THE
M.A. PROGRAM IN HEALTH COMMUNICATION
The master's program prepares students to work in health care settings
applying the professional practice of communication, with emphasis in
either [1] Health Care Service Delivery or [2] Health Message Design.
All Health Communication students are required to take: ***BB H/HPA 440 (3): Principles of EpidemiologyBMMB (3)[Biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology] 509: Ethics in Biomedical Science SpCom 595 (6): Internship [M.A. students electing a thesis track are advised to combine fulfillment of the internship with thesis research; Ph.D. students are advised to consider the internship as a path toward data collection for the dissertation] {Internship opportunities are available in Health Evaluation Sciences at the Hershey campus, Health Administration at the Harrisburg campus…}M.A. Program Requirements In addition to MA program requirements in the Department [see http://cas.la.psu.edu/grad/ma_minrequire.htm], the following guidelines apply to the masters degree in Health Communication, consisting of a total of 39 credit hours, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of health communication. Of the 13 courses, 10 are required and 3 may be selected as electives. **400-level courses do not count towards the Department’s minimum credit hour requirements for the masters or doctoral degrees; students electing a Health Communication emphasis, however, will enroll in and complete the designated 400-level courses. CAS 597 (3): Human Communication Theory CAS 502 (3): Communication Theory and Research Methods [introduction to quantitative methods]
CAS 502 (3): Communication Theory and Research Methods [introduction to qualitative methods]
I. Health Care Service Delivery
The increasing complexity of health care services' organization and delivery is associated with increased opportunities for graduates trained in Health Communication to apply the knowledge base associated with organizational, small group, and relational communication to increase the health care system's efficacy for both providers and users. Students will gain skills to plan, implement, and evaluate health service delivery programs for patients and employees in the health care sector. Career opportunities include:
- Assisted Living Health Services Coordinator
- Health Information Hotline Program Manager/Trainer
- Health Maintenance Organization Employee Compliance Officer
- Patient Advocate Program Planner
- Patient Volunteer Coordinator
- Retirement Community Health Services Coordinator
- Support Group Facility Liaison
***CAS
483 (3): Health Communication Theory and Research [Students are encouraged
to enroll
concurrently in SpCom 596 and complete Individual Studies in Health Communication]
CAS 554 (3): Small Group Communication Theory and Research
CAS 5xx (3): Communication across the Lifespan
CAS 552 (3): Organizational Communication
II. Health Message Design
Within the public health system of the U.S. at the state and national levels, increased awareness of the gaps between information about health and behavior with health consequences warrants attention. This situation affords graduates trained in Health Communication opportunities to apply the knowledge base associated with social influence and campaigns to increase the efficacy of efforts to motivate individuals to understand and act in ways that promote their health and well-being. Students electing an emphasis in Health Communication and Health Message Design will gain skills to plan, implement, and evaluate health messages used in health promotion. These messages may be designed for use in train-the-trainer professional and lay health education programs, schools, businesses, health policy briefs, as well as media advocacy endeavors. Career opportunities include:
- American Academy of Dermatology Health Communication Specialist
- American Cancer Society Health Communication Behavioral Scientist
- American Heart Association Community Advisory Board Facilitator
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Health Communication Planner
- Communication Specialist in State Public Health Divisions and Sections [e.g., Cancer Control Section Health Communication Specialist; Tobacco Division Health Communication Specialist]
- National Arthritis Foundation Behavioral Scientist
- National Cancer Institute Health Communication Specialist
***CAS 383 (3): Health Message Design
***CAS
483 (3): Health Communication Theory and Research [Students are encouraged
to enroll
concurrently in SpCom 596 and complete Individual Studies in Health Communication]
CAS 550 (3): Social Influence
CAS 557 (3): Community-based Health Campaigns
Electives for Masters degree:
Additionally, students will elect another methods course in consultation with their committee and two classes from the following:
ANTH 511: Health Implications in the Growth and Development of School Children
ANTH 513: Health Implications in Maturity and Aging
ANTH 573: Genetical Epidemiology
BBH 502: Health: Biobehavioral Perspectives
BBH 503: Biobehavioral Factors in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
COMM 507: News Media and Public Opinion
COMM 510: Comparative Theories of Press Systems
COMM 518: Media Effects
COMM 556: Textual Analysis
COMM 581: History of Electrical, Electronic, and Optical Communications
COMM 582: Ethics and Emerging Communications Technology
ENG 508: Computer applications for writers [includes an examination of textual analysis programs]
HD FS [Human Development & Family Studies] 503: Human Development Intervention: Analysis of Theories and Approaches
HD FS 504: Consultation in Human Development Intervention
HD FS 509: Nature-Nurture Interactions in Human Development
HD FS 517: Multivariate Study of Change and Human Development
HD FS 520: Seminar in Prenatal and Infant Development
HD FS 523: Strategies for Data Analysis in Developmental Research
HD FS 528: Observational Methodologies for Development
HD FS 565: Developmental Behavioral Genetics
HPA 555: Information Systems in Health Services Administration
Other Coursework in Health Policy and Administration
IBIOS 571: Current Issues in Biotechnology
Coursework in Instructional Systems [e.g., 511: Organization and Administration of Instructional systems; 522: Analyzing Outcomes and Learners; 540: Methods and Models of Interactive Design]
KINES[iology] 5252: Social Psychology of Sport
KINES 577: Cardiovascular Physiology
KINES 585: Environmental Physiology
LINGUISTICS 535: Discourse Analysis
LLED 542: Issues in Literacy education
LLED 545: Literacy and Language Assessment for Instructional Decisions [needs permission of dept to do this]
MIS 538: Decision Support Systems--analysis of information requirements for planning, dec making and performance measurement in organizations….
NUTRN 512: Nutrition and Aging
NUTRN 521: National Nutrition Policy
NUTRN 560: Planning and Evaluating Nutrition Programs
PSY 503: Health Psychology
PSY 515: Clinical health psychology
PSY 523: Social-Organization Psychology in Industry
PSY 565: Seminar in Community Psychology
PSY 588: The Social Organization of Attribution
PSY 589: Social Cognition and Social Perception
RL ST 532: Religion and Social Problems
RL ST 536: Religious Structures and Processes
RL ST 539: Advanced Studies in Religious Ethics
R SOC [Rural Sociology]: 505: Leadership Development
R SOC 515: The Cooperative Extension Organization
R SOC 516: Change in Rural Society
SOC 512: Seminar in Deviant Behavior
CAS 5xx: Family Communication
CAS 5xx: Doctor-Patient Interaction
CAS 5xx: Intercultural Communication
STS [Science, Technology, & Society] 500: Integrating Science & Technology into Society
STS 589: Ethics and Values in Science and Technology
WF ED [Workforce Education and Development] 508: Workforce Education Management
WF ED 538: Administering Personnel Services in Vocational Education
WF ED 573: Needs Assessment for Industrial Trainers
YFE [Youth and Family Education] 535: Youth Civic Development
YFE 555: Volunteer Program Management
