MPH with Community Health Promotion Emphasis/Concentration

Program Highlights

Liberty University's Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program with a concentration in Community Health Promotion is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in public health. The program emphasizes the practical application of public health principles to improve community well-being, focusing on areas such as health program planning, evaluation, and health advocacy.

Delivery Modes

This M.P.H. program is offered in both resident (on-campus) and online formats, providing flexibility for students with diverse needs and schedules.

Curriculum Overview

The M.P.H. program requires the completion of 42 credit hours. The curriculum is structured around core public health courses, specialized concentration courses, electives, and a practicum experience. The degree plan is effective for students starting between fall 2024 and summer 2025.

Core Courses (18 credit hours):

• HLTH 501 Biostatistics

• HLTH 503 Principles of Epidemiology

• HLTH 505 Principles of Environmental Health

• HLTH 507 Public Health Administration

• HLTH 509 Social and Behavioral Theory Applications in Public Health

• HLTH 511 Research Methods in Public Health

Community Health Promotion Concentration Courses (18 credit hours):

• HLTH 630 Principles of Community Health

• HLTH 632 Health Program Planning

• HLTH 633 Health Program Evaluation

• HLTH 634 Health Communication and Advocacy

• HLTH 635 Health Agency Management

• HLTH 698 Practicum (3 credit hours)

Elective Courses (6 credit hours): Students choose two 500-600 level HLTH courses not already applying to the degree. Other graduate-level courses may be accepted with program approval.

Gate Courses: The program includes several 0-credit hour Gate courses that serve as milestones for progression. These include PHGT 510 Public Health Orientation, PHGT 512 Public Health Essay, PHGT 513 Public Health Portfolio, and PHGT 514 Public Health Competency Exam.

Admissions & Graduation Requirements

Applicants must meet the admission requirements for Liberty University's Graduate School. All applicable prerequisites for courses must be met. Program progression involves successfully completing defined 'Gates,' which include specific course completions (e.g., HLTH 501 Biostatistics with a C or higher for Gate 1), essay and portfolio submissions, and a competency exam.

Graduation requirements include:

• Complete 42 total credit hours.

• A maximum of 50% of the program hours may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level.

• Maintain a 3.0 GPA.

• No more than two grades of C (includes C+ & C-) may be applied to the degree.

• No grade of D or below (includes D+ & D-) may be applied to the degree.

• Degree must be completed within 5 years.

• Successful completion of PHGT 514 Public Health Competency Exam with a passing score of 70% or better (students have three attempts).

• Successful completion of HLTH 698 Practicum.

• Submission of Degree Completion Application within the last semester.

Career & Practical Experience

The M.P.H. in Community Health Promotion prepares graduates for careers involving the development, implementation, and evaluation of health programs and strategies within community settings. Potential roles include health educator, program coordinator, community health worker, and health agency manager.

A key component for practical experience is the HLTH 698 Practicum. This 3-credit hour course requires students to complete 120 field hours in a public health setting over a 16-week period. Students must contact the Practicum Director for the practicum agreement, application, and registration details. This experience is part of Gate 5 for program completion.