Message From The Chair
Thank you for visiting the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences (HPBS). I am excited about your interest in our department! In HPBS, we endeavor to cultivate the next generation of public health leaders who will seek to understand and solve the most pressing public health issues of our time, with the goal of improving health for all. As part of Georgia State University’s School of Public Health, we foster a collaborative and inclusive environment that values diversity, equity and social justice.
In HPBS, we address the complex challenges that impact health by focusing on the intersections between health policy and behavioral sciences to promote health equity. We offer six graduate degree programs: two MPH concentration programs, two Ph.D. concentration programs, a Doctor of Public Health and a Graduate Certificate in Maternal and Child Health. Students in our programs have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research, internships and community based projects that apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios.
We train students to become public health practitioners (MPH) or cutting-edge researchers (Ph.D.) in two concentration areas: Health Management and Policy/Health Services and Policy Research and Health Promotion and Behavior.
MPH students concentrating in Health Management and Policy and Ph.D. students concentrating in Health Services and Policy Research examine the development, implementation and evaluation of policies that shape public health systems. They have the opportunity to gain competencies that enable them to promote well-being through an understanding of topics such as healthcare access, the impact of policies on marginalized populations, and health economics. Students concentrating in Health Promotion and Behavior at both the MPH and Ph.D. levels delve into theory and methods that emphasize the psychological, social and cultural factors that influence health behaviors and outcomes. They have opportunities to investigate health promotion, disease prevention, health disparities, health communication, and the development and implementation of interventions that encourage positive health behaviors with an interdisciplinary approach.
We also train students for leadership roles in applied public health practice through our Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program. This program is geared toward working professionals who seek to advance their training and experience while maintaining full-time employment. Students gain competencies in broad areas that include leadership, finance and management, applied research and evaluation, and policy and program development.
Lastly, students may engage in a recently established graduate certificate program in Maternal and Child Health. This program trains students in life-course approaches grounded in social justice to improve the health and well-being of women, families and children around the globe.
Our department is home to esteemed faculty members, researchers and dedicated staff who are committed to excellence in public health education, research and community engagement. I invite you to explore our website, especially the profiles of our dynamic faculty, which includes national award-winning teachers and world-renowned researchers in areas such as child abuse/neglect prevention, global tobacco science, smoking cessation, disability and health, sexual assault prevention, aging, and health economics.
Join us at HPBS, where we strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities through evidence-based policies and programs that promote healthy human behavior. Together, we can shape a healthier and more equitable future for all.
Sincerely,
Shannon Self-Brown
Professor and Chair, Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences
Contact Us
Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences
School of Public Health, Urban Life Building
140 Decatur Street
Suite 400