Purpose

The Master of Public Health program applies a biblical worldview to the health ministry and can enhance professional preparedness. Students learn how to apply population health foundational and concentration competencies, and best practices, to serving local, state, national, and global public health problems. Physicians, nurses, health educators, lawyers, and social workers are among the professionals who have benefited by augmenting their knowledge and skill base with an M.P.H. degree. Students who desire to earn a certification as a public health professional are prepared to take the exams required for careers across the field.

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

• Determine population health status, needs, and resources using appropriate assessment and analytical methods.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate effective public health programs and policies to address identified population determinants of health.
• Demonstrate effective written, oral, and electronic methods of communicating health information and advocating for health with diverse audiences.
• Develop public health interventions that address disparities and inequalities in health access and health status in the context of culture, race, gender, and economics.
• Engage community constituencies in collaborative relationships to develop and employ community capacity for health.
• Describe the scientific basis for public health problems and apply public health solutions to address them.
• Describe public health philosophy and organization, including infrastructure, funding, delivery, and fiscal and workforce management in the U.S. and globally.
• Apply principles of public health leadership, including systems thinking, group process, social justice, and ethics.
• Describe health from the perspective of God’s purposes for humanity in creation, fall, and redemption.

Environmental Health Concentration

• The student will be able to explain major environmental risks to human health ranging from the local to global scale.

Epidemiology Concentration

• The student will be able to identify data needs and evaluate analytic methods for calculating standard epidemiological measures.

Global Health Concentration

• The student will be able to apply public health strategies in cross-cultural settings.

Community Health Promotion Concentration

• The student will be able to apply Health Education best practices to public health.

Nutrition Concentration

• The student will be able to apply best practices in human nutrition for diverse populations.

Public Health Policy Concentration

• Produce policy recommendations for diverse stakeholders by reviewing public health issues, policy alternatives, projected outcomes, and communication strategies.

Course Requirements

The Master of Public Health is a 42-credit-hour program that offers four concentrations: Community Health Promotion, Epidemiology, Global Health, and Nutrition. Students complete 18 core hours in five disciplines: biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. These classes are combined with 24 credit hours in one of four concentrations: Community Health Promotion, Epidemiology, Global Health, and Nutrition.

Program Specific Admission Procedures

In addition to the general admission requirements, admission to the Master of Public Health program requires:

1. Earned baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (e.g., SACSCOC, TRACS, ABHE, etc.)
2. An undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above (on a 4.00 scale)
3. TOEFL Scores for students who speak English as a second language (score of 600 paper-based test; 250 computer-based test, 80 internet-based test).

Students with a GPA between 2.5-2.99 may be admitted on Academic Caution status. Students who have an undergraduate below 2.50 GPA will not be admitted to the program.

The Master of Public Health program uses a gate system to monitor student progress during preparation for a career in public health.The following gates are described below:

• Gate 1:  Admission to Graduate School, Successful Completion of PHGT 510 Public Health Orientation (0 c.h.), Completion of HLTH 501 Biostatistics (3 c.h.) with a Grade of C or higher
• Gate 2:  Successful Completion of PHGT 512 Public Health Essay (0 c.h.), Complete 12 credit hours (must include HLTH 501 Biostatistics (3 c.h.) with a grade of C or higher)
• Gate 3:  Successful Completion of PHGT 513 Public Health Portfolio (0 c.h.)
• Gate 4:  Successful Completion of PHGT 514 Public Health Competency Exam (0 c.h.)
  • Earn a passing score of 70%, or better, on the competency exam. You have three attempts to take this exam. Failure to pass the exam will result in remediation or dismissal from the program.
• Gate 5:  Successful Completion of HLTH 698 Practicum (3 c.h.)
  • Contact the Practicum Director for practicum agreement, application, and registration of HLTH 698 Practicum (3 c.h.), which will include 120 field hours and a 16-week practicum course
• Gate 6:  Application for Graduation
  • Apply for and meet all requirements for graduation

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to 21 graduate credit hours from an accredited institution subject to department approval. In order to transfer credit, students must have earned the minimum grade of B-, and courses must have been completed within 10 years of the start date of the program. Credits from a prior degree on the same academic level earned through Liberty University are considered transfer credits.

Delivery Format: Online Only

Delivery Format: Residential Only

Delivery Format: Residential and Online

• Chronic Disease Epidemiologist
• Clinical Drug Trial Researcher
• Community Health Assessment Coordinator
• Disaster Preparedness Specialist
• Environmental Health Officer
• Food-Borne Outbreak Investigator
• Health Educator
• Health System Analyst
• Hospital Epidemiologist
• Immunization Program Manager
• Infection Control Epidemiologist
• International Health Worker
• Missionary
• Rabies/Infectious Disease Control Officer
• Research Epidemiologist
• School Nutrition and Food Services Specialist