Health Communication Certificate Program
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
Students completing the certificate program will be exposed to and gain a basic understanding of the theoretical and applied aspects of Health Communication. Competencies achieved will include, but are not limited to:
- Awareness of behavior change and communication theories.
- Knowledge of media effects and audiences' uses of media/communication modes.
- Recognition of quantitative and qualitative methods used in the study of Health Communication.
Additionally, the Health Communication certificate program will familiarize students with the design and evaluation (formative, process, and summative) of communication messages, campaigns, and programs.
SPONSORING DEPARTMENT
ADMISSION
Contact information and information about admissions to the certificate program can be found on the Bloomberg School of Public Health certificate program page.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
The certificate program requires a minimum of 18 term credits. All required and elective courses must be taken for a letter grade; a minimum grade of C is required in all certificate coursework, and students must maintain a 2.75 or better overall GPA for all certificate coursework. Any request to substitute a course that the faculty sponsors consider essential to meet the certificate program competencies must be given serious consideration. The student must propose the course to be substituted and present a rationale for the request. In no case will more than one substitution be permitted.
The certificate program length is flexible and varies from student to student. However, the certificate must be completed within three years. The student should review the section of the website that addresses completion before completing certificate program requirements. The student's transcript will not indicate that the certificate was earned until the Notification of Completion has been submitted, verified by the certificate program, and processed by the Registrar.
COURSE OF STUDY
Students should check the Bloomberg School of Public Health course directory to confirm when courses are offered. The term may change from what is listed in the table below and some courses are only offered every other year. Students should also check for prerequisites and whether instructor consent is required.
Note: It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that students interested in this certificate program take 410.653 (Contemporary Issues in Health Communication) as a way to familiarize themselves with the different faculty and course offerings in Health Communication.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PH.550.860 | Academic & Research Ethics at JHSPH (All students are required to complete this online noncredit course in their first term of study) | |
| Required: 18 credits from the following courses: | ||
| PH.180.634 | Public Health Emergencies: Risk Communication and Decision Science (typically offered onsite in 1st term) | 3 |
| PH.301.645 | Health Advocacy (typically offered onsite in 4th term) | 3 |
| PH.312.660 | Marketing in Health Care Organizations (typically offered onsite in 3rd term and in Summer Institute) | 3 |
| PH.317.610 | Risk Policy, Management and Communication (typically offered onsite in 2nd term) | 3 |
| PH.330.643 | The Science of Narrative: Intersectionality of Storytelling and Public Health (typically offered online in 1st term) | 2 |
| PH.380.611 | Fundamentals of Program Evaluation (typically offered onsite in 3rd term and online in 1st term) | 4 |
| PH.410.622 | Strategic Leadership Principles and Tools for Health System Transformation in Developing Countries (typically offered onsite in 2nd term) | 4 |
| PH.410.650 | Introduction to Persuasive Communications: Theories and Practice (typically offered onsite in 2nd term and Winter Institute) | 4 |
| PH.410.651 | Health Literacy: Challenges and Strategies for Effective Communication (typically offered online in 2nd term) | 3 |
| PH.410.652 | Interpersonal Influence in Medical Care (typically offered onsite in 4th term) | 2 |
| PH.410.653 | Contemporary Issues in Health Communication (typically offered onsite in 1st term) | 1 |
| PH.410.654 | Health Communication Programs I: Planning and Strategic Design (typically offered onsite in 4th term) | 4 |
| PH.410.655 | Health Communication Programs II: Implementation and Evaluation (typically offered onsite in 4th term) | 4 |
| PH.410.656 | Entertainment Education for Behavior Change and Development (typically offered onsite in 4th term) | 4 |
| PH.410.663 | Media Advocacy and Public Health: Theory and Practice (typically offered onsite in 4th term) | 3 |
| PH.410.679 | Decoloniality and Global Health Communication (typically offered onsite in 4th term) | 3 |
| PH.410.733 | Communication Network Analysis in Public Health Programs (typically offered onsite in 4th term) | 4 |
| PH.410.752 | Children, Media, and Health (typically offered onsite in 3rd term) | 3 |
| PH.410.755 | Designing Health Communication Programs for Social and Behavior Change (typically offered online in 3rd term) | 4 |
| PH.410.840 | Special Studies and Research in Health Behavior and Society (Must be approved by Certificate Program Director; typically offered onsite in 1st, 2nd and 3rd terms) | 1 - 22 |