The research-based Social and Behavioral Sciences track within the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences prepares you to critically assess and explain major theories, trends, and debates regarding the relationship between socially structured inequalities and health.
You’ll address existing challenges to achieving health equity at the behavioral, community and societal levels, and apply methods, analytic tools, and ethical principles to design and improve public health research and evaluation.
Quick Links:
Key Skills
Professional Development
Degree Requirements and Full-Time Sequence
Social and Behavioral Sciences Planning Checklist (for students who matriculated in 2024)
Social and Behavioral Sciences Requirements Checklist (for students who matriculated prior to 2024)
"What I loved most about GPH was my practicum experience in a research lab where I could apply what I learned in the classroom and interact closely with faculty.”
Key Skills
When you graduate with the Social and Behavioral Sciences Concentration, you’ll be prepared to take on leadership roles in public health settings around the globe. You’ll stand out to employers with a skillset that has both breadth and depth, including the following competencies.
- Critically assess the literature related to social and behavioral aspects of health
- Explain major theories, trends, and debates in the social and behavioral sciences literature regarding health
- Assess the means by which structural bias & social inequities undermine health & create challenges to achieving health equity at the behavioral, community & societal levels
- Apply the methods and analytic tools of social and behavioral science to design, implement, and analyze evaluation or research studies
- Apply ethical principles to public health research and evaluation
- Disseminate research findings to diverse audiences
Professional Development
You will benefit from countless opportunities to build skills and experience to prepare you for successful careers in social and behavioral sciences. Learn more about the professional development opportunities available to you at NYU GPH, including internships, fellowships, employment, volunteer opportunities, professional association membership, and more.
Social and Behavioral Sciences Course Checklist
The Social and Behavioral Sciences checklist outlines the requirements for the concentration, as well as which core and concentration courses have pre-requisites. Use this tool as you move along in the program to help keep track of the courses you’ve taken, as well as what’s up next.
All students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration take the following core courses (18 credits):
GPH-GU 2030 Introduction to Global Health (2) [F, S]
GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology (3) [F, S]
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social & Behavioral Health (3) [F, S]
GPH-GU 2110 Health Care Policy (2) [F, S, Su]
GPH-GU 2112 Public Health Policy and Management (2) [F, S, Su]
GPH-GU 2153 Global Environmental Health (3) [F, S, Su]
GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health (3) [F, S, Su]
GPH-GU 5171 Global Health Informatics Workshop (0) [F]
GPH-GU 5170 Introduction to Public Health (0) [F, S]
All students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration take the following concentration courses (15 credits)
All students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration take the following courses:
GPH-GU 2160 Qualitative and Field Methods (3) [F]
GPH-GU 2361 Research Methods in Public Health (3) [F, S]
GPH-GU 2353 Regression I: Linear Regression and Modeling (3) [F, S]
GPH-GU 2354 Regression II: Categorical Data Analysis (3) [F]
GPH-GU 2960 Theories in Public Health Practice, Policy & Research (3) [F]
As of Fall 2024, all students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration may take any GPH-GU course as an elective; 9 credits of electives are required.
Please note that some GPH-GU courses may be restricted to certain concentrations or have course prerequisites that must be completed in order to enroll.
Culminating Experience (4 Credits)
The culminating experience for students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration consists of: 1) a minimum of 180 hours of a practice experience, completed prior to Thesis I, and 2) a two-semester MPH thesis.
GPH-GU 2686 Thesis I: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2) [F]
GPH-GU 2687 Thesis II: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2) [S]
Year 1:
Fall semester (11 credits)
GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)
GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 2030 Introduction to Global Health (2)
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social & Behavioral Health (3)
GPH-GU 5171 Global Health Informatics Workshop (0)
GPH-GU 5170 Introduction to Public Health (3)
Spring semester (12 credits)
GPH-GU 2153 Global Environmental Health (3)
GPH-GU 2353 Regression I: Linear Regression and Modeling (3)
GPH-GU 2361 Research Methods in Public Health (3)
Elective (3)
Summer
Fieldwork hours for the Thesis requirement.
Year 2:
Fall semester (11 credits)
GPH-GU 2686 Thesis I: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
GPH-GU 2960 Theories in Public Health Practice, Policy & Research (3)
GPH-GU 2160 Qualitative & Field Methods (3)
GPH-GU 2354 Regression II: Categorical Data Analysis (3)
Spring semester (12 credits)
GPH-GU 2687 Thesis II: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
GPH-GU 2110 Health Care Policy (2)
GPH-GU 2112 Public Health Management & Leadership (2)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Year 1:
Fall semester (11 credits)
GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)
GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 5171 Global Health Informatics Workshop (0)
GPH-GU 5170 Introduction to Public Health (3)
Spring semester (12 credits)
GPH-GU 2153 Global Environmental Health (3)
GPH-GU 2353 Regression I: Linear Regression and Modeling (3)
Year 2:
Fall semester (6 credits)
GPH-GU 2354 Regression II: Categorical Data Analysis (3)
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social & Behavioral Health (3)
Spring semester (6 credits)
GPH-GU 2361 Research Methods in Public Health (3)
Elective (3)
Year 3:
Fall semester (6 credits)
GPH-GU 2960 Theories in Public Health Practice, Policy & Research (3)
GPH-GU 2160 Qualitative & Field Methods (3)
Spring semester (6 credits)
GPH-GU 2110 Health Care Policy (2)
GPH-GU 2112 Public Health Management & Leadership (2)
GPH-GU 2030 Introduction to Global Health (2)
Summer
Fieldwork hours for the Thesis requirement.
Year 4:
Fall semester (5 credits)
GPH-GU 2686 Thesis I: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (
Elective (3)
Spring semester (5 credits)
GPH-GU 2687 Thesis II: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
Elective (3)