Health, Behavior and Society
We conduct impactful public health research, training, and practice focused on the influences of social context, structures, systems, and behaviors. The Johns ѻý was ranked #1 in the social and behavioral sciences by peers in the 2024 and 2025 U.S. News & World Report Rankings.
Health, Behavior and Society Headlines
“Discreet” and “Convenient”: How Oral Nicotine Pouch Ads Appeal to the Youth Market
A recent study analyzes the latest marketing trends for oral nicotine pouches from the tobacco industry.
OASIS and BSAFE Put People and Places First in Harm Reduction Efforts
Researchers are working to prevent overdoses and the spread of disease in Baltimore through OASIS, an NIH-funded project.
HBS Postdoctoral Fellow Receives Samuel Jordan Graham Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
The award will support the initial development of a suicide prevention mobile app tailored for Spanish-speaking caregivers.
What We Do in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society
Our Department is dedicated to research, education, and practice on public health issues rooted in human behavior and social conditions—from smoking and substance use to diabetes and HIV and more. We develop and evaluate individually targeted interventions, work with communities to address social factors that affect health, and improve public policy and other structural factors to improve the health of millions at a time.
Learn how the Department of Health, Behavior and Society partners with communities to change behaviors, eliminate health disparities, and improve the health of their citizens.
Health, Behavior and Society Highlights
4
Degree programs
8
HBS-led centers, institutes, and units
55+
Primary HBS faculty
130+
HBS master's and doctoral students
Health, Behavior and Society Programs
We offer three master's degrees, one PhD, six certificate programs, and two combined bachelor's/master's degrees focused on behavioral and societal impacts on public health.
We host an annual accelerated learning institute called the Health, Behavior and Society Summer Institute, where participants can take short-term courses in the social and behavior sciences and public health over the summer, and we also offer courses in the Johns ѻý's Winter Institute in January.
Master of Health Science (MHS) in Health, Behavior and Society
The MHS in Health, Behavior and Society is an advanced, STEM-designated research degree offering training in theory and methods of social and behavioral sciences and public health.
Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Health Education and Health Communication
The MSPH in Health Education and Health Communication is a STEM-designated program that offers specialized academic training in health education, health promotion, and health communication.
Master of Science (ScM) in Genetic Counseling
The ScM in Genetic Counseling is designed to prepare graduates to provide genetic counseling with an emphasis on clients’ psychological and educational needs.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences trains graduates to apply social and behavioral science perspectives to research on contemporary health issues.
Centers and Institutes in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society
We are home to eight Centers, Institutes, and Units that engage in research and practice around our work.
Health, Behavior and Society Faculty
Get to know our HBS faculty members.
Joanna Cohen, PhD, MHSc, is Chair of the Department of Health, Behavior & Society. She conducts research and capacity building to inform and advance interventions to eliminate tobacco-caused death and disease.
Vanya Jones, PhD ’06, MPH, a health education researcher, employs social and behavioral science methods to create, implement, and evaluate behavior change programs.
Rajiv N. Rimal, PhD, MA, works globally on social and behavior change interventions with a focus on women and children’s nutrition and well-being. He adopts a social norms-based approach to address health inequities in low- and middle-income countries.
Ryan Kennedy, PhD, is a behavioral scientist who works to advance tobacco control policies in the U.S. and around the world.
Support Our Department
A gift to our department can help to provide student scholarships and internships, attract and retain faculty, and support innovation.