Community Health Sciences

Complex issues require comprehensive solutions.

At the Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS), we apply social and behavioral sciences to enhance the health and well-being of communities and promote health equity.

Affiliated Degrees:

MPH DrPH

Recent Department News

Defocused evening street, blurred bokeh. Lights of city and cars on rainy night. Reflection of electric lamps. Automobiles on road in soft focus. Twilight illuminated town, Oceanside, California USA.

Research

Reducing Late-Night Alcohol Sales Curbed Violent Crimes by 23% Per Year in a Baltimore Neighborhood

Male Worker Wearing Safety Vest Loads Cardboard Boxes into Delivery Truck, Rests. Dramatic Shot

policy

Job Flexibility and Security Promotes Better Mental Health

Map of the US with red squares indicating the gap in internet speeds between rich and poor neighbourhoods

health inequities

Combating Digital Redlining ‘Is Imperative for Advancing Health Equity’

People walk into a tunnel at Franklin Park

Students

Students and Community Come Together to take the Pulse of Franklin Park

climate and health

Student Wins Climate Innovation Challenge with Tree Planting Initiative

A roll of red circle stickers hangs from a box on a bathroom wall. One sticker is missing.

school news

Red Dot to Disclose: Students Inform Intervention to Help Victims of Abuse

Jacqueline Hicks points to a slide projected at the front of a classroom, students sit with their laptops at rows of desks

core curriculum

What Constitutes the “Core” of Public Health?

Cartoon depicting a narcan distribution event with woman sitting at a desk with supplies, close up of Narcan-related pins saying "I Carry Narcan"

Alumni

Q&A with Alum Danielle McPeak

equity

The Winding Road to Equity

Happy university students watching cellphones sitting in college campus

social media

Social Media Has Potential to ‘Enhance Rather Than Undermine Mental Well-being’

Serious Woman Having Consultation With Male Doctor In Hospital Office

genetic testing

Point-of-care Genetics May Reduce Racial Disparities in Genetically Informed Cancer Care

Community Health Sciences

What’s Next for Community Health Sciences?

Published On 4/9/2024Counseling in a different language: An analysis of experiences and resources in multilingual genetic counseling.Journal of genetic counseling
- Catharine Wang
read at PubMed
Published On 4/4/2024Will all youth answer sexual orientation and gender-related survey questions? An analysis of missingness in a large U.S. survey of adolescents and young adults.Psychological methods
read at PubMed
Published On 4/3/2024Experiences of Latinx sexual and gender minorities with access to healthcare during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
- Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz
read at PubMed
Published On 4/1/2024Reducing Alcohol Use to Prevent Cancer Deaths: Estimated Effects Among U.S. Adults.American journal of preventive medicine
- Timothy Naimi
read at PubMed
Published On 4/1/2024A Short Adverse Experiences Measure Among Mothers of Young Children.Pediatrics
- Stephanie Ettinger De Cuba
read at PubMed

Recent media coverage

BU Today

BU Marks 50 Years of Changing Lives behind Bars

Quotes Noel Vest, assistant professor of community health sciences.

Forbes

Job Flexibility and Security Are Essential for Reducing Anxiety and Distress

Quotes Monica Wang, associate professor of community health sciences.

The Conversation

Not Having Job Flexibility or Security Can Leave Workers Feeling Depressed, Anxious and Hopeless

Written by Monica Wang, associate professor of community health sciences.

Ars Technica

Workers with Job Flexibility and Security Have Better Mental Health

Mentions research by Monica Wang, associate professor of community health sciences.

‘Influencing the Influencers’: How TikTok Can Promote Positive Mental Health

Leveraging Data to Make a Difference

Community Health Sciences.