Programs of Study
Degree Programs and Certificates
Degree Programs. At the graduate level, Liberty University offers degree programs at the master’s, post-master’s (specialist), and doctoral levels. Concentrations and cognates within given degree programs are listed under the program. Liberty University defines a Concentration as a specific grouping of 18 or more credit hours that may be offered within the requirements for a Graduate Program. A Cognate/Specialization is defined as a specific grouping of 9 to 17 credit hours that may be offered within the requirements for a Graduate Program. A Program of Study is a degree with a specified Graduate Program and concentration or cognate (if applicable).
Liberty University offers graduate degree programs of study in two formats:
- Residential. With the residential delivery format, courses in a program are delivered on campus [face-to-face] and generally last the standard semester.
- Online. With the online [distance education] delivery format, courses in a program are delivered to students through a virtual classroom experience that is flexible, personal and challenging. Through the online format a student can complete a program entirely online, with some exceptions in which a student is required to complete a minimum number of courses face-to-face on campus.
Certificates. Certificates are offered at the graduate and post-graduate level. Each certificate differs; therefore, the student must follow the certificate requirements carefully.
The requirements for graduation for all graduate programs and certificates are listed in this Catalog and on Degree Completion Plans (DCP) which can be accessed at http://www.liberty.edu/dcps. Each Degree Completion Plan includes a Suggested Course Sequence page which can provide assistance to students in planning their classes for upcoming semesters.
Regardless of format, the majority of the course work for any program of study must be earned at Liberty University. Graduate degree programs with concentrations or cognates/specializations, as well as graduate certificates, are listed below.
Course Numbering and Identification
Each course is identified by a four-letter prefix and a three-digit number. The letters represent the disciplinary area.
Course Numbering
500 Basic Master’s Level
600 Advanced Master’s Level
700 Special Master’s Level and Doctoral Level
800 Doctoral Level
900 Advanced Doctoral Level
School of Law Course Numbering
A three-letter prefix and a three-digit number identify courses offered by the School of Law. Course numbers reflect program requirements and elective areas of interest; courses at the 900-level are designated for advanced skills in the study of law.
500-595 Required Doctoral and Jurisprudential Courses
601-621 Family and Juvenile Law Courses
630-665 Business Courses
705-747 Constitutional and International Law Courses
755-765 Public Policy Courses
771-904 Administrate Law and Advanced Skills Courses
Course Prefixes
The meaning of a course prefix can be found by using the course search tool in the left-side navigation. Searching by subject in the search panel will give the course prefix along with the meaning of the prefix.