Health communication is a broad term used to describe the various methods and strategies used to disseminate information regarding health-related issues, practices, and services to the public. It encompasses both large-scale health education, such as public health campaigns, community outreach, or advocacy efforts intended to influence health improvements or reduce potential risks among a wide audience, as well as the one-on-one communication between patients and providers. There are also academics who conduct research in the field with the aim of improving family-caregiver-provider interactions and communication between members of health care teams. To help students learn more about this vital field, MastersinCommunications.com has built this comprehensive Health Communication Hub, which contains an in-depth guide to the specialization, FAQs, examples case studies, faculty interviews, and more.

Guide to Health Communication

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This detailed guide to health communication explores both the history and present-day applications of the specialization and its related products. It also explains the four general areas of health communication, which include health promotion, patient-provider interactions, health care interventions, and communication technology. Students interested in pursuing an education in the field can find information about the different degree paths available, as well as potential careers in a wide range of industries.

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Health Communication Case Studies

To help students learn more about field of health communication, MastersinCommunications.com created these real-life case studies, which contain detailed information about the development of actual health and risk communication projects. For each case study, we interviewed a professional about a health communication project they helped develop, what it entailed, the skills it required, and the steps they took to complete the project.

Manual for Cancer Patients

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    Document Creation - Skills Used:

  • Document Design

  • Research

  • Writing and Editing

  • Surveying

This case study follows the creation of a printed manual containing education and suggestions on general cancer treatment.

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Rural Public Health

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    Emergency Response - Skills Used:

  • Public Relations

  • Collaboration

  • Presentations

  • Risk Assessment

This case study examines how health professionals in a small rural community handled a measles outbreak.

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Social Media Campaigns

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    Risk Communication - Skills Used:

  • Strategic Planning

  • Community Management

  • Data Mining

  • Web Communication

This case study details how one risk communication organization responds to natural disasters using social media.

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Explore Master's in Health Communication Programs

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All Master's in Health Communication Programs

Research campus, hybrid, and online programs by state with our comprehensive directory of Master's in Health Communication programs in the United States.

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Online Master's in Health Communication Programs

Explore online Master's in Health Communication Programs offered by colleges and universities in the United States. Currently, there are 16 programs that are offered online.

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Learn More About Master's in Health Communication Programs with Our Graduate School Interview Series

To help students better research master’s degrees in health communication, MastersinCommunications.com interviewed professors, program directors, and other faculty members from programs across the country. These exclusive interviews contain valuable insights on each program’s structure, curriculum, requirements, capstone options, and more, as well as advice on submitting a competitive application and why students should consider enrolling.

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Interview with Tricia Burke, Ph.D.

Texas State University
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Christine Curtis, M.A.

Washington State University
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Huiling Ding, Ph.D.

North Carolina State University
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Richard Dool, D.Mgt

Rutgers University
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Gerald W.C. Driskill, Ph.D.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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Elissa Foster, Ph.D.

DePaul University
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Taylor Hahn, Ph.D.

Johns Hopkins University
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Judith Hendry, Ph.D.

University of New Mexico
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Bobi Ivanov, MBA, Ph.D.

University of Kentucky
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Interview with Bruce Lambert, Ph.D.

Northwestern University
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John C. Lammers, Ph.D.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Sorin Nastasia, Ph.D.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
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Nancy Rhodes, Ph.D.

Michigan State University
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Interview with Travers Scott, Ph.D.

Clemson University
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Porter Shreve, MFA

University of San Francisco
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Interview with Jordan Soliz, Ph.D.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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Susan Stein, Ph.D.

Drexel University
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Michael G. Strawser, Ph.D.

Bellarmine University
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Interview with Sarah Jane Tamme, M.S.

University of Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are FAQs with in-depth answers to questions related to health communication degree programs, careers in the field, and more.

What is health communication? What can you do with a master’s in health communication?

Health communication is a broad and diverse field that includes health education, risk communication, health and policy advocacy, public health communication, patient and provider communication, and health literacy. Students with a master's in health communication can explore careers in health education, community and population health, public relations and marketing, organizational health communication, and more. Read more

Graduate certificate programs in health communication

Graduate certificate programs in health communication empower professionals to engage in health care advocacy, patient education, health marketing, and related fields. This article covers different online certificate programs in health communication, as well as typical courses and important considerations. Read more

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