Accelerated BS/MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

Liberty University offers an accelerated 4+1 program allowing students to earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health and a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a Community Health Promotion track within five years. This program is designed to equip students with advanced skills and hands-on experience to enter the public health field more quickly.

The public health programs at Liberty University, including the MPH component of this 4+1 track, are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Graduate MPH courses within this program prepare students for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification exam.

• Students have access to over 20 teaching and research laboratories.

• Opportunities for engaging research projects, such as testing BMI's impact on heart rate or implementing water filters in Rwanda.

• Availability of health outreach opportunities in global settings.

• Students receive First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certifications.

Delivery Modes

The B.S. to MPH 4+1 program is offered in a residential (on-campus) format. It is an accelerated program, allowing for the completion of both bachelor's and master's degrees in five years.

Curriculum Overview

The 4+1 accelerated track combines undergraduate and graduate studies, totaling 153 credit hours for both degrees. Key content areas for the MPH component include:

• Community engagement techniques for developing and deploying community health programs.

• Developing, implementing, and evaluating public health programs.

• Principles of public health interventions addressing health inequality.

• Public health leadership, systems thinking, social justice, and ethics.

• Population health status assessment and analytical methods.

Students complete a 120-hour, hands-on practicum at a public health organization, with projects tied to CEPH competencies. Featured graduate-level courses include HLTH 632 – Health Program Planning and HLTH 634 – Health Communication and Advocacy. For detailed curriculum, students can review the Degree Completion Plan .

Admissions Requirements

Admission into the B.S. in Public Health (the undergraduate portion of the 4+1 program) does not guarantee admission into Liberty’s MPH program. Fourth-year students must meet additional requirements to begin graduate-level coursework. Up to 50% of graduate course content may be transferred from previous graduate coursework, subject to approval.

For initial entry into the B.S. component, applicants generally need to submit:

• Admission application

• Official high school transcripts

• Official college transcripts (if applicable)

• Admission essay (CLT, SAT, or ACT scores are not required but can be used for merit-based aid consideration).

Career & Practical Experience

The B.S. to MPH program provides advanced, practical training for careers in a rapidly expanding job market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth in related fields (e.g., Health Educators and Community Health Workers). Graduates are prepared for various roles, including:

• Community health program planner

• Health coach or consultant

• Health educator

• Health program evaluator

• Worksite wellness program administrator

Practical experience is gained through a 120-hour practicum, internships, and research projects. Career placement assistance is available after graduation.