“I actually came to Brandeis for the HSSP program,” said Danielle Gaskin ’18. “I also knew I wanted to go into Global Studies, so the interdisciplinary factor to HSSP really stuck out to me."
When I got to Brandeis and I discovered HSSP, I realized that there was a way to do tikkun olam through public health. — Jordyn Seri ’18
“I saw the HSSP major and realized I could take a multifaceted approach to learning about the healthcare system and medicine.” — Mitchell Beers ’17
Anna Kominsky Scholar Liset Hernandez ’16 has made a difference in the lives of people with special needs by influencing disability policy.
Madeline Engeler ’16 spent her time at Brandeis researching head and brain trauma — and studying abroad in India.
Health: Science, Society, and Policy (HSSP) is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that draws from three of the major strengths of Brandeis: the life sciences, the social sciences of health, and the health policy of the Heller School.
There are few programs like HSSP in the country; the emphasis is studying multiple perspectives on health and health care. The many disciplines of HSSP contribute to our current understanding of human health and disease. This program will help students understand the biological underpinnings of health, illness and disability, as well as their social, political, legal and economic dimensions. International cases and examples are integrated into the study of these issues in the United States.
HSSP Degrees and Beyond
Students may choose to earn a degree in HSSP as either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a minor. Learn how to declare (or change) your HSSP major or minor.
By undertaking this broad, interdisciplinary study of health, students prepare themselves for a variety of educational and professional opportunities. Graduates of the HSSP program go on to careers in the fields of medicine, dentistry, public health, clinical therapy, social work, genetic counseling, biomedical research, law, social policy, and public service — among many others.
Students who are considering a future master's degree at Brandeis may want to explore two five-year HSSP/Heller degree programs:
Both of these programs enable HSSP BA & BS students to complete their undergraduate degree alongside a master's degree within five years.
Student Experience
Pictured: HSSP and Biology Major Farzana Parveen ’19
What’s it like doing research as a student in the neuroscience lab of a Nobel Prize winner?
Several Brandeis undergraduate and graduate students summed up the experience: Thrilling!