The department of Health Sciences was founded in 2003 to support the Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science programs started in 2002 at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam.

The education programs are good examples of an academic training at the crossroads of many disciplines. Tuition and research are provided by academic staff of the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, the Faculty of Psychology and Education, and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.

The research program of the department of Health Sciences has been established in close collaboration with APH (Amsterdam Public Health). The research activities are devoted to public health. The definition of public health we use is "preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals”.