Health Communication refers to the study of communication as it relates to health professionals, health education, patients, patients’ families, as they communication in and about health care and its promotion. It also takes into consideration individuals’ communication as they navigate within health process/structures. This interdisciplinary major provides foundational courses in communication theory and methods, ethics, and Health Communication models. This major then provides students with a general study of Health Communication issues and contexts, including those related to the construction, interpretation, and diffusion of health information through public health campaigns and provider-client interactions, such as communication among health care organizations, nurses, doctors, and/or patients.
All majors are required to become student members of the National Communication Association and/or the Central States Speech Association prior to having a major card signed. All majors are heartily urged to join and participate in Dominican’s local chapter of the National Communication Association’s Student Honor Society, Lamda Pi Eta, if invited.
Major Requirements
Students take a total of 48 credits for the major. The foundational courses in communication theory, methods, biomedical ethics, biology or nutrition, and health communication make up 27 of those credits. The remaining credits focus on other specific issues or contexts in which health communication occurs.
Completion of a portfolio that includes at least one project from each Communication and Health Communication course completed is a graduation requirement for this major.
A minimum of 15 hours, including completion of CAS 435 and the health communication portfolio, must be completed at Dominican.
