment for Aid

Liberty University Policy Directory > Enrollment Levels and Types Policy

Dual enrollment is not available to the following students:

• Students already enrolled at the Graduate level and pursuing either a Graduate degree or a Graduate Certificate.
• Students who are pursuing an Associate degree.
• Students pursuing an undergraduate Certificate.
• Students who plan to pursue a Graduate Certificate rather than a Graduate degree.

Academic Amnesty

Approval for readmission under Academic Amnesty must be granted by the Office of the Provost. In order to qualify for Academic Amnesty, a student must have been academically suspended or academically dismissed from the University, as well as must satisfy the subsequent guidelines for readmission.

• Not enrolled at the University for a period of two (2) years. For example, if the student’s last enrollment was in the Fall 2023 term, he/she would not be eligible to appeal for Academic Amnesty until after the Fall 2025 term.
• the reason for the request, and
• efforts made to improve during absence from Liberty.  
• Corroboration may be requested of the student (e.g., transcripts from other institutions, certificates, awards, etc.).
• Students who were Academically Dismissed because of academic dishonesty are not eligible for Academic Amnesty.

The Registrar’s Office, upon receiving the written request, must receive approval from Community Life, Student Financial Services, and the Office of the Provost before readmission will be granted.

If approved for Academic Amnesty, the student will be readmitted under the following provisions:

• Previously earned grades of “A,” “B,” and “C” will remain on the student’s record and will calculate into his or her GPA. As determined by the Office of the Provost, grades of “D” and “F” are revised to “Q.”
• Students who have been granted Academic Amnesty are not eligible for graduation honors.
• If any prior certificate or degree has been awarded through Liberty University, grades earned during that time period cannot be excluded when Academic Amnesty is applied. All grades earned toward a previously awarded certificate or conferred degree will remain on the student’s transcript.
• All previously assigned academic standings will not change and will remain part of the student’s academic records for the respective terms for which they were earned.
• If, after the first term of enrollment following readmission under Academic Amnesty, the student’s cumulative GPA falls below the minimum required for good academic standing in the student’s degree program, the student will be Academically Dismissed, and will not be permitted to submit any further appeals for permission to continue his/her studies through Liberty University.

International Student Admission

Applicants who have completed secondary education or college-level academic coursework outside of the U.S. must have their transcripts evaluated by a credential evaluation service provider that is a member of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES®).

If the NACES credential evaluation was completed based on a preliminary secondary transcript for the purpose of admission to the University, the student must also submit a NACES evaluation of the final secondary credential before being permitted to register for second semester courses.

Applicants whose native language is a language other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternate assessment (see below).

Applicants who successfully complete the levels of English-Second-Language (ESL) instruction indicated below at one of three schools will have the TOEFL requirement waived. Students will have their application held until transcripts from one of the below schools are received.

• Level 6: Language Consultants International (LCI) 
• Level 109: ELS Educational Services (ELS)
• Advanced 6: Forum Intensive English Center (Forum)   

If an international student is seeking admission to an undergraduate program of study and has attended an accredited U.S. high school for a minimum of two years, the English proficiency test requirement may be waived.

If an international student is seeking admission to an undergraduate program of study and has earned a high school diploma at an accredited international high school outside of the U.S. using a U.S. high school curriculum and in which the primary medium of instruction is English, the English proficiency test requirement may be waived. (Proof must be submitted in the form of an official statement from the school's Registrar Office.)

If an international student completes an undergraduate degree at an accredited university/college outside of the U.S. in which the primary medium of instruction is English, the English proficiency test requirement may be waived. (Proof must be submitted in the form of an official statement from the school's Registrar Office.)

Students who have studied for two or more years in a country where a waiver is currently provided, but where the student is not also a citizen of that country, the English proficiency requirement may be waived.

Students who have attended a U.S. college/university for two or more years may not be required to submit a test of English proficiency. Information regarding English proficiency tests may be obtained online as follows:

• Duolingo English test

Graduate Students Only

Applicants must earn a TOEFL score of 8.5 on the Essentials test or 80 on the iBT (Internet Based Test), a 3.9 on the iTEP, a 6.5 on the IELTS, a 105 on the Duolingo English test, or an equivalent score on an approved alternate test for all graduate degree programs. An official score report sent directly from the testing service must be submitted to the University before an admission decision can be made. Applicants who have an earned degree from a college or university in the U.S. or other English-speaking country or school may have the TOEFL requirement waived by the Office of Graduate Admissions. In addition, the Office of Graduate Admissions may require any student whose native official language is not English, regardless of citizenship, to submit a TOEFL score or score from an approved alternate test, if such documentation is deemed necessary. Enrollment in certain courses may be determined by the student’s English proficiency test score in conjunction with other diagnostic assessments administered after the student matriculates on campus.

Online Students Only

Students living abroad and foreign nationals residing in the U.S. with an appropriate visa status are eligible to enroll in online classes provided they have the necessary Internet access and email service. Enrollment in online courses does not enable students to obtain or remain on Student (F-1) Visa Status.

The University offers general admission to its undergraduate program of study to applicants who achieve one of the following scores on a standardized test of English proficiency:

• TOEFL : 7 for Essentials Test or 61 for iBT
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.0
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): 51
• International Test of English Proficiency Academic Plus (iTEP): 3.6
• Duolingo English test : 90

Residential Students Only

Liberty University is authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to issue the SEVIS Form I-20 to eligible international students and their dependent family members. Any person who is not a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident of the United States and who desires to be admitted to the University and attend on campus courses while on Student (F-1) Visa Status must follow the procedure established by the Office of International Admissions. Applications for the fall semester should be submitted by April 1 and applications for the spring semester should be made by October 1.

Any college transcript from an educational institution outside of the U.S. must be officially translated into English and submitted to a credential evaluation service accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at https://www.naces.org/ .

At the discretion of the Office of International Admissions, applicants from English-speaking countries may also be required to submit an English proficiency test score that meets the required minimum.

• TOEFL : 7 for Essentials test or 61 for iBT test

Some programs of study in the School of Aeronautics have higher English language proficiency requirements which students must meet before being admitted (for flight-based majors) or before enrolling in certain courses (e.g., aviation maintenance and aviation administration courses). 

Minimum English proficiency test score requirements for admission to a School of Aeronautics major, minor, or certificate program of study leading to FAA certification or enrollment in a course leading to FAA certification are:

• TOEFL : 8.5 for Essentials test or 79 for iBT test
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): 55
• International Test of English Proficiency Academic Plus (iTEP): 3.9
• Successful completion of Level 7 at Language Consultants International (LCI)
• Successful completion of Level 112 at ELS Educational Services (ELS)
• Duolingo English test : 105

Students enrolled in these programs or courses, who do not reside in an English- speaking country, are not eligible to have the English proficiency test requirement waived.

Unmarried students under the age of 21 are required to reside in housing provided by the University. Unmarried students who are 21 years of age or older may choose to reside off campus. It is strongly recommended that a minimum of one semester be spent in University housing to help international students adjust to the local area and culture. On-campus housing is not available for married students or those over the age of 25.

International students must be covered by an adequate health insurance policy each semester of enrollment. A mandatory student health insurance fee is added to the account of international students each fall and spring semester. It is the responsibility of international students to remain enrolled in an adequate health insurance policy while studying at the University.

As part of the admission requirements, international students must document availability of adequate funds to pay for all University-related expenses for the regular nine-month academic schedule. Those who intend to remain during the summer must document additional funds (approximately $4,000 US) for living expenses.

Newly accepted international students are required to complete the International Online Orientation course in Canvas.

Parent and Family Connections

The Parent and Family Connections Office provides communication between the University and parents of Liberty University students in order to support student success, generate goodwill for the University, and promote an appropriate role for parents within the campus community.

Additional information on events and services is provided online at https://www.liberty.edu/casas/parents/ .

Articulation Agreements

The virginia community college system.

A guaranteed admissions agreement exists between the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and Liberty University. For details, visit the Registrar's webpage at https://www.liberty.edu/registrar/course-transfer-equivalency/ .

Richard Bland College

A Guaranteed Transfer Agreement exists between Richard Bland College and Liberty University. For details, please contact the Registrar’s Office at [email protected] .

FERPA – Privacy of Student Records: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Students attending, or who have attended, Liberty University are given certain rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (20 U.S.C. 1232g) and Rules of the Department of Education (34 C.F.R. Part 99) implementing this Act.

Additional information and University policies regarding the protection of student records are published online at http://www.liberty.edu/ferpa .

Additional Information

Additional information regarding the University’s academic and administrative policies and procedures can be found on the University web site at http://www.liberty.edu/registrar .

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Liberty University 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

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Where to Find Writing Assistance

Librarians at the Jerry Falwell Library specialize in helping you narrow down your topic, finding scholarly resources, and conducting research within the library catalog and databases.  If you need research assistance, please contact the team at the Jerry Falwell Library. 

The Liberty University Writing Center specializes in the writing, formatting, and editing process. If you need assistance with a particular citation style, or if you want someone to review your essay, please reach out to the Writing Center.  The Writing Center provides services for both residential and online students. 

Writing Center Helpful Links

Consult resources from the Liberty Writing Center during the brainstorming, research, writing, and editing process. Suggested resources are provided below: 

• Academic Code of Honor
• How to Research a Thesis Statement 
• Organizing a Paper
• Outlining a Research Paper

Using RefWorks for Citation Help

Keeping track of your citations does not have to be difficult. The Jerry Falwell Library offers RefWorks to help you keep track of the references that you are using and to assist you with citing your sources. 

RefWorks can output your paper's reference list in many citation styles, including APA. It is important to verify that your reference list is in the correct format, so be sure to make sure the citation is correct in RefWorks. The short video tutorial below can help you get started using RefWorks. 

Writing Style Guides

• American Medical Association (AMA)
• APA 7th Edition
• Modern Language Association (MLA)
• Turabian/Chicago

The American Medical Association  has its own formatting and citation guide for the medical sciences. 

The Liberty Writing Center has a AMA Format Quick Guide to aid you in the writing process.

The Jerry Falwell LIbrary has both a physical copy and an e-book edition of the  AMA Manual of Style: a Guide for Authors and Editors  available. 

The American Psychological Association has its own style and formatting guide.  

The Liberty University Writing Center has a Guide for APA Format Quick Guide  to aid you in your studies.  And the Jerry Falwell Library has a APA Style Research Guide which outlines the writing and citation process. 

Need help with APA formatting? The Jerry Falwell Library subscribes to the APA's Academic Writer database. This database provides example essays and writing advice. The Jerry Falwell Library has tutorials on using the APA's Academic Writer. 

If you would like to consult a physical copy of the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association: the official guide to APA style , the Jerry Falwell Library has a physical copy. 

The webinar below outlines basic APA formatting principles: 

Law students are expected to write in Bluebook style. The Liberty University Writing Center has a Bluebook Quick Guide . 

The Law Library has several physical copies of  The Bluebook: a Uniform System of Citation  on reserve. 

In addition to the Bluebook , those in the legal profession can benefit from consulting  Garner's Modern English Usage  during the writing process. 

The Modern Language Association has its own style guide for writing research papers.  

The Liberty University Writing Center has a MLA Formatting Quick Guide to aid you in your research. The Jerry Falwell Library also has a MLA Style Guide  that discusses MLA style requirements. 

The Jerry Falwell Library has a physical copy of the MLA Handbook, 8th edition  available. 

The Chicago Manual of Style was first developed by Kate Larimore Turabian for the University of Chicago Press. "Turabian" style formatting is an adapted version of the more formal "Chicago" style formatting. Both Turabian and Chicago have many similarities. 

The Liberty University Writing Center has a Turabian Format Quick Guide to aid you in your research. The Jerry Falwell Library also has a Turabian Style 9th Edition Research Guide. 

The Jerry Falwell Library has a selection of Chicago and Turabian handbooks. 

Plagiarism & Copyright

Concerned about plagiarism and copyright? See these copyright guidelines for detailed information on what constitutes plagiarism and how to determine copyright. The Jerry Falwell Library also has its own Copyright Research Guide . 

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In 500 words, please explain your purpose for pursuing this degree. Consider the following questions in your response:

• How is this degree going to help you in your ministry and/or vocation?
• What do you hope to learn through this process?
• What do you hope to do with this degree after graduation?
• Graduate Degree Programs

Master of Arts in Composition

Please submit a 300- to 500-word statement as to why you desire to pursue a Master of Arts in Composition at Liberty University.

Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology

Master of arts in professional writing.

Please submit a 300- to 500-word statement as to why you desire to pursue a Master of Arts in Professional Writing at Liberty University.

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60-hour)

• Please describe in 200-250 words why you desire to become a counselor and indicate the type of counselor certification you plan to seek after graduation.
• Describe in 200-250 words an occasion in which you have interacted with an individual or a group of individuals from another culture . Identify the cultural differences which were present and how you demonstrated respect for those differences.
• Describe in 200-250 words how you form effective interpersonal relationships with others in individual and group settings.

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy

Master of arts in teaching english as a second language.

In 300-500 words, explain why you want to pursue a TESL degree.

Master of Education in School Counseling

Master of social work.

• In 150 words, complete the following prompt: I desire to earn a Master of Social Work degree and attend Liberty University because…
• In 150 words, complete the following prompt: I show a posture of learning and respect when interacting with diverse individuals, families, and groups by…
• In 100 words, discuss the following prompt: Please share about a personal challenge in your life and discuss how you have worked through this challenge. (Please do not share about a challenge with your job).

Advanced Standing Master of Social Work

• Introduce yourself and explain what has inspired you to earn a Master of Social Work degree. Discuss related life events, experiences, and relationships – educational, professional, and/or personal. If you are making a career change, discuss what prompted the change. Discuss what you hope to do with an MSW. (400 words)
• What qualities and abilities do you possess that you believe are a good fit for the social work profession? (150 words)
• What qualities and abilities do you want to develop or further develop that you believe will be helpful in the profession? (150 words)
• How do you show a posture of learning and respect when interacting with diverse individuals, families, and groups? (150 words)
• Share a personal challenge (please do not share a challenge related to your job) in your life and discuss how you worked through or are working through this challenge. (200 words)
• Explain the reason you believe Liberty University is the best fit to help you meet your goal of obtaining an MSW. (150 words)
• If you have social work-related experience, discuss those experiences (for instance, working or volunteering in social services). (optional)
• Postgraduate and Executive Certificates

Postgraduate Certificate in Chaplaincy

Please submit a 300-word minimum Statement of Purpose detailing the following:

• Your vocational or ministry calling
• Your vocational or ministry goals
• A key ministry problem you feel needs to be addressed in today’s culture, which is appropriate to an advanced professional study

Executive Certificate in Nursing Educational Leadership

In a minimum of 200 words for each prompt (600 – 1000 words total), describe the following:

• Share your intellectual trajectory, how you came to the decision to further your education, and what made you decide to pursue an Executive Certificate in Nursing Educational Leadership at Liberty University.
• Share research interests, why you enjoy doing research, and provide an example(s) that displays your intellectual curiosity in action.
• In your narrative, highlight any relevant experience and skills you have. Be sure to point out any research experience in your paragraph.

Format Instructions:

• The entire document should be 600 – 1000 words total
• Statement of Purpose should be prepared in one APA formatted paragraph

Executive Certificate in Psychology

The Statement of Purpose is an opportunity to demonstrate to your application reviewers why you wish to pursue an Executive Certificate at Liberty University, and also to showcase graduate-level writing abilities for their consideration.

In 1000 – 1500 words, double-spaced, please address the following:

• What is your goal with regard to obtaining an Executive Certificate in Psychology from Liberty University?
• How does your goal align with the mission of Liberty University?
• Doctoral Degree Programs

Doctor of Ministry

Doctor of worship studies.

The Statement of Purpose is an opportunity to demonstrate to your application reviewers why you wish to pursue a doctoral degree at Liberty University, and also to showcase graduate-level writing abilities for their consideration.

In 1,000-1,500 words, please answer the following questions:

• How has your previous education and/or work experience prepared you for doctoral studies?
• What is your goal with regard to pursuing a doctoral education at Liberty University?
• Please describe the character and values you possess that will help you succeed in your desired field.

Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership

• How has your previous education and/or work experience prepared you for doctoral studies at Liberty University?

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Leadership

Answer the following prompts in approximately 200 words each (600-word max) in one APA-formatted paragraph with a title page:

• Share your intellectual trajectory, how you came to the decision to further your education, and what made you decide to pursue a PhD in Nursing Leadership at Liberty University.
• Share research interests and why you enjoy doing research and provide an example(s) that displays your intellectual curiosity in action.
• In your narrative, highlight any relevant experience and skills you have. Be sure to point out any research experience in your paragraph.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing – Nursing Education

• Share your intellectual trajectory, how you came to the decision to further your education, and what made you decide to pursue a PhD in Nursing – Nursing Education concentration at Liberty University.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology

• What is your goal with regard to obtaining a doctoral degree in psychology from Liberty University?

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