Health Communication Certificate
Changing the Way We Communicate Health Issues
The University of Utah is the primary institution for educating health providers and ancillary professionals in the state of Utah. Health communication is a crucial concern and a top priority as the nature, forms, and functions of health care and health information shift dramatically in contemporary society.
Students earning the Health Communication Certificate respond to that increasing interest and demand for greater awareness and understanding of health communication. Specifically, the certificate program involves the study of how communication about health is co-created, transmitted, received, constructed, and circulated in various contexts.
The certificate is available for both undergraduate and graduate students who are current University of Utah students.
The Health Communication Certificate is an 18-credit hour program offered by the Department of Communication. The University of Utah is the primary institution for educating health providers and ancillary professionals in the state of Utah.
Health communication is a crucial concern and currently a top priority for medical and health institutions and agencies, as the nature, forms, and functions of health care and health information shift dramatically in contemporary society. This certificate responds to that increasing interest and demand for greater awareness and understanding of health communication.
Multiple units and programs across the University include some emphasis on health communication in teaching, research, and service. However, prior to this certificate, there was no formal program for University audiences to gain and demonstrate qualifications and competencies in health communication.
Faculty in the Department of Communication created this certificate program to meet the needs of students, providers, and professionals across the institution and improve the overall quality of health communication in the state of Utah. Graduates face increasing competition for desirable jobs post-graduation. Accordingly, there is a clear need for the University of Utah to provide our students with opportunities to gain and demonstrate expertise in specialized areas. The Health Communication Certificate helps meet that need. The certificate is available for both undergraduate and graduate students who are currently University of Utah students.
For additional information and resources regarding the study and practices of health communication, visit the Coalition for Health Communication website.
What is the Health Communication Certificate?
The Health Communication Certificate is an 18-credit hour program that provides current University of Utah undergraduate and graduate students with expertise in communicating with and/or for health organizations. The program is interdisciplinary so any student can pursue it and many departments offer courses, including communication, health promotion & education, and family & preventive medicine (just to name a few).Topics covered include:
Improving doctor-patient communication, Optimizing communication across complex team structures, Crafting effective health care materials, Reaching underserved populations.
Why would I want the Health Communication Certificate?
Students will receive a seperate diploma for completing the certificate. A designation will also appear on the student's transcript. Many health organizations are looking for individuals with training in health communication. Despite this demand, only a few schools offer certification in health communication. Graduates of the program will be prepared for positions with health organizations (e.g., communication director for a hospital) and to participate in interdisciplinary research in health communication.
Have an application that stands out when applying for positions with hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and health-focused non-profits. Learn how to work with individuals across the healthcare spectrum, including researchers, doctors, nurses, and patients. Demonstrate a commitment to interdisciplinary research and practice, the cornerstone of 21st century healthcare.
How do I pursue the Health Communication Certificate?
Students who are interested in pursuing the Health Communication Certificate should review the requirements for the certificate (listed below) and begin pursuing courses.
Questions can be directed to r.e.jensen@utah.edu OR comm-advisor@utah.edu
The certificate is open to current University of Utah students and consists of 18 credits, 6 courses total divided into 3 tiers. Undergraduate students may take any courses offered in the list. Graduate students may take any courses offered on the list that have a graduate-level designation (6000- or 7000-level). Graduate students must check with their home department requirements to determine how many certificate courses may be included in their Programs of Study.
In order to complete the certificate students must complete the course requirements listed below.
Students MUST submit the certficate declaration form.
Requirements
The certificate will consist of 18 units divided into 3 tiers, as follows:
Tier 1 (3 credits)
Required:
- COMM 5115/6115 – Foundations of Health Communication
Tier 2 (9 credits)
Choose THREE of the following courses, ONE MUST BE 5117, 5118 OR 5815:
- COMM 5116/6116 – Health, Communication, and Culture
- COMM 5117/6117 – Health Campaigns & Media
- COMM 5118/6118 – Health Literacy
- COMM 5140/6140 – Communication and Aging
- COMM 5150/6150 - Dialogue and COmmunity Engagement
- COMM 5200/6200 – Persuasion & Political Communication
- COMM 5365/6365 - Communicating Climate Change
- COMM 5370/6370 - Environmental Communication, Special Topics
- COMM 5490/6490 – Communication and Social Justice
- COMM 5590/6590 – Integrated Marketing Communication
- COMM 5640/6640 - Comm Technology and Culture
- COMM 5815/6815 – Special Topics in Health Communication
- COMM 5820/6820 - Science Communication, Special Topics
Tier 3 (6 credits)
Choose two other health related courses. Must pre-approve these courses with academic advisor. One can come from Tier 2, but at least one must be from outside the Department of Communication.
APPROVED COURSES:
- ECON 5190/6190 – Health Economics
- FCS 5180 – Autism Across the Lifespan
- FCS 5390 – Gender Race Sexualities
- FCS 5430 – Family and Healthcare Policy
- FCS 5630/6630 – Healthy Communities
- FCS 6465 – Stress, Development, and Health
- FPMD 4500 – Public Health: A Global Perspective
- FPMD 5005 – Introduction to the Medical Profession
- FPMD 5520 – Public Health Perspective on Surgery in the Global Context
- FPMD 5530 – Global Health
- FPMD 5540 – Refugees in Utah: A Public Health Issue
- GERON 5220 – Caregiving and Aging Families
- GERON 5370/6370 – Health and Optimal Aging (also HEDU 5370)
- H EDU 5060 – International Health Promotion
- H EDU 5100 – Health Care in the United States
- H EDU 5300 – Diversity and Health
- H EDU 6000 – Foundations and Theory of Health Promotion
- H EDU 6060 – Health Instruction and Communication
- NURS 6772 – Quality Improvement in Health Care
- PHIL 5370 – Philosophy of Biology
- PHIL 5520/6520 - Advanced Bioethics
- POLS 5321/6321 – Health Policy
- SOC 4674/6674 – Global Health
- SOC 5720/6720 – Medical Sociology
The required foundational courses of Tier 1 provide students with a broad knowledge of health communication theories, contexts, and processes
The electives in Tier 2 allow students to gain additional competencies in chosen communication foci. The electives in Tier 3 provide the interdisciplinary contexts, knowledge, and competencies for students to further demonstrate mastery in the health communication area.
All courses will include normative assessment of student performance through readings, assignments, and activities that are commensurate with a graduate educational experience.
In addition to the annual program review by the Department of Communication faculty, the Advisory Committee of the Health Communication Certificate will annually review courses and the program through enrollments, exit interviews, instructor feedback, and completion rates.
Primary faculty for the Health Communication Certificate are in the Department of Communication:
Dr. Mark Bergstrom, Associate Professor
Dr. Avery Holton, Assistant Professor
Dr. Jakob Jensen, Professor
Dr. Robin Jensen, Professor
Dr. Kimberly Kaphingst, Professor
Dr. Tae Kyoung Lee, Assistant Professor
Dr. Helene Shugart, Professor
Dr. Sara Yeo, Assistant Professor
Coordinator
Professor Andy King of the Department of Communication serves as Coordinator of the certificate program.
Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee will consist of three members from the Department of Communication and two members from involved programs. Initial members include:
Dr. Mark Bergstrom, Associate Professor, Communication
Dr. Helene Shugart, Professor, Communication
Dr. Jakob Jensen, Professor, Communication
Dr. Kimberly Kaphingst, Professor, Communication
Marty C. Malheiro, Clinical Instructor, Pharmacotherapy, Utah Poison Control Center
Les Chatelain, Interim Chair, Health Promotion & Education
General questions about the HCC may be sent to the Program Coordinator, Dr. Andy King, at andy.king@utah.edu. Specific questions for the undergraduate and graduate certificates may be sent to comm-advisor@utah.edu.
