This is an 18-hour post-bachelor’s program that provides students the opportunities to strengthen their knowledge in health communication content, research methods, and application. Qualified individuals can take the certificate as a stand-alone program or in conjunction with another degree.

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate the ability to translate basic theories and frameworks of health and risk communication to the development of health communication campaigns to specific target audiences.
2. Students will be able to explain the principles governing the selection and access of health information materials to serve the needs of diverse lay, professional, and cultural communities.
3. Students will demonstrate an ability to develop, implement, and evaluate a health communication project for a specific target audience.

Admissions Requirements 

The GRE is not required for application to the Health Communication Certificate program.

Admission

Daniela Friedman
HPEB Professor
phone: 803-576-5818
email: dfriedma@mailbox.sc.edu

Casey Goldston Giraudy
HPEB Academic Programs Coordinator
phone: 803-777-2966
e-mail: goldston@sc.edu

Certificate Requirements (18 Hours)

Certificate Core (9 Hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
HPEB 711	Applied Health Communication	3
ISCI 749	Health Sciences Information Resources	3
For students in Journalism and Mass Communication or Public Health: Select one of the following:		3
JOUR 702	Communication Theory
JOUR 803	Seminar in Mass Communication Theory and Theory Construction
JOUR 772	Seminar in Health, Science, and the Media
JOUR 775	Strategic Communication for Behavior and Social Change
For students in Information Science:		3
JOUR 702	Communication Theory
or JOUR 803	Seminar in Mass Communication Theory and Theory Construction

Electives or Independent Study (1-6 Hours)

For students in Journalism and Mass Communications or Public Health:

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Select six directed elective hours from an approved list, depending on the student’s interests as approved by the faculty advisor		6
Total Credit Hours		6

For students in Information Science:

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
ISCI 796	Independent Study in Library and Information Science	1-6
Total Credit Hours		1-6

Internship or Practicum (3 Hours)

For students in Journalism and Mass Communications or Public Health:

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Select a three credit-hour practicum or project in the student’s home department		3
Total Credit Hours		3

Note: Examples of practica/internships include appointments with local agencies involved with health communication, or work on an active research project. Faculty members work closely with students to help them secure the practicum.

For students in Information Science:

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
ISCI 794	Internship in Library and Information Science	3
Total Credit Hours		3