Fall 2026
Unlocking the Human Side of Data
By Shelby Crosier
A new Rollins program approaches data science through a behavioral health lens.
The rapidly evolving AI and technology landscape is shaping the future of public health and health care, and public health data scientists are primed to lead the charge. Data science jobs are expected to grow 35% by 2035. A data science program launching next year at the Rollins School of Public Health will create a new pathway into the field.
Rollins launched the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Data Science this fall with three concentrations: biostatistics, global health, and environmental health. All three offer opportunities for data-minded students to build computational skills while focusing on a specialization aligned with their public health interests.
The MSPH in Data Science in Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences is the newest concentration to join the lineup and will begin in fall 2027. It will train students in skills like machine learning methods and programming languages while also laying a foundation in behavioral and social science theory.
“We developed this program to offer students training that integrates advanced data science skills with the theory-informed and community-centered approaches that are central to our department’s curriculum,” says Elizabeth Walker, PhD, director of graduate studies for master’s programs in the Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences at Rollins.
That community-centered approach is what sets this program apart. It is vital for public health data science professionals who want to improve community health to remain grounded in the human experience behind the numbers. Training in behavioral, social, and health education sciences provides just that.
“This program will be great for students who want to use data science tools to enhance community health and to think critically about the ethical use of data,” says Walker. “We are very excited to launch this interdisciplinary program.”
Applications are now open to join the inaugural class in fall 2027.
Explore More Stories
Rollins Magazine is published twice a year by the Rollins School of Public Health, a component of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University, for alumni and friends of the school.