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
- 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
Health Behavior Concentration Courses
Complete both of the following courses:
- PHP2340, Theories of Behavioral and Social Sciences in Public Health (Fall)
- PHP2380, Health Communications (Spring)
Students must complete three courses from the following two lists and at least one course must come from the Social Determinants of Health and Diversity list:
Social Determinants of Health and Diversity
- PHP1650, Race, Racism, and Health (Spring)
- PHP1680U, Intersectionality and Health Inequities (Spring)
- PHP1810, Community-Engaged Research in Public Health (Spring)
- PHP1821, Incarceration, Disparities, and Health (Fall)
- PHP1920, Social Determinants of Health (Fall)
- PHP2365, Public Health Issues in LGBT Populations (Spring)
- PHP 2428: Health Justice (Every other Spring; not offered in Spring 2025)
Health Behavior Content-Focused Courses
- PHP1300, Parenting Behaviors, and Child Health (Next offered in Spring 2025)
- PHP1540, Alcohol Use, and Misuse (Next offered in Fall 2025)
- PHP1550, Substance Use and Vulnerability to Addictions (Fall)
- PHP1551, Substance Use Prevention, Treatment & Policy (Spring)
- PHP1600, Obesity in the 21st Century: Causes, Consequences, and Countermeasures (Spring)
- PHP1610, Tobacco, Disease and the Industry: cigs, e-cigs, and more (Spring)
- PHP1690, Technology and Behavior Change (Next offered in Fall 2025)
- PHP1880, Meditation, Mindfulness, and Health (Fall)
- PHP1822, Effective Health Communication With Medically Underserved Populations in an Applied Learning Setting (Spring)
- PHP1885, Measuring Mindfulness (Spring)
- PHP1890, The Craving Mind (Fall)
- PHP1998, Public Health Nutrition (Fall)
- PHP2310, Physical Activity & PH (Fall)
*Students taking the qualitative analytic sequence must also take PHP2061, Qualitative Analysis in Public Health Research, as an elective.
Health Behavior Sample Schedules (PDF)
Thesis
Faculty
Health Behavior Concentration Lead
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Tyler Wray Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences