About
Augusta University School of Public Health: Building on AU's Legacy as Georgia's Public Health Sciences Center
As Augusta University approaches its bicentennial in 2028, we proudly celebrate 200 years of impact and innovation. As AU's newest school, the School of Public Health honors this extraordinary legacy while looking ahead to a future dedicated to improving the health and well-being of populations across Georgia and beyond.
The School of Public Health builds on Augusta University's unique position as Georgia's public health sciences center and home to the Medical College of Georgia. By partnering closely with AU's colleges and professional schools, we prepare public health-minded clinicians, practitioners, researchers, and leaders to address today's most pressing health challenges. Our integrated approach combines public health expertise with clinical excellence, creating opportunities to improve health outcomes throughout our region and state.
The school is organized into three academic departments: Biostatistics, Data Science, and Epidemiology (BDSE); Community and Behavioral Health Sciences (CBHS); and Health Management, Economics, and Policy (HMEP). Together, these departments offer six graduate degree programs and support a diverse portfolio of community-engaged research aimed at advancing the health of Georgians.
Our mission is to tackle Georgia's unique public health challenges through outstanding education, innovative research, and meaningful community partnerships. From specialized master's degrees to doctoral programs that foster groundbreaking discovery, we equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experience to lead positive change and create healthier communities for generations to come.
Message from the Dean
Welcome to the Augusta University School of Public Health! I am so excited to join Augusta University and get to work.
With several schools of public health in Georgia already, you may be wondering how the School of Public Health at Augusta University will be different. As with other schools across the country, we care deeply about our community's well-being, and we want to train the next generation of professionals to address the state’s public health problems.
But Augusta University has the distinction of being the only public academic medical center in Georgia, including colleges of medicine, nursing, dentistry, and allied health. Offering those clinicians the opportunity to blend public health training and approaches with their clinical expertise will significantly boost AU’s impact on the health of individuals and communities across Georgia and beyond.
Our new School of Public Health will build on and amplify the great work that has already been happening across the university in various colleges and educational programs. By putting everyone under one roof, we can bring together students, faculty, and staff who have a deep knowledge of and commitment to Georgia’s diverse communities. The synergies created by combining this outstanding talent in a single school will allow us to meaningfully address the distinct public health challenges faced in this state. I am thrilled to join AU to meet these challenges.
At Augusta University’s School of Public Health, there are multiple pathways for students aiming to become leaders in public health. We offer a range of degree options, from master's programs that delve into specialized areas to doctoral programs that will foster groundbreaking research.
But our vision goes beyond the walls of our classrooms. We believe in rolling up our sleeves and getting out there. We're all about community engagement. That means working with local organizations, partnering with public health heroes, and finding real solutions that make a real impact.
I'm thrilled to be leading this school, and I promise you, we're going to have a great time shaping its future. We want to create an environment where our students, faculty and community partners can learn together, solve problems together, and form lifelong relationships.
So, whether you're already a part of the Augusta University family or thinking about joining us – I'm sending you a warm invitation! Let's take advantage of our unique place among universities in Georgia to be a partner for positive change in our communities, across the state and beyond our borders. At Augusta University’s School of Public Health, we have an opportunity to improve the health of Georgia.
Teresa Waters, PhD
Dean, School of Public Health
Our Mission
The mission of Augusta University’s School of Public Health is to improve population health, promote individual well-being, and support all in achieving their maximum health potential through our commitment to education, research, service, and community engagement.
We intend to accomplish our mission with the following strategies:
Educate the next generation of public health professionals using evidence-based teaching best practices.
Advance knowledge in public health through interdisciplinary research and scholarship.
Establish and foster community partnerships that encourage the identification of priorities and implementation of programs designed to improve public health.
Expand the public health workforce in rural and/or underserved communities.
The school is now home to the Institute of Public and Preventive Health (IPPH), the Center for Rural Health and the Center for Bioethics & Health Policy at Augusta University.
Our History
The Augusta University School of Public Health builds on decades of public health education, research, and service across the university. Established on August 1, 2023, the school brought together longstanding public health programs, faculty, and research initiatives to create a unified home for public health scholarship, workforce development, and community engagement.
Our foundation includes the CEPH-accredited Master of Public Health program, which has trained public health professionals since 2005; the Institute of Public and Preventive Health (IPPH), established in 2012; and faculty and programs from the former Department of Population Health Sciences and the PhD in Applied Health Sciences program. Together, these programs created a strong platform for advancing population health across Georgia and beyond.
In March 2024, the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) officially accepted Augusta University's Initial Application Submission (IAS) to transition from an accredited MPH program to an accredited School of Public Health. We are currently completing our self-study and anticipate hosting CEPH site visitors in March 2027. If all proceeds as planned, the School of Public Health will achieve full school-level accreditation in fall 2027.
The past three years have been marked by tremendous growth. In 2025, the school relocated from its original offices in Pavilions 1 and 3 into new facilities on both the Summerville and Health Sciences campuses. Today, the Departments of Community and Behavioral Health Sciences and Health Management, Economics, and Policy, along with most school staff and the Dean's Office, are housed in Science Hall on the Summerville Campus. The Department of Biostatistics, Data Science, and Epidemiology occupies the Jennings Building on the Health Sciences Campus. While our locations span two campuses, they reflect the unique role the School of Public Health plays in connecting Augusta University's academic and health care missions.
Our impact continues to expand. Since 2023, sponsored research funding has grown by nearly 40%, and enrollment has increased to more than 300 students, nearly double the number of students enrolled when the school opened. As we continue to grow our educational programs, research enterprise, and community partnerships, we remain committed to improving the health and well-being of Georgians and the communities we serve.