Home / Degrees & Programs / Master of Science – Social and Behavioral Sciences

Master of Science – Social and Behavioral Sciences

Request Information

Fill out this form to receive additional information about our academic programs and learn more about Harvard Chan School.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

First Name*

Last Name*

Address

Street Address City State Zip Code Country

Program*

Entry Year*

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Summary

The one-year Master of Science program in Social and Behavioral Sciences is designed to prepare students for research careers in public and private agencies.

Master of Science 42.5-credit (SM-42.5) students work closely with global leaders, world-renowned faculty members, and local doctors, clinicians, and researchers in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area, which is home to Harvard Medical School, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and many world-class hospitals.

Visit the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences

About

As a student in the Master of Science degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences, you will learn to:

synthesize and integrate a specialized body of knowledge or research skills in one or more areas of social and behavioral sciences (e.g. social determinants of health, intervention research, social epidemiology, health inequities and disparities, maternal and child health, women’s health and gender analysis, health communications and social marketing, psychosocial environments, or health behavior);
pursue independent research under the mentorship of an established faculty investigator based on advanced coursework and independent research study;

identify and apply appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods to the analysis of public health problems and issues with a particular emphasis on your chosen areas of specialization;

explain the principles of ethics in research and interventions.

Because of the diverse backgrounds and needs of those entering the program, the requirements are kept to a minimum, allowing flexibility to design a program to best meet each student’s academic needs and career plan.

On Campus (Fall start) • Full-time (1 year) • Part-time (2 years)

Curriculum

BST 201: Introduction to Statistical Methods
EPI 201: Introduction to Epidemiology, Methods I
SBS 201: Society and Health
SBS 506: An Intro to History, Politics, and Public Health: Theories of Disease Distribution and Health Inequities
EPI 202: Epidemiologic Methods II: Elements of Epidemiologic Research
SBS 281: Principles of Social and Behavioral Research
SBS 300: Independent Study

SBS 210: Introduction to Dissemination and Implementation Science
SBS 237: Grief, Loss, and Death: Population Mental Health Perspectives
SBS 219: High-Risk Behaviors: Epidemiology and Prevention Studies
SBS 231: Community Intervention Research Methods
SBS 503: Explaining Health Behavior: Insights from Behavioral Economics
SBS 509: Health Communication in the 21st Century
SBS 535: Global Perspectives on Racism, Poverty, and Power

Semester	Course	Time
Fall	BST 201: Introduction to Statistical Methods	T/Th 3:45-5:15
Fall 1	EPI 201: Introduction to Epidemiology Methods I	T/Th 9:45-11:15
Fall 1	SBS 201: Society and Health	M/W 3:45-5:15
Fall 1	SBS 506: Theories of Disease Distribution	F 9:30-12:30
Fall 2	EPI 202: Epidemiologic Methods 2	T/Th 9:45-11:15
Fall 2	SBS 281: Principles of Social and Behavioral Research	T/Th 9:45-11:15
Spring	SBS 300: Independent Study (5 credits)	varies
Fall/Spring	SBS electives (7.5 credits)	varies
Fall/Spring	Additional coursework (12.5 credits)	varies

Competencies

Synthesize and integrate a specialized body of knowledge or research skills in one or more areas of social and behavioral sciences (e.g., social determinants of health, intervention research, social epidemiology, health inequities and disparities, maternal and child health, women’s health and gender analysis, health communications and social marketing, psychosocial environments, or health behavior) based on advanced course work and independent research study.
Identify and apply appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods to the analysis of public health problems and issues with a particular emphasis on the chosen area(s) of specialization.
Explain the principles of ethics in research and interventions.

Our Community

Supportive, collegial, and committed

The Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) offers a variety of support to expand students’ academic careers. The department helps students fund travel to present their research at conferences; financial support also exists for events initiated, organized, and managed by SBS students. Connections between students and alumni are also emphasized, including events during Alumni Weekend to encourage networking. Additionally, the department sends weekly digests to its students highlighting these offerings and more throughout the Harvard community, as well as postings for jobs, fellowships, and internships.

Harvard Chan School offers a wide variety of academic support services, including research support through the Countway Library of Medicine and academic coaching and tutoring. Beyond academics, the school is home to more than 40 official student organizations focusing on public health issues, cultural affinities, and extra-curricular interests. These groups and other offices throughout the school plan events on campus and around Boston.

There is no shortage of people who are willing to take time out of their day to help you in any aspect of your life.
Peyton Riley Smith, SM ’25

Career Outcomes

A Master of Science 42.5-credit (SM-42.5) degree opens an extraordinary number of pathways to a meaningful career. Graduates of the SM-42.5 program are trained to pursue careers in a variety of industries:

Biotech/pharma
Health care organizations
National and international government agencies
Non-profit/NGO
Public and private sector enterprises
Research institutions
University/research

Eligibility Criteria

This program is targeted towards significantly established research professionals. For most fields, applicants are required to have a doctoral degree and relevant work experience—contact admissions or the department for more detailed information.

Application Requirements

All applications must be submitted through SOPHAS – the centralized application service for public health programs. In addition to the application, applicants must submit:

Statement of purpose and objectives
Official test scores
Three letters of reference
Resumé/curriculum vitae
Post-secondary transcripts or mark sheets (World Education Services credential evaluation for applicants with degrees from outside of the United States.)
English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test), if applicable

Application Deadline: December 1

Applicants may apply to only one degree program for either full- or part-time status. Applications are reviewed in their entirety and decisions are released via email in late February/early March. Decisions are not released until all application components are received.