Students engage in scientific research and programmatic activities to understand the behavioral and social determinants of public health problems and to develop interventions to change behaviors and improve social contexts related to public health. 

Students learn to identify the social, psychological, and behavioral risk factors for disease and illness; to understand the psychosocial determinants of health care; to understand health protective behaviors, relationships, and institutions; and to develop and evaluate health-promoting interventions grounded in behavioral and social science theory.