The Health Behavior Concentration prepares students to understand and apply theories of health behavior and health promotion to improve population health. Students in the Health Behavior Concentration will gain experience in behavioral-social science frameworks and methodologies for designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions, and in disseminating and translating findings for diverse communities. The Health Behavior Concentration also emphasizes the roles of cultural competence, ethical practice, professionalism, and community collaboration as vital to the design and delivery of public health interventions.
Master of Public Health
Health Behavior Concentration
Taking the buzz out of cigarettes
The FDA's way toward cutting nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels was paved by Brown research, including a study on the impact of gradual or immediate switches to low-nicotine cigarettes on reducing tobacco harms.
Program Snapshot
Competencies
MPH candidates in this concentration will develop core competencies prior to graduation. Required skills and topics include:
- Explain the similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses of predominant behavioral and social science theories for public health.
- Apply the component principles of behavioral and social science theories to health behaviors.
- Examine how behavioral and social science theories can be used to facilitate change in health-related behavior.
- Apply principles of health literacy and communication best practices to develop a brief health communication.
- Design health communications to promote behavior change that results in decreased risks for disease and/or promote wellness.
- Develop a plan to monitor and assess the reach, fidelity, and outcome of health communications.
- Examine the causes and consequences of health disparities from the perspective of multiple behavioral and social science perspectives.
Information for students who matriculated prior to Fall 2018 (PDF)
Courses
Complete both of the following courses
- PHP2340, Theories of Behavioral and Social Sciences in Public Health (Fall)
- PHP2380, Health Communications (Spring)
Complete one of the following courses focused on issues of social determinants of health and diversity
- PHP1650, Race, Racism, and Health
- PHP1810, Community- Engaged Research in Public Health
- PHP1821, Incarceration, Disparities, and Health
- PHP1920, Social Determinants of Health
- PHP2325, Place Matters: Exploring Community-Level Contexts on Health Behaviors, Outcomes, and Disparities
- PHP2365, Public Health Issues in LGBT Populations
- PHP2428, Public Health Law Justice
Complete two of the following health behavior content-focused courses
- PHP1540, Alcohol Use, and Misuse
- PHP1600, Obesity in the 21st Century: Causes, Consequences, and Countermeasures
- PHP1610, Tobacco, Disease and the Industry: cigs, e-cigs, and more
- PHP1885, Measuring Mindfulness
- PHP1890, The Craving Mind
- PHP2310, Physical Activity & PH
- PHP2330, Behavioral and Social Approaches to HIV Prevention
*Students taking the qualitative analytic sequence must also take PHP2061, Qualitative Analysis in Public Health Research, as an elective.
Thesis
All in-person students are required to complete a thesis. Students in the Health Behavior Concentration work with faculty advisors to design a thesis project appropriate to their interests and career path in the behavioral health aspects of public health.
Faculty
Health Behavior Concentration Lead
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Bess Marcus, Ph.D.
Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences