BSHES Program FAQ
Behavioral, social, and health education sciences is an interdisciplinary field that studies how human behavior, the social determinants of health, and cultural context all influence community health. It applies theories from sociology, psychology, epidemiology, and education to:
- Design and evaluate programs that promote health and prevent disease
- Analyze how societal factors like socioeconomic status and health care access influence community health and health equity
- Study how individual factors like mental health impact well-being
The field of behavioral, social, and health education sciences trains students and researchers to examine and challenge systemic patterns of inequity and exclusion in order to bring about meaningful social change and improve population health.
The right behavioral, social, and health education sciences degree depends on your career goals, preferred learning format, and areas of interest. Some students want to design and implement programs that improve health behaviors and reduce health disparities, while others are interested in data science, research, or academic careers. Rollins School of Public Health offers a range of degree programs so you can choose the pathway that best aligns with your professional goals.
An MPH in Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences (BSHES) is ideal for students who want to develop, implement, and evaluate programs that promote health and prevent disease. The program combines a broad foundation in public health with specialized training in health behavior, health education, community engagement, program planning, and evaluation. Graduates often work in government agencies, health care organizations, nonprofit organizations, schools, community-based organizations, and global health settings.
Rollins offers the MPH in BSHES in multiple formats to meet different student needs. You can choose a traditional MPH in person or online, a 15-month accelerated MPH, a 15-month online MPH, or an online part-time MPH designed for working professionals. Each option provides the same strong foundation in public health while allowing you to select the learning format that best fits your schedule and career goals.
Students interested in advanced quantitative training may choose the MSPH in Data Science in BSHES. This research-focused degree combines behavioral and social sciences with data science, statistical analysis, and computational methods to prepare graduates to analyze complex public health data, evaluate interventions, and generate evidence that improves population health. It is also an excellent choice for students considering doctoral study or research-intensive careers.
A PhD in BSHES prepares students to conduct original research that advances the science of health behavior, health education, and community health. PhD students develop expertise in research design, behavioral theory, implementation science, intervention development, and program evaluation while contributing new knowledge to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities. Graduates often pursue careers in academia, research institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and international organizations.
Rollins offers BSHES programs at the master's and doctoral levels, with on-campus, accelerated, and online learning options. Whether your goal is designing community health programs, leading health promotion initiatives, using data to improve public health, or conducting research that shapes policy and practice, Rollins offers a degree pathway to help you build the expertise and experience to make a meaningful impact.
A degree in behavioral, social, and health education sciences opens wide career possibilities. Skills like community assessment, program planning and evaluation, data collection and analysis, and health promotion methods equip graduates to work across sectors in both public health research and on the ground in health organizations.
BSHES graduates from Rollins work at nonprofits like American Cancer Society, government entities like Georgia Department of Health, consulting firms like Guidehouse, and academic institutions like Morehouse School of Medicine. Common job titles include health educator, program manager, health communications specialist, evaluation manager, and health data analyst.