Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences Academics

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 five years 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.

Learn more about the 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.

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.

The Health Promotion and Behavior Concentration focuses on behavioral, social and cultural factors that impact health-related behaviors and health disparities.

The curriculum focuses on theoretical and applied programmatic and evaluation-based approaches that promote community health and disease prevention. Students will increase their knowledge and skills for planning, implementing and evaluating effective public health interventions that improve the quality of life of individuals, families and communities.

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.

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.

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.

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:

The School of Public Health at Georgia State University offers the accelerated 4+1 Bachelor of Science/Master of Public Health program to eligible undergraduate students. The program is rigorous, demanding and designed to provide high-achieving students the opportunity to earn up to 16 graduate credits while completing their Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree.

Learn more about the cost of a 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.

Located in the heart of Atlanta, a global hub of public health expertise, 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.

Our location facilitates real-world learning opportunities with the CDC, American Cancer Society and international organizations such as CARE and the Task Force for Global Health, as well as a range of private sector companies and community non-profits.

As a public institution, we are committed to both excellence and value. Georgia State is ranked the #2 most innovative university in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, and The New York Times has called our institution an “engine of social mobility.”

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health program includes elements of the life and biological sciences, social sciences and humanities to provide students with an understanding of public health from a broad spectrum of approaches. Students will build the knowledge and skills needed to excel in a wide array of public health professions, or to continue on to graduate school in any number of medical, science, social science or public health fields.

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.

Learn more about the School of Public Health