Behavioral and Social Health Sciences

The interdisciplinary master’s program in Behavioral and Social Health Sciences (BSHS) in the Brown University School of Public Health trains graduate students who are interested in analyzing the complex behavioral and social determinants of public health, and in developing interventions to change behaviors and improve social contexts related to public health. 

The BSHS program is ideal for students who are interested in working in health program evaluation, program management, community-based organizations and other non-profit services, managed care, treatment intervention research, clinical trials, and many other fields. The BSHS program is also ideal for those interested in pursuing doctoral-level training in public health, psychology (e.g., clinical or counseling psychology, health or social psychology, community psychology), public policy, and social welfare. 

Our internationally respected faculty members are experts in the fields of alcohol and addiction, substance use, exercise and physical activity, diet and nutrition, cancer control, and HIV/AIDS, among other areas. We conduct research with diverse communities in Providence, Boston, other urban settings in the United States, and in international settings. We value diversity and are committed to addressing health disparities associated with race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other forms of social inequality.

Required Core Courses

• Introduction to Methods in Epidemiologic Research
• Behavioral and Social Science Theory for Health Promotion
• Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating Public Health Interventions
• Health Communication
• Quantitative Methods for Behavioral & Social Sciences Intervention Research

Electives: Must take 3 from this list

• Burden of Disease in Developing Countries
• Anthropology of Addictions and Recovery
• Survey Research in Health Care
• HIV/AIDS in Africa: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Support HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Programs in Africa
• Global Health Nutrition
• Case Studies in Public Health
• Alcohol Use and Misuse
• Obesity in the 21st Century: Causes, Consequences and Countermeasures
• Tobacco, Smoking, and the Evil Empire
• Principles of Health Behavior and Health Promotion Interventions*
• Meditation, Mindfulness and Health
• Social Determinants of Health
• Clinical Trials Methodology
• Applied Research Methods
• Qualitative Methods in Health Research
• Ethical and Legal Issues in Public Health
• Intro to Methods in Epi Research
• Human Biology for Public Health
• Injury as a Public Health Problem
• Epidemiology of Violence and its Consequences
• Perinatal Epidemiology
• Place Matters: Exploring Community-Level Contexts on Health Behaviors, Outcomes, & Disparities
• Public Health Issues in LGBT Populations
• Etiology of Substance Use Disorders
• Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
• US Health Care System: Case Studies
• Graduate Independent Study/Thesis Research 

Requirements

• Personal Statement
• Transcripts 
• 3 Letters of Recommendation 
• GRE 
• TOEFL/IELTS 
• A non-refundable fee of $75 is charged for processing each application received by the Graduate School. This fee must be paid when the application is submitted.
• Graduates of non-U.S. colleges and universities who have completed the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree may apply for admission to the Brown University Graduate School. Along with the application, international applicants must provide the Graduate School with original documents or official certified copies indicating the nature and scope of their educational program. 

Scholarships

Limited financial aid is available to master’s students in the form of School of Public Health Program scholarships and research apprenticeships. The PHP scholarship grants roughly 25% tuition. Research apprenticeships cover a larger portion of tuition and provide a monthly stipend. These awards are based on merit and qualifications; student loans also are available through the Financial Aid Office.