Areas of Study
Subtracks
Health Communication
The Master of Public Health subtrack in Health Communication will provide concentrated learning opportunities in Heath Communication for students who desire an MPH degree.
The MPH subtrack in Health Communication will provide knowledge and skill in critically designing, evaluating, and implementing effective communication strategies and messages using mediated and interpersonal channels to effectively address the health needs of diverse audiences. Clinician-patient interaction, family communication, group and organizational communication, and mass media and web-based campaigns will be addressed. However, the MPH serves a different audience of students than the Master of Science (MS) in Health Communication. Unlike the more academic MS degree, MPH degrees are often desired by clinicians, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists and dentists, and other professionals who do not aspire to pursue a doctoral degree. The MPH subtrack in Health Communication will offer these students an opportunity to select a concentration in Health Communication, in addition to the numerous other concentrations that MPH students can pursue.
Graduates of this MPH program will be able to do the following:
- Know and understand basic concepts and theories of social and behavioral science related to public health.
- Understand appropriate social and behavioral science research design and methodology, and analytical strategies in relation to public health.
- Evaluate and interpret both qualitative and quantitative scientific literature.
- Understand how to affect individual, organizational, and systems change through communication.
- Recognize and implement effective evidence-based public health interventions including communication campaigns.
Prerequisite
An undergraduate degree is required. The cumulative grade-point-average should be a minimum of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Although no specific major is required, prerequisite course work should include a semester of college algebra.
MPH Core Courses (18 s.h.)
The following course work is required for all MPH students. Students are expected to earn ≥ B- (2.67) on each core course and must earn a ≥ B (3.0) cumulative grade point average on all core courses. When necessary, a student may repeat courses to achieve this standard.
| MPH:5100/170:101 | Intro to Public Health | 3 s.h. |
| BIOS:5110/171:161 | Intro to Biostatistics | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:5105/172:101 | Intro to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 s.h. |
| EPID:5400/173:140 | Epidemiology I: Principles | 3 s.h. |
| HMP:4000/174:102 | Intro to the US Healthcare System | 3 s.h. |
| OEH:4240/175:197 | Environmental Health | 3 s.h. |
Students are required to attend departmental seminars and journal club. They also must present one scientific poster at an international, national, regional, state, university, or departmental poster session.
Health Communication Core (12 s.h.)
| COMM:6371/036:371 | Communication Theory | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:4825/172:140 | Media and Health | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6210/172:240 | Health Communication | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6215/172:242 | Persuasion and Health | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6225/172:248 | Health Information and Health Literacy | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6220/172:246 | Health Communication Campaigns | 3 s.h. |
Community and Behavioral Health Core (9 s.h.)
| CBH:6205/172:106 | Designing and Implementing Interventions | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:5205/172:130 | Social Determinants of Health | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:8715/172:135 | Health Disparities & Cultural Competence | 2-4 s.h. |
| CBH:5220/172:150 | Health Behavior and Health Education | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:5305/172:181 | Evaluation I: Theory and Application | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:5310/172:183 | Qualitative Research for Public Health | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6115/172:202 | Ethnographic Field Methods | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3505/044:106 | Foundations of Geographic Information Systems | 3 s.h. |
Practicum Requirement (3 s.h.)
The experience from this course, including a final written report and a poster presentation, constitutes the final examination for the MPH.
| MPH:7000/170:299 | MPH Practicum Experience | 3 s.h. |
Pre-Requisite to MPH Practicum:
Students must complete all of their MPH core courses and the majority of other MPH coursework prior to registering for the Practicum. For additional information, regarding the practicum experience, please visit the official practicum website.
Summary of Requirements
| MPH Core | 18 s.h. |
| Practicum | 3 s.h. |
| Required Health Communication courses | 12 s.h. |
| Required Community & Behavioral Health courses | 9 s.h. |
| Total | 42 s.h. |