MPH STUDENT ORIENTATION FALL 2020

MPH STUDENT ORIENTATION FALL 2020

PRAYER

ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF Dr. Ralph Linstra – Dean Tina Burnette – Administrative Assistant to the Dean Dr. Jonathan Giles – Administrative Dean Dr. Ashley Tharpe- Interim Online Dean Megan Bishop – Faculty Support Coordinator (LUO) Mackenzie Case – Department Administrative Assistant Giordana Morales – Practicum Coordinator Kristy Stearns- Gate Coordinator

FACULTY Dr. Linnaya Graf – MPH Program Director Dr. Oswald Attin – Department Chair, Public and Community Health Dr. Brendan Haynie- Online Chair Dr. Robyn Anderson- BS Program Director Dr. Anna Henderson Dr. Jeff Lennon Dr. Emmanuel Clottey Dr. Baraka Muvuka Dr. Julia Inglis LUO faculty

STUDENT LEADERSHIP Graduate Student Assistants Olufunmilayo Babarinde Renata Yassa Ewa Makowka Liberty University Student Public Health Association President/Point of Contact – Ryan Trzcinski

Mission “Embracing a Christian world view to reach the underserved through public health training and practice so others may experience the embrace of God.”

Vision “We envision a cadre of fully prepared Christian health professionals dedicated to overcoming health disparities and improving the wellbeing of people from every, tongue, tribe and nation, especially the poor and disadvantaged, throughout the world.”

LOGISTICS Liberty Way Honor Code Graduate Student Handbook Parking Buses Building access MPH Student Concourse AMA style guide

COMMUNICATION Blackboard Email – use your Liberty email address Telephone Mackenzie – 434-582-2333 Dr. Graf – 434-592-5985 Dr. Attin – 434-592-6908 Office hours

EXPERIENCE Jobs Extracurricular activities are a must o LUPHSA o Campus programs (ex. Live Healthy Liberty, Health Fairs) Note- will also be used in your portfolio (gate 3) Co-curricular Activities o Professional memberships (ex. APHA, VAPHA, CCIH) o Presentations and attendance at professional meetings o Volunteerism in non-profits

ACCREDITATION Southern Association of Colleges and Schools o Liberty was last re-accredited in 2016 o MPH program was adopted without recommendation in 2011 Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) o Oct 6, 2017- Dec 31, 2024

PROGRAM 42 credit hours o 6 core courses o 5 concentration courses o 2 electives o Practicum o HLTH 600 Portfolio Competency exam

MPH CORE CURRICULUM HLTH 501- Biostatistics HLTH 503- Principles of Epidemiology HLTH 505- Principles of Environmental Health HLTH 507- Public Health Administration HLTH 509- Social & Behavioral Theory Applications in Public Health HLTH 511- Research Methods in Public Health

CONCENTRATIONS Global Health – 620 series of classes Health Promotion – 630 series of classes Nutrition – 640 series of classes (not an RD program) Epidemiology – 552, 650, 651, 642, 625 (residential only)

CERTIFICATES Issue with students taking courses without the intent to complete a degree Desire to have further education in another area Current certificates o Global health o Health Promotion o Nutrition o Epidemiology (residential only)

COMPETENCIES

COURSE SEQUENCING Students must seek a faculty member to guide you on the best courses for your career plan 3 residential courses needed to remain fulltime o Required for all international students on a student visa o Required by most financial aid packages Degree Completion Plans provide the curriculum requirements

RESIDENTIAL COURSE ROTATIONS All core courses offered each semester Concentration courses offered in alternate semesters Electives offered at variable intervals Take courses residentially for the most benefit

COURSE SEQUENCE BY CONCENTRATION EPIDEMIOLOGY HEALTH PROMOTION First Semester First Semester HLTH 501, 503, 625 Second Semester HLTH 505, 511, 552, 642 Third Semester HLTH 507, 509, 650 Fourth Semester HLTH 600, 651, elective, elective HLTH 501, 509, 630 Second Semester HLTH 503, 505, 507, 634 Third Semester HLTH 511, 632, 635 Fourth Semester HLTH 600, 633, elective, elective Fifth Semester Fifth Semester HLTH 698 HLTH 698

COURSE SEQUENCE BY CONCENTRATION GLOBAL HEALTH NUTRITION First Semester First Semester HLTH 501, 503, 620 Second Semester HLTH 505, 509, 623, 624 Third Semester HLTH 507, 511, 622, 625 Fourth Semester HLTH 600, elective, elective HLTH 501, 505, 640 Second Semester HLTH 503, 509, 644 Third Semester HLTH 507, 511, 643, 645 Fourth Semester HLTH 600, 642, elective, elective Fifth Semester Fifth Semester HLTH 698 HLTH 698

MPH Grading A AB 8 point scale 940 - 1000 920 - 939 900 - 919 B BC C CD D DF 860 - 899 840 - 859 820 - 839 780 - 819 760 - 779 740 - 759 700 - 739 680 - 699 679 and Below

GATE SYSTEM

GATE 1: ADMISSION TO GRADUATE SCHOOL Once students have been accepted for admission and enroll in HLTH 501, they have entered Gate 1 Students are required to complete HLTH 501 as the first course in preparation to complete the program Students complete Gate 1 once they pass HLTH 501 with a grade of C or better You will be contacted by the Gate Coordinator to be added to the Public Health Concourse after passing HLTH 501

GATE 2: COMPLETION OF A SEMESTER AND PUBLIC HEALTH ESSAY Students successfully pass gate 2 when they: Complete 12 credit hours (must include HLTH 501 with a grade of C or higher) Submit the public health essay to the Public Health Concourse

GATE 3: COMPLETION OF ELECTRONIC STUDENT PORTFOLIO Create an electronic student portfolio Establishes a reservoir of key assessments from core classes A student resume/CV Documentation of applied practical experiences and interprofessional experiences Background Check (receipt will go into the portfolio)

GATE 4: COMPETENCY EXAM Register for HLTH 600 Earn a passing score of 70% on the HLTH 600 competency exam You will not be able to register for HLTH 698 (practicum) without a passing score of 70% or higher (you will have three attempts to receive a passing score)

GATE 5: PRACTICUM (HLTH 698) Find and secure a practicum that meets the following course requirements: 120 hours (minimum) over 16 weeks (full semester) Must be a predefined project that assists an organization in addressing an unmet need while supporting growth in public health practice skills within the student’s concentration Complete the Student Practicum Agreement and APEX form Contact the Practicum Coordinator for preceptor site approval and registration for HLTH 698

GATE 6: APPLY FOR GRADUATION Apply for graduation upon enrollment in HLTH 698 (practicum) to ensure degree conferral at end of the course Note: Students may walk with in the graduation ceremony with up to 6 outstanding credits. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to apply for department awards if you meet the necessary requirements.

LIBRARY RESOURCES Anne Foust Jerry Falwell Library (434) 592-4989 [email protected] Public and Community Health Resource Guide http://libguides.liberty.edu/content.php?pid 544018&sid 4475352

CO-CURRICULAR AND PRACTICUM OPPORTUNITIES Dr. Bethany Williams Assistant Director of LU Student Health & Wellness Initiatives (434) 592-6477 [email protected]

CAREER SERVICES Lavonne Abe Career Coach II (434) 592-4051 [email protected]

NEED ADDITIONAL HELP? Please contact us at [email protected] Be sure to review the 2020-21 MPH Student Handbook.