In the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, we work to understand the behavioral and social determinants of public health problems and create and evaluate behavioral interventions with measurable impact on population health. Our work puts particular emphasis on improving the social contexts related to public health and on marginalized and vulnerable populations, both domestically and globally.
Behavioral and Social Sciences
Studying health behaviors and their social contexts — from nicotine and alcohol use to exercise, nutrition and sexual activity.
Behavioral and Social Sciences
Studying health behaviors and their social contexts — from nicotine and alcohol use to exercise, nutrition and sexual activity.
Explore Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown
Discover the programs and people that make up the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown University
Affiliated Centers and Institutes
Innovative research centers conduct behavioral and social sciences studies from alcohol use and dependence and nicotine and tobacco use to nutrition and physical activity and mindfulness
Tobacco, Nicotine, and the Lesser of Two Evils
We all understand the dangers of smoking—but the debate over vapes, nicotine pouches and other tobacco alternatives rages on: Can vaping really save lives? Or are nicotine alternatives a slippery slope: a dangerous gateway to lifelong substance use? Professors Jasjit Ahluwalia and Jennifer Tidey discuss their takes on a harm reduction and how it applies to the modern nicotine landscape.
Degree Programs
Brown’s Behavioral and Social Sciences programs offers programs that prepare students for careers in research or public health which require knowledge of advanced methods.