Public Health at Georgia Southern University began in 1998 in the Department of Health and Kinesiology within the College of Health and Professional Studies with the development of the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree with an emphasis in Community Health Education and the Master of Health Services Administration (M.H.S.A.) degree. The M.P.H. was expanded to include an emphasis in Biostatistics in 2000.

On January 14, 2004 the Board of Regents established the first School of Public Health in the University System of Georgia and named it the Jiann-Ping Hsu School of Public Health. The School was housed within the College of Health and Human Sciences. The establishment of the School was made possible by a generous gift from Dr. Karl E. Peace, in memory and honor of his wife, Dr. Jiann-Ping Hsu.