Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
Overview
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 to pursue leadership roles in academia, research, and health and human services settings. Through this program, you can establish an 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!
Credit Hours
View CoursesNext start date: Aug 18, 2025
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC
Highlights of Our Doctor of Public Health Program
Conduct Hands-On Research in Our Labs
You can explore more than 20 dedicated teaching and research laboratories as part of your academic journey. These spaces are designed to give you the opportunity to apply what you study in a dynamic, hands-on environment.
Access Extensive Academic Resources
Liberty’s state-of-the-art library is at your fingertips, giving you access to countless journal articles, research databases, and books. These resources can support you in every phase of your studies, from your first course to your final project.
Study Under Experts in the Field
Your professors aren’t just educators – they’re seasoned professionals with real-world experience in both academia and industry. That means you can benefit from insights that are grounded in current trends and practical knowledge.
Grow with Professional Support
As you work toward your degree, you can take advantage of Liberty’s career services, writing center, and a strong alumni network. These resources are here to help you sharpen your skills and advance your goals both academically and professionally.
Trust in Quality and Accreditation
You can be confident that your degree is backed by rigorous academic standards. Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), so your education carries weight and credibility.
Get Involved in Meaningful Research
You’ll have the chance to collaborate with faculty on exciting research projects. Past students have studied topics like the impact of BMI on heart rate, stress and burnout in healthcare, and even water purification initiatives in Rwanda.
Career Potential
Potential Career Opportunities for Doctorate of Public Health Graduates
Liberty University’s Doctor of Public Health can help prepare you to pursue the following occupations:
- Community health manager/director
- Health department director
- Health officer
- Health policy advisor
- Public health consultant
- Public health information officer
- Public health program director
Courses
What Will You Study 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 DrPH Degree 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
Degree Information
- Explore further with the Course Catalog.
- This program falls under our School of Health Sciences.
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s Doctor of Public Health Degree?
Lead with Purpose and Compassion
When you choose Liberty University’s Doctor of Public Health program, you become part of a community that values both academic excellence and ethical leadership. Liberty’s integration of a Christian worldview into the curriculum can equip you to face public health challenges with compassion, purpose, and a strong moral foundation.
Experienced Public Health Professionals
You won’t just study theory – you can study under professors who bring years of real-world experience to the classroom. These faculty mentors are both respected scholars and skilled practitioners, ready to help you deepen your understanding of public health leadership and develop practical, applicable expertise.
Benefit from Cutting-Edge Resources
At Liberty, you can take advantage of advanced learning tools and state-of-the-art facilities that support your exploration of complex public health topics. Our interactive environment is designed to help you engage deeply with your studies while preparing for real-world impact.
Gain Career-Focused, Accredited Training
Liberty’s accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) affirms our dedication to academic quality.
Through a hands-on practicum and original dissertation research, you can build the experience and credentials needed to pursue leadership roles in the field of public health.
Tuition & Aid
How Much Does it Cost to Attend Liberty On Campus?
Knowing up-front what you’re paying for and why can go a long way toward making you feel comfortable about your investment. This overview of major college costs can give you an idea of what’s coming so you can create an accurate budget from the start.
All Tuition & Aid
| Per Credit Hour | $650 |
#4 Best College Campus in America
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education designed to help equip students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition 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.
Specializations
Doctorate of Public Health Specializations
Liberty’s DrPH program offers specialized pathways that allow students to align their advanced education with their professional goals. Each specialization focuses on a critical area of public health leadership, providing practical knowledge and research skills applicable to real-world challenges. Whether you’re interested in health policy, epidemiology, or community health, these concentrations are designed to help you address public health issues with strategic insight and purpose.
Specializations
Health Policy Leadership and Management
Maternal and Child Health
Public Health Practice
Admissions
How Do You Become a Doctor of Public Health Student?
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 transcripts showing a Master of Public Health or a Master of Science in Public Health from a CEPH-accredited program with at least a 3.0 GPA for admission in good standing
- 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:
- 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
Have Questions?
We’ll make sure you have the information you need to take your next step.