Are you interested in broadening your communication skills to better communicate health messages? This 18-hour post-bachelor’s certificate will sharpen your knowledge in communication while strengthening your understanding of the research the public needs to make healthy life decisions. This program is administered by the Arnold School’s Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior in partnership with the College of Information and Communications.

Why Study Health Communication?

Gain niche skills and expertise to better prepare you for a career in communications or public health. You’ll add to your creative portfolio through class projects and complete a practicum or project to get hands-on experience and apply your skills to a real-world setting.  You’ll also complement your existing or in-progress degree with additional credentials. This program has flexible options, and some classes can be completed online

 

What You’ll Learn

You’ll take classes in health communication and health sciences as well as electives across mass communications. This certificate program better prepares students for careers in social marketing, health behavior campaigns, and educational programming. 

Program Details 

Students pursuing the certificate must complete 18 credit hours of program coursework. Browse class offerings below and explore the academic bulletin.

Expand allCore Classes (9 hours) 

• HPEB 711: Applied Health Communication
• ISCI 749: Health Sciences Information Resources

 

For students in Journalism and Mass Communication or Public Health: Select one of the following:

• 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: Select one of the following:

• JOUR 702: Communication Theory
• JOUR 803: Seminar in Mass Communication Theory and Theory Construction

Electives or Independent Study (6 Hours) 

For students in Journalism and Mass Communications or Public Health:

• Select six directed elective hours from an approved list, depending on the student’s interests as approved by the faculty advisor.
• HPEB 811: Advanced Public Health Communication: Theory and Methods (Recommended)

For students in Information Science:

• ISCI 796: Independent Study in Library and Information Science

Internship or Practicum (3 hours)

For students in Journalism and Mass Communications or Public Health:

• Select a three credit-hour practicum or project in the student’s home department

For students in Information Science:

• ISCI 794: Internship in Library and Information Science

Admissions Requirements 

• A four-year baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution
• Grade point average of 3.00/4.00 or higher
• For international applicants, a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - minimum score of 80 internet-based, 230 computer-based, or 570 paper-based - or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Course Type 2 exam - minimum overall band score of 6.5. This requirement may be waived for applicants that have earned a prior degree from a US institution.

How To Apply 

The certificate program has rolling admissions. Current USC students in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior apply by completing the Concurrent Enrollment form. Other applicants outside of the department or university must apply through The Graduate School. The application fee is waived for 2023-2024.

Tuition and Fees

View tuition and fees through the Office of the Bursar.