Available Fall 2025
Empower Communities and Help Shape Public Health Practice with a DrPH Degree from Liberty University
Liberty University’s Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program seeks to help prepare you for leadership roles in academia, research, and health and human services settings. Through this program, you can pursue advanced expertise in public health practice, policy, and research while developing hands-on skills to address complex health challenges domestically and abroad. As you do so, you can study in an environment that blends academic rigor with a focus on ethical, faith-based service.
Our doctorate of public health emphasizes the practical application of public health principles across a variety of fields – including communications, marketing, public policy, advocacy, and economics – with the goal of helping you prepare for leadership roles in practice-based settings. To this end, our DrPH degree program hones in on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, as public health professionals must often work as leaders or members of interprofessional teams.
If you’re passionate about improving community health outcomes, developing effective health policies, or leading initiatives in public health education, then Liberty’s Doctor of Public Health degree may be for you. Upon graduation, you could potentially pursue career opportunities in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, academic institutions, and more. We’re excited to partner with you as you prepare to influence public health policy and practice at all levels!
Award-Winning Campus
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education that equips students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence helped us rank as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Why Choose Liberty’s Doctor of Public Health Degree?
Choosing Liberty University’s Doctor of Public Health program means joining a community that values both academic excellence and ethical leadership. Liberty integrates a Christian worldview into its curriculum, which can allow you to approach public health challenges with a strong sense of purpose and compassion. This holistic approach not only emphasizes industry skills but also seeks to help you develop the moral framework needed to lead effectively in diverse health settings.
Additionally, Liberty’s state-of-the-art resources and experienced faculty provide an engaging learning environment where you can explore the complexities of public health issues in depth. Our professors are not only leaders in academia but also skilled practitioners with real-world experience in the field. With their guidance, you can gain practical insights into the world of public health leadership and enhance your expertise.
Not only that, but Liberty is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) – demonstrating our commitment to providing a high-quality education that meets rigorous academic standards. Within the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree program, you can gain hands-on experience through a practicum and conduct original research through the dissertation process. These opportunities can help ensure that you receive a well-rounded, career-oriented education.
What Will You Learn in Our DrPH Degree Program?
The Doctor of Public Health includes a set of core foundational courses covering topics such as public health leadership and management, program planning, advocacy, and ethics. You’ll also explore various qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods, helping you prepare to carry out innovative research in the field. Other subjects of study include public health policy, community needs assessment, and health communications. Additionally, you’ll participate in a series of seminar courses that will introduce you to the practice of preparing and presenting public health data, research findings, and issues to a diverse audience.
As a DrPH student, you’ll have the flexibility to select a specialization that interests you. For instance, you could explore the leadership and management side of public health – including the specifics of crisis response and finance – helping you understand what it takes to lead health organizations to success. Alternatively, you could take an in-depth look at public health practices related to mothers and children, including nutrition, health policy, and reproductive health. Whichever specialization you choose, you can dive into your passion and prepare to pursue your unique goals.
To round out your studies, you will research, write, and defend a dissertation, giving you an opportunity to contribute original research and help solve important problems in the field. You will also participate in a practicum, with the goal of helping you learn how to carry out evidence-based decision-making and translate the knowledge from your courses into effective public health practice.
Featured Courses
PCHR 700 – Introduction to the Foundations of Public Health
PCHR 718 – Public Health Policy, Advocacy, and Ethics
PCHR 720 – Health Communications and Workforce Development
PCHR 724 – Community Needs Assessment and Systems Analysis
Specializations for the Doctorate of Public Health
Health Policy Leadership and Management
Maternal and Child Health
Public Health Practice
Highlights of Our Doctor of Public Health Program
- Explore over 20 teaching and research laboratories.
- Receive access to Liberty’s state-of-the-art library, which houses numerous journal articles, research databases, and books for you to utilize throughout your studies.
- Study under faculty who are experienced practitioners in academia and industry, bringing real-world expertise into the classroom.
- Engage with various professional development resources, including Liberty’s career services, alumni network, and writing center, to help fuel your professional and academic growth.
- Rest assured that your degree meets high academic standards – Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
- Immerse yourself in engaging research projects. Our students have collaborated with faculty to test the impact of BMI on heart rate, implement Biosand water filters in Rwanda, collect data on stress and burnout in the health field, and more!
Doctor of Public Health Degree Information
- Residential
- 56-58 total credit hours
- Transfer in up to 50% of your total degree
- This program falls under the School of Health Sciences
- View our course catalog
Potential Career Opportunities for Doctorate of Public Health Graduates
- Community health manager/director
- Health department director
- Health officer
- Health policy advisor
- Public health consultant
- Public health information officer
- Public health program director
Admission Requirements for Our DrPH Degree Program
Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Official college transcripts showing a Master of Public Health or a Master of Science in Public Health from a CEPH-accredited program
- Those with a non-CEPH accredited MPH, MSPH, or health-related master’s degree can be considered but may be required to take PCHR 700 (Introduction to the Foundations of Public Health) and any of the following missing prerequisite courses:
- Biostatistics
- Principles of Environmental Health
- Principles of Epidemiology
- Public Health Administration
- Research Methods in Public Health
- Social & Behavioral Theory App. in Public Health
- Those with a non-CEPH accredited MPH, MSPH, or health-related master’s degree can be considered but may be required to take PCHR 700 (Introduction to the Foundations of Public Health) and any of the following missing prerequisite courses:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- 2 faculty/professional recommendation letters submitted via email to admissionsdocs@liberty.edu (must include physical signature of recommender). One must be from current or former faculty. One must be from current or former work supervisor or related
- Public Health Essay (see our Statement of Purpose page for details)
- Department approval required
