The research mission of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences is 1) to advance knowledge in nursing contributions to health policy and in sociology through theoretically informed, methodologically rigorous qualitative and quantitative research; and 2) to examine the broad dynamics of health, healing, and the production of knowledge and technologies and their applications in these domains with special focus on addressing inequities. Department faculty are actively involved in a wide variety of research activities in local, national, and global arenas. Topics are related to the teaching programs and the mission of the department and include tobacco control, health disparities, commercial and social determinants of health, gender and HIV/AIDS, biomedicalization, anti-violence, health workforce, health demography, aging and long-term care policies both domestically and globally.

SBS is affiliated with the UCSF Institute for Health & Aging, an organized research unit of the campus which conducts research in the following areas: health economics, substance abuse, disability, health and diverse populations, aging and long-term care, women's health, healthy and active aging, and other areas.

SBS is part of the UCSF Center for Health and Community, a group of health policy and social sciences departments and research units within the university sharing a common mission that includes advancing innovative partnerships, interdisciplinary programs and service to the community; providing students with the basic and applied aspects of social and behavioral sciences and health policy; and improving the quality of education for health professionals and researchers.