Master’s in Public Health Biology

Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 18, 2027 | February 15, 2027 | March 22, 2027

Explore Disease Prevention, Data Analysis, and the Biological Basis of Public Health in Liberty’s Online Master of Arts in Public Health Biology

Public health is more than policy and practice – it begins with the science of disease and prevention. Through Liberty’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Public Health Biology, you can explore the biological side of public health and examine how health challenges affect communities at both the individual and population level. Our program is designed for students like you who want a graduate degree that connects biomedical science with public health research.

If you are interested in emerging infectious diseases, epidemiology, immunology, or the biological determinants of health, this degree offers a focused path forward. An online public health program for biology takes a research-centered approach that can support your interest in disease processes, prevention strategies, and evidence-based public health decision-making.

As a thesis-based online program, the MA in Public Health Biology allows you to shape your studies around your academic and professional goals. You can build a practical foundation for potential roles in public health research, biomedical fields, healthcare settings, or further study. A biology public health degree can help you take the next step toward research-focused career opportunities that bridge public health and medical sciences.

For students enrolling today, who are placed on the current academic year’s degree completion plan, the officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts (MA) in Public Health Biology. Degree details, including name, may be subject to change between academic terms.

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Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

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Why Choose Liberty’s Graduate Degree in Public Health Biology?

Choosing an online master’s degree program is an important commitment of your time and resources, so it helps to select a university with experience supporting professional learners. Liberty University’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Public Health Biology offers a thesis-based graduate education within a learning environment designed to support both flexibility and academic engagement. The 100% online format allows you to balance coursework alongside professional, family, and community responsibilities.

Liberty’s online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America for 2027 – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. As a pioneer in distance education since 1985, Liberty provides flexible and challenging online programs built for working adults, with 8-week courses, multiple start dates each semester, and no set login times.

Additionally, Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, so you can feel confident in the quality of education you pursue. In line with Liberty’s mission of Training Champions for Christ, our courses are taught by faculty with advanced credentials and experience in public health and biomedical science fields. Their practical insight can help you connect ethical leadership and evidence-based research to today’s public health challenges as you work toward your academic and professional goals from anywhere with an internet connection.

What Will You Study in a Public Health Master’s Degree in Biology?

In our MA in Public Health Biology, you can study the science behind major public health challenges. Liberty’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Public Health Biology focuses on the biomedical side of health, helping you explore the biological basis of disease and how illness can affect communities. You can examine how public health and medical science work together to support disease prevention and research.

Throughout the public health biology program, you can build a foundation in public health research methods, biostatistics, and epidemiological principles. These areas can help you understand public health data analysis and how researchers track health trends through disease surveillance and control. You can also study environmental health science and learn how outside factors may shape the biological determinants of health.

In a master’s in public health biology, you can explore infectious disease prevention, pathology, and human metabolism as you prepare for thesis work. With a wide range of electives, you can choose and shape your coursework around your interests and goals. You can also examine topics related to vaccines and immunology, toxicology and public health, and disease surveillance and control. In addition, you may engage with tools used in public health data visualization and epidemiological mapping as part of your graduate study.

As a thesis-based graduate degree in public health biology, this program includes the opportunity to complete a research project and write a thesis. This experience can help you bring together your studies in biomedical sciences and public health as you work toward research-focused academic or career goals.

Potential Biology Public Health Career Opportunities

The online Master of Arts (MA) in Public Health Biology can support preparation for many different research-focused roles in public health and biomedical science. Career opportunities may vary based on your prior education, experience, and professional goals, and some positions may require additional training, certification, or licensure. The following roles are examples of positions where graduate study in public health biology may be applicable:

Biomedical researcher
Clinical laboratory scientist
Clinical research coordinator
College professor
Environmental health specialist
Epidemiologist
Health policy research assistant

Healthcare administrator
Infectious disease epidemiologist
Occupational health and safety specialist
Public health laboratory scientist
Public health research associate
Public health researcher
Sanitarian

Featured Biology in Public Health Courses

Course Format

We offer both 8-week and full-semester sub-terms each semester. While many online courses can be taken in the 8-week format, some programs require courses that must be taken in the full-semester term. Some courses may require additional approvals or information prior to registration.

In addition to these formats, some courses may be required to be taken in intensive or alternative formats, which may include scheduled meeting times, travel to campus, or required login sessions.

You can view specific sub-term offerings and requirements in the Course Registration Tool.

Public Health Biology Degree Information

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Many of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2026 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Graduate Full Time	$600/Credit
Graduate Part Time	$665/Credit
Military Graduate	$310/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2026-2027. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Information for Our Online Master’s in Public Health Biology

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- There is no application fee to apply to Liberty University.
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $310 per credit hour for graduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2026-2027. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Biomedical Science in Public Health Programs

What is public health biology?

Public health biology is a field that looks at health through both a biological and a population-based lens. It focuses on how disease begins, spreads, and affects communities while also examining the science behind prevention and public health response. Instead of studying health only through policy or systems, public health biology brings attention to the biomedical and biological factors that shape public health outcomes.

In a program like Liberty’s Master of Arts (MA) in Public Health Biology, you can explore how medical science and public health connect through research. This area of study may be especially relevant if you are interested in understanding infectious diseases, immune response, and the biological determinants of health in a broader public health setting.

Public health biology can be a meaningful option for those who want to study the science behind public health challenges while building research skills that support work in biomedical or public health research environments.

What is a Master of Public Health (MPH) vs. a research-based MA in Public Health Biology? What is an alternative to an MPH?

A Master of Public Health (MPH) is a practice-focused graduate degree. MPH programs commonly emphasize applied public health work, such as program planning, community health efforts, and public health leadership in real-world settings. For many students, an MPH can be a strong path for careers that focus on public health practice and service delivery.

A research-based Master of Arts (MA) in Public Health Biology offers a different approach. Rather than focusing mainly on applied practice, Liberty’s MA in Public Health Biology includes a thesis component and a stronger emphasis on biomedical science and research development. This structure may appeal to those who want to explore disease biology, prevention science, and the research side of public health.

If you are looking for an alternative to an MPH, a thesis-based MA program can provide an option that supports deeper academic study and research-focused goals, especially for those interested in bridging public health and medical science.

Is a public health biology degree worth it?

Whether a public health biology degree is worth it depends on your interests and long-term goals. If you are drawn to the scientific side of public health and want to explore how biology and disease connect to population health data analysis, this type of program may offer a valuable direction. It can be especially relevant if you want to pursue graduate study that combines public health knowledge with biomedical foundations.

You may potentially pursue roles related to epidemiology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for epidemiologists will grow by 19% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the national average for all occupations.* Liberty’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Public Health Biology may be a strong fit if you are interested in becoming an epidemiologist, seeking other research-focused career paths, or pursuing future academic opportunities.

Because the program includes a thesis, you can experience designing a research project and working through a deeper scientific question in public health biology. As with any graduate degree, outcomes can vary based on your background, experience, and the type of role you may potentially pursue. Some career paths may require additional training or credentials, but this degree can help you build advanced knowledge in an area that connects public health research and biomedical science.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at Epidemiologists (viewed online Oct. 16, 2026). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

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