Students completing the certificate will be exposed to and have a basic understanding of the theoretical and applied aspects of Health Communication. Competencies achieved will include, but are not limited to:
1) awareness of behavior change and communication theories;
2) knowledge of media effects and audiences uses of media/communication modes; and
3) 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.
Gainful Employment Program Information
Intended Audience
To be eligible to receive a Health Communication certificate, students must be admitted to a graduate degree program an accredited University. Students pursuing this certificate should fill out acompletion form before the last day of the add/drop period in the term in which they are completing the final course for the certificate. The student should submit the completion form to the Academic Office. No retroactive certificates will be allowed. Students in good academic standing who have met all certificate requirements will have their transcript marked to indicate successful completion.
Completion of sixteen (16) credits from the following course listing.
• Program Planning for Health Behavior Change (3 credits)
• Persuasive Communication: Theories and Practice (4 credits)
• Health Literacy: Challenges and Strategies for Effective Communication (3 credits)
• Issues in Health Advocacy (3 credits)
• Interpersonal Influence in Medical Care (2 credits)
• Contemporary Issues in Health Communication (1 credit)
• Media Advocacy and Public Health: Theory and Practice (3 credits)
• Communication Network Analysis in Public Health Programs (4 credits)
• Fundamentals of Program Evaluation (4 credits)
• Health Communication Programs I (4 credits)
• Health Communication Programs II (4 credits)
• Health Communication Programs (4 credits)
• Children, Media and Health (3 credits)
• Research Seminar in Health Communication (2 credits)
• Special Studies and Research in Health, Behavior and Society (variable credits)
• Marketing in Health Care Organizations (3 credits)
• Risk Policy, Management and Communication (3 credits)
• Entertainment Education for Behavior Change and Development (4 credits)
Requirements for Successful Completion
The Certificate will be awarded to all students who have satisfactorily completed the course requirements. Courses must be completed with a grade of "B" or better and must be taken within 3 years. A list of all persons who have completed the Certificate is provided to the Registrar so a notation of the Certificate award can be included on the academic transcript.
Taken from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Skills
Course of Study
Admissions Criteria
Educational Objectives
Basic Grammar
Thorough knowledge of parts of speech is truly basic to good writing and editing. Types of nouns and pronouns, verb tense, pronouns and case, phrases and clauses (with special emphasis on verbals and on noun, adjective, and adverb clauses), and the types of sentences are some of the primary topics.
Bibliographic Resources for Medical Communicators
The primary focus will be on types of bibliographic literature and ways to find and access this information.
Effective Paragraphing
basic paragraphing techniques for achieving clarity, readability, and desired emphasis. The objective is the development of a systematic approach to analyzing and correcting text.
Effectively Searching Online Databases
The use of online databases, demonstrating the effective use of PubMed and Gateway from the National Library of Medicine as true databases rather than "search engines." Creating and using personalized settings and search filters for these resources.
Elements of Medical Terminology
This workshop, which will consist mainly of lecture and exercises, is designed primarily for beginning medical writers with little or no medical background. Participants will learn how to understand the meanings of medical terms by identifying Latin and Greek word components.
Essential Ethics for Medical Communicators
Outlining for writing and editing medical texts. "what, why, and how" of formal outlining and its usefulness in gaining consensus on planned content, overcoming mental blocks, and reorganizing drafts.
Punctuation for Clarity and Style
the most useful punctuation rules and options—from the serial comma to the dash—focus on emphasis, variety, and consistency.
Sentence Structure and Patterns
consider the main elements of sentence construction, accommodation to the reading process, and the management of emphasis—all with a view toward matching structure to purpose.
Statistics for Medical Writers and Editors
understand medical and scientific articles, including types of variables, levels of measurement, summary statistics, estimation and confidence intervals, and t test.
Tables and Graphs
tables and graphs that are usable, that communicate, and that are appropriate for the situation.
Finding correct Information on the Internet
effective use of Web search engines and other resources and will problem-solve common issues like narrowing down search results and sorting out useful information from commercial or possibly fraudulent content.
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