Communication, MA (Health Communication)
The demand for skilled health communicators is growing rapidly
Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the U.S. economy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare occupations are projected to generate about 1.9 million job openings each year through 2034.
As healthcare systems become more complex and information moves faster than ever, the need for clear, effective communication has never been greater. Whether you’re engaging directly with patients, developing health education materials, leading digital campaigns, conducting research, or managing health care teams, strong communication enables professionals to drive better health outcomes and build supportive, effective workplaces.
What sets this program apart
The skills you’ll develop
Health Care Management
Develop communication skills to lead teams, foster collaboration, and improve patient care
Health communication campaigns
Develop communication strategies across health-related settings.
Patient-provider communication
Explore communication that improves understanding and engagement.
Health literacy
Learn strategies that improve access to health information.
Digital health communication
Explore communication across digital and emerging media environments.
Audience analysis and messaging
Apply research and messaging strategies across diverse audiences.
Explore health communication courses
Required
COM501: Research methods in communication
Use communication research to understand audiences and solve real-world organizational challenges.
COM504: Theories and models in communication
Explore the theories that shape communication across organizations, communities and health-related settings.
COM530: Training and development
Develop communication strategies for workplace training, leadership and professional development.
COM540: Conducting communication research
Apply qualitative and quantitative research methods to real-world communication challenges.
Core Concentration Courses
COM511: Health Communication and Social Change
Explore how communication influences public health campaigns, behavior change and community engagement.
COM512: Health and Organizational Communication Inquiry
Examine communication within healthcare teams, organizations and public health environments.
COM513: Health Communication Across Contexts
Explore how communication shapes health behaviors, literacy and digital health experiences across diverse populations.
Elective course options
COM598: The Art & Science of Patient-Provider Communication
Explore communication strategies that improve understanding, trust and patient-provider interactions.
COM598: Digital Approaches to Health Communication
Examine how social media, digital platforms and emerging technologies influence health communication and public engagement.
COM598: Health Communication in International and Intercultural Contexts
Examine how culture, identity and global perspectives shape health communication across communities and organizations.
FAQs
Health communication focuses on how information is created, shared and understood across healthcare, nonprofit, organizational and community settings.
Yes. The Health Communication MA is offered fully online, allowing students to balance graduate study with professional and personal responsibilities.
The 30-credit program can be completed in as little as one year.
No. The program welcomes professionals and graduates from a variety of communication, healthcare, nonprofit, education and related backgrounds.
This program approaches health communication through the lens of communication as a discipline. Students focus on audience engagement, messaging, organizational communication and communication strategies across health-related contexts.
The program is designed for working professionals, recent graduates and individuals interested in applying communication expertise to health-related challenges and opportunities.
Graduates may pursue opportunities in health communication, health promotion, community outreach, public information, nonprofit communication, wellness communication and related fields.
Where communication can take you
Health communication skills are increasingly valuable across healthcare, nonprofit, organizational and community settings. Graduates may pursue careers focused on audience engagement, health promotion, community outreach and communication strategy.
✓ Health communication specialist
✓ Health promotion specialist
✓ Community outreach coordinator
✓ Public information officer
✓ Health marketing manager
✓ Nonprofit communications manager