Degrees & Majors
The Georgia State School of Public Health offers a range of nationally recognized, CEPH-accredited programs at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. Take the next step in your educational journey and lay the foundation for an impactful, fulfilling career in public health.
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The information shared here is intended to provide an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more please refer to the university catalogs.
Biostatistics Concentration, MPH
School of Public Health
Biostatistics involves the development and application of statistical techniques to scientific research in health-related fields, including medicine, epidemiology and public health, and includes statistical work in areas of environmental study, agricultural research and biology.
Georgia State's Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Biostatistics trains students to apply statistical principles and methods to problems in public health, medicine and biology. The Master of Public Health program includes the development of analytic thinking and skill, with an emphasis on applications of research and evaluation in public health.
Coursework in this concentration covers the span of biostatistics knowledge, including study design, data management, data analysis, interpretation, statistical reporting and the use of statistical software. Master of Public Health graduates in the Biostatistics concentration are well-prepared for employment in academia, government, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations or private industry.
Tuition
Learn more about the cost of a master’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.
Georgia State is dedicated to making our programs affordable and accessible to all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student's future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.
Community Psychology, MPH/Ph.D.
College of Arts & Sciences, School of Public Health
The dual MPH-Ph.D. program in Public Health and Community Psychology provides professional and graduate students with a solid and well-rounded background across both disciplines. Successful candidates will earn a master of public health degree (MPH) upon completion of the graduate health behavior & promotion concentration or the epidemiology concentration offered by the School of Public Health and a doctor of philosophy degree (Ph.D.) upon completion of the community psychology concentration. The program enables students to complete both degrees in less time than pursuing them separately.
Because health is determined by a complex interplay of biology, genetics, lifestyle, environmental factors, social and political conditions, multi-disciplinary professional expertise is needed to address the growing challenges to the public’s health and welfare. Community psychology and public health professionals attempt to address these conditions but take different yet complementary approaches.
Many community psychology professionals work within public health with a focus on fostering social change and activism, reducing oppression and promoting empowerment while public health professionals focus on assessing prevalence and incidence, identifying risk and protective factors, and changing individual health behavior.
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Doctor of Public Health
School of Public Health
In an increasingly complicated world, solving complex public health problems requires collaborative leaders prepared to develop innovative strategies and solutions that engage communities and cross-sector partners.
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program is designed to provide the knowledge, skills and experiences to prepare the next generation of public health leaders and chief health strategists to advance public health and health equity.
Located in downtown Atlanta, our program leverages relationships across local, state and federal public health agencies and organizations to support outstanding training opportunities. Our DrPH program is a generalist program grounded in the School of Public Health’s urban-global focus together with our overarching commitment to health equity, diversity and inclusion. Designed for professionals with a minimum of three years (five years preferred) of applied public health experience, the program allows students to complete their degree while maintaining full-time employment.
About the School of Public Health
Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia State’s School of Public Health provides a practice-based education in a thriving global city, creating leaders who are prepared to advance health equity and address urgent challenges.
Public Health students engage in practicum opportunities throughout greater Atlanta’s vibrant public health community in places such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local government agencies and international non-governmental organizations.
Environmental Epidemiology Concentration, MPH
School of Public Health
Georgia State's Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Environmental Epidemiology prepares students for research and practice in identifying and analyzing the distribution and determinants of disease, with a particular focus on diseases that are linked to a broad range of environmental conditions and exposures. This concentration provides students with foundational knowledge in epidemiologic methods together with fundamental skills in the disciplines essential to the practice of environmental health.
The knowledge and skills obtained in the environmental epidemiology MPH concentration allow graduates to seek employment in areas that require:
- A fundamental understanding of environmental contributions to the epidemiology of non-communicable and communicable disease.
- The ability to formulate strategies to evaluate the impact of environmental health related interventions.
- The application of epidemiologic methods to investigate and address environmental problems.
Tuition
Learn more about the cost of a master’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.
Georgia State is dedicated to making our programs affordable and accessible to all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student's future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.
Environmental Health Concentration, MPH
School of Public Health
Georgia State's Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Environmental Health prepares students for research and practice in the study of environmental factors, including the biological, physical and chemical factors that affect the health of a community.
Environmental health investigates how environmental agents, from the molecular to the ecological level, as well as natural and human-created environments, affect health. Addressing all the physical, chemical and biological factors external to a person, coupled with all related factors affecting behaviors, environmental health seeks to assess and control these factors to prevent disease and create health-supportive environments.
The concentration teaches the core environmental health disciplines—exposure assessment, toxicology, risk assessment, and air and water pollution—and offers additional areas of specialization, including food safety, occupational health, infectious diseases, environmental epidemiology and urban health.
Tuition
Learn more about the cost of a master’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.
Georgia State is dedicated to making our programs affordable and accessible to all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student's future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.
Environmental Health Concentration, Ph.D. in Public Health
School of Public Health
Located in the heart of Atlanta, a global hub of public health expertise, the Ph.D. program at Georgia State University educates the next generation of public health leaders capable of conducting independent research in academia, governmental public health, health care organizations, and the private sector.
The environmental health concentration provides Ph.D. students with the skills, knowledge and experience to understand the chemical, physical and microbiological aspects of environmental and occupational exposures. Students will learn to measure and model ambient, indoor and personal exposure to environmental and workplace contaminants and hazards. They also will develop instruments and methods for collecting, measuring, analyzing and assessing the effects of physical, chemical and biological stressors on human disease in communities to provide scientific evidence for sound environmental and health policies.
About the School of Public Health
Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia State’s School of Public Health provides a practice-based education in a thriving global city, creating leaders who are prepared to advance health equity and address urgent challenges.
Public Health students engage in practicum opportunities throughout greater Atlanta’s vibrant public health community in places such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local government agencies and international non-governmental organizations.
Epidemiology Concentration, MPH
School of Public Health
Epidemiology studies the distributions and determinants of disease, disabilities and death in human populations; the characteristics and dynamics of human populations; and the natural history of disease and the biological basis of health.
Georgia State's Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Epidemiology provides a solid base in epidemiologic methods, including multivariable methods, time-dependent analysis and an introduction to Bayesian approaches, while training students with an in-depth understanding of cancer and HIV; cardiovascular, infectious and sexually transmitted diseases; and environmental epidemiology (in conjunction with the environmental health concentration).
Students can also focus on prevention methods. In conjunction with the biostatistics concentration, students learn to use analytic software such as SPSS, SAS and STATA.
Tuition
Learn more about the cost of a master’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.
Georgia State is dedicated to making our programs affordable and accessible to all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student's future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.
Epidemiology Concentration, Ph.D. in Public Health
School of Public Health
Located in the heart of Atlanta, a global hub of public health expertise, the Ph.D. program at Georgia State University educates the next generation of public health leaders capable of conducting independent research in academia, governmental public health, health care organizations, and the private sector.
Epidemiology studies the distribution and determinants of disease and injury in human populations, including how a complex combination of factors interact to determine an outbreak, as well as control and prevent adverse health outcomes. The Ph.D. degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology prepares students for careers in health agencies and schools of public health and medicine; for consultation, especially in the public fields; and for independent epidemiological research. A concentration in epidemiology also prepares students to advance the scientific understanding of health and disease with an emphasis health equity.
Graduate Certificate in Applied Biostatistics
Georgia State University's Graduate Certificate in Applied Biostatistics is designed to equip students with data analysis and quantitative reasoning skills that in are high demand by employers in public health and related fields. Open to students from any major, the program is tailored to build on the introductory statistics and quantitative methods coursework included in many graduate programs across Georgia State University. The Graduate Certificate in Applied Biostatistics can be completed as a standalone certificate or embedded into other graduate coursework at GSU. Students can earn the certificate completely online.
The program is scheduled to launch in Fall 2025, but students may be able to obtain approval to begin earning credits toward the certificate in the current academic year.
Students will learn advanced descriptive and inferential techniques commonly used with health-related data. They will develop the ability to understand the differences among measurement scales and to select suitable statistical methods based on these distinctions. Students will also learn how to manage, organize, access, visualize, evaluate and analyze health-related data.
A central component of the program involves hands-on experience in data analysis using the statistical software R. Through practical exercises, students will learn to manipulate and analyze health-related data, applying advanced statistical techniques to derive actionable insights.
Students will also refine their written and oral presentation abilities to convey complex statistical concepts. This skill set will enable graduates to bridge the gap between technical analyses and practical applications.
Tuition
Use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.
Georgia State is dedicated to making our programs affordable and accessible to all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student’s future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.
Graduate Certificate in Public Health
The Graduate Certificate in Public Health is a 16-credit hour program of study. The content is nearly the same as the core courses taught in the Master of Public Health degree program.
The graduate certificate program is offered in flexible formats that are convenient for busy professionals: online, in-person or a mix of both.
You’ll gain the foundational knowledge to maintain, upgrade or advance your public health knowledge and skills or further your career. The program is specifically designed for students working in public health or professionals coming from a variety of backgrounds, including physicians, nurses, health educators, clinical research professionals, policy experts and more.
Note that applicants must possess at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to be considered for admission.
Tuition
Use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.
Georgia State is dedicated to making our programs affordable and accessible to all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student’s future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.
Health Management and Policy Concentration, MPH
School of Public Health
Georgia State's Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Management and Policy teaches the administration and management of public, nonprofit and community-based health care organizations. Students learn to formulate and implement health care policy, analyze the distribution of and access to health care services, finance health care services, and evaluate the quality and outcomes of health care services and programs.
The Health Management and Policy Concentration draws upon health administration, health policy, public administration, business, public health law, health ethics and economics.
Tuition
Learn more about the cost of a master’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.
Georgia State is dedicated to making our programs affordable and accessible to all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student's future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences Concentration, Public Health B.S.
School of Public Health
Georgia State University's Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences provides students with knowledge and skills that will enable them to design and evaluate public health programs and policies in a variety of settings, advocate for change through the promotion of best practices to improve health, assess health care delivery and management, and address health disparities and inequities. The concentration draws on a variety of disciplines, including psychology, economics and health sciences to prepare students for careers in local, state and federal agencies, health care organizations, and community and international non-profit organizations, as well as the private sector. The Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences concentration also provides a strong foundation for graduate education and an accelerated path to earning a Master of Public Health degree in just one additional year through the 4+1 BS/MPH program.
Students in the Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences concentration will learn the principles of health management, policy and administration as well as program evaluation, advocacy and effective health communication. The concentration prepares students for a range of entry-level careers in health communication, health promotion and health policy, as well as in social and community services.
About the School of Public Health
Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia State’s School of Public Health provides a practice-based education in a thriving global city, creating leaders who are prepared to advance health equity and address urgent challenges.
Public Health students have opportunities to engage in hands-on learning experiences throughout greater Atlanta’s vibrant public health community in places such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local government agencies and international non-governmental organizations.
Health Promotion and Behavior Concentration, MPH
School of Public Health
Health promotion is a core function of public health, and it empowers individuals and communities to play a role in preventing disease. Georgia State's Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior focuses on theoretical and applied approaches that promote community health and disease prevention. Students will increase their knowledge and skills for planning, implementing and evaluating effective public health interventions.
The Health Promotion and Behavior Concentration focuses on behavioral, social and cultural factors that impact health-related behaviors and health disparities. It draws upon disciplines such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, communications, and ethics to plan, implement, and evaluate interventions that improve health and quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
Tuition
Learn more about the cost of a master’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.
Georgia State is dedicated to making our programs affordable and accessible to all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student's future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.
Health Promotion and Behavior Concentration, Ph.D. in Public Health
School of Public Health
Located in the heart of Atlanta, a global hub of public health expertise, the Ph.D. program at Georgia State University educates the next generation of public health leaders capable of conducting independent research in academia, governmental public health, health care organizations, and the private sector.
The Health Promotion and Behavior concentration provides Ph.D. students with the skills, knowledge and experience to conduct rigorous research on health promotion and the behavioral aspects of public health.
The program teaches students to approach public health from a social-ecological perspective, allowing them to understand the significance of health disparities and to master the theories and methods behind the determination of public health.
Students may focus on the specific public health problems of their choice to complement academic and career goals.
Health Services and Policy Research Concentration, Ph.D. in Public Health
School of Public Health
Located in the heart of Atlanta, a global hub of public health expertise, the Ph.D. program at Georgia State University educates the next generation of public health leaders capable of conducting independent research in academia, governmental public health, health care organizations, and the private sector.
The Health Services and Policy Research Concentration prepares doctoral scholars to research public health and health care policy. Areas include the distribution of and access to health care services, the finance and reimbursement of health care services, and the quality and outcomes of health care services and programs. To prepare doctoral scholars for interdisciplinary research aimed at making broad impacts to public health, the health services and policy research concentration draws from disciplines beyond public health, including health administration, health policy, public administration, business, public health law, health ethics and economics.
Law and Public Health, J.D./M.P.H.
College of Law, School of Public Health
Public health is an important field at all levels: local, state, national and global. Prevention and control of infectious disease, chronic disease and injury raise complex questions of law, policy and ethics. Bringing law and public health together in a multidisciplinary approach addresses critical issues such as vaccination mandates, concussion protocols, tobacco control, opioid use and obesity.
The J.D./M.P.H. dual degree program is offered by the College of Law and School of Public Health at Georgia State. Students in this program learn about the legal and regulatory environment in which public health activities operate, the varied factors that affect the public's health and the science supporting public health practice.
Maternal and Child Health, Graduate Certificate
Become an Emerging Leader and Advocate for Health Equity
Build upon your expertise and improve the health and well-being of women, families and children in Georgia, the United States and around the globe through the Maternal and Child Health Graduate Certificate Program.
With values rooted in social justice, health equity and life-course approaches, this program prepares emerging leaders to:
- advocate for justice in the community and in state and national policies
- support and evaluate culturally responsive, community-driven programs
- lead interdisciplinary research teams to increase understanding of evidence-based practices in improving maternal and child health
Apply MCH Certificate Toward a Future Graduate Program
Credits from your courses can be applied toward our MPH, Ph.D., DrPH or Graduate Certificate in Public Health program upon admission. You can dip your toe in now and dive in later, depending on your unique situation and goals.
Students in the MPH, Ph.D., DrPH, or Graduate Certificate in Public Health programs who want to build upon maternal and child health specific knowledge and skills can embed the Maternal and Child Health Graduate Certificate. Because many of the prerequisite and required MCHGC program courses overlap with the MPH program, you can earn both credentials at the same time.
The program is open to public health graduate students and practitioners and leaders from other allied public health professions. Enhance your previous education and career experience and prepare to advance in the public health industry or other allied public health fields.
Leaders from a variety of disciplinary areas like these are encouraged to apply:
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Population Health Sciences Concentration, Public Health, B.S.
School of Public Health
Georgia State University's Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a concentration in Population Health Sciences provides foundational knowledge and skills that enable students to collect and analyze data on the social, behavioral, biological and environmental factors that influence human health. The concentration helps students turn data into action by strengthening their ability to advocate for the protection and promotion of the public’s health at all levels of society, think critically and creatively, make ethical and evidence-based decisions, and understand the cultural contexts in which public health professionals work.
The Population Health Sciences concentration draws on a variety of disciplines such as math, the social, behavioral, and biological sciences, and chemistry to explore a range of health-related topics. The concentration prepares students for entry level careers in biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, public health emergency preparedness and response, and workplace safety and health, among others. The Population Health Sciences concentration also provides a strong foundation for graduate education and an accelerated path to earning a Master of Public Health degree in just one additional year through the 4+1 BS/MPH program. A dedicated pre-med track includes the pre-requisite courses students need to apply to medical school.
About the School of Public Health
Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia State’s School of Public Health provides a practice-based education in a thriving global city, creating leaders who are prepared to advance health equity and address urgent challenges.
Public Health students have opportunities to engage in hands-on learning experiences throughout greater Atlanta’s vibrant public health community in places such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local government agencies and international non-governmental organizations.
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