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.
Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences
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
Our research delves into behaviors that most impact population health.
Graduate educational programs in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS) train the next generation of public health scholars and practitioners.
Our faculty have expertise in psychology, human development and family studies, social work, sociology, anthropology, medicine, maternal child health, nutrition, global health and more.
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
Combatting Opioid Use Disorder in RI's Prisons
Rhode Island is the only state that connects its incarcerated population with proven treatments for opioid use disorder. Megan Hall (MPH'15) speaks to Rosemarie Martin, associate professor of behavioral and social sciences, and others about the MAT program's life-saving impact.
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.
Our Ph.D. students learn to employ behavioral and social science theory and methods to understand and address contemporary health problems.
Explore rigorous, research-intensive behavioral health concentrations for MPH candidates at the School of Public Health.