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 

Admissions

Students will need to complete an admissions process to be admitted to this program. The applicant will be evaluated on a combination of factors:

• Official undergraduate transcripts
• Resumé describing previous professional experience, especially if it is in health communication
• Three letters of recommendation
• A written statement of intent describing why you want to study health communication.

If you are not already studying for a graduate degree, you can enroll as a stand-alone program.

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)

Core Courses (9 Hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
HPEB 711	Applied Health Communication	3
ISCI 749	Health Sciences Information Resources	3
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
Total Credit Hours		9

Electives or Independent Study (6 Hours)

Course List

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

Internship or Practicum (3 Hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
A three-credit-hour practicum/internship/independent study or project in the student’s home department.		3
Total Credit Hours		3

Note: Examples of practica/internships/independent studies 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.