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BEHAVIORAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION SCIENCES (BSHES)

Be at the forefront of public health

Be at the forefront of public health with a MPH in behavioral, social, and health education sciences from the Rollins School of Public Health. In this dynamic field, you’ll explore the impacts of human behavior and socio-cultural contexts on population and community health.

A transformative approach

The department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences (BSHES) offers a transformative education that goes beyond traditional learning. With a broad approach integrating classroom and research settings, you’ll gain the skills necessary to apply cutting-edge research to public health interventions and be poised for a successful career.

Interdisciplinary curriculum

Immerse yourself in a curriculum enriched by interdisciplinary coursework, drawing from psychology, sociology, epidemiology, and more.

Practical skills

Gain practical skills within our integrated learning environment, including community assessment, program planning, and collaborations with internationally recognized partners like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Save the Children, and Deloitte Consulting.

Community engagement

Our program emphasizes practical skills alongside community engagement, with the city of Atlanta serving as a vibrant extension to the classroom. Gain real-world experiences in the surrounding area, from state health departments to local schools.

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Empowered learning

Designed for those with diverse interests, from social sciences to urban planning, the BSHES master’s program offers a multidisciplinary approach that will empower you with both knowledge and practical expertise.

Plus, you can enhance your degree with specialized certificates in areas like mental health or health and human rights, gaining in-depth skills and applied experiences. 

A world of opportunity awaits

At Rollins, you’ll be well-prepared to succeed in a wide variety of public health paths, from academia to hospitals to NGOs. You’ll also receive top career coaching and guidance that will prepare you for landing your dream job.

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Diverse faculty

Our faculty, many of whom are Delta Omega award winners, are drawn from diverse disciplines—including psychology, epidemiology, genetics, and history—providing you with unparalleled mentorship and learning opportunities. You’ll also get to collaborate with faculty from leading nearby health institutions such as the CDC and the Carter Center to maximize your hands-on learning—and impact.

Meet Our Faculty
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“We support an educational culture where everyone’s authentic identities and perspectives are not just welcomed, but also seen as true assets. Our personal identities and perspectives are often our most valuable skill sets, as they guide our methods for achieving the types of public health solutions we want to see in our own lives. We embrace collectively what we each bring as tools to use and learn from one another on our journey to public health solutions.”
Don Operario, PhD
Grace Crum Rollins Professor and Chair
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“Focusing on the way that racism operates within the field is not just about identifying the problems but also identifying potential solutions.”  
Chandra Ford, PhD
Professor
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“I also love working with students over the course of the semester as things click into place. One of the great things about public health is that it’s very skills oriented. I try to give students the chance to explore things they’re interested in. I’m always learning.”  
Elizabeth Walker, PhD, MPH, MAT
Research Associate Professor 
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“A lot of my work is focused on shifting the power to these youth and realizing their capacity. They’re innovative and are committed to enacting change in their communities. If we give them opportunities, support them, and listen to them they could become incredible partners.” 
Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD
Associate Professor 

Research is at our core

Our faculty are not just educators, but leading public health researchers. With projects spanning from behavioral risk factor trajectories to health disparities—and over $30 million in grant funding in 2023 —BSHES is a renowned hub for high-impact research. And a leader in advancing public health.

Behavioral, Social & Health Education Sciences News

Rollins Researchers Awarded Grants to Prevent Community and Firearm Violence Among Black Youths

November 6, 2023

The researchers will examine the impact of minimum wage, welfare, food stamps, and Earned Income Tax Credits on preventing gun violence with a three-year grant totaling $1,662,029 from the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. 

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Majority-Black, Low-Income Neighborhoods in Atlanta Face Gap in Access to Fresh Produce, Report Shows

September 19, 2023

The report provides quantitative evidence illustrating the ongoing ramifications that both economic inequality and structural racism play in Atlanta and how this manifests in the lack of access to foods that promote health and well-being. 

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Ask an Expert: Race, Trauma, and Mental Health With Briana Woods-Jaeger

May 31, 2023

In this interview, Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD, associate professor of behavioral, social, and health education sciences and vice chair for equity engagement at Rollins discusses the mental health effects of racial trauma and violence on youths, and what should be done to address it.

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