Health Communication: Sample Courses

HC 601: Applications of Communication Theory to Health Communication

4 Credits
Explores role of theory, research, and practice in health communication. Investigates provider-patient interaction, social support networks, medical ethics, mass media, and health promotion and disease prevention. Covers role of communication in health, including role communication plays in individuals’ social and cultural expectations and beliefs about health, how such information influences people to think about health and effect behavioral change, and how communication may be used to redefine and change public health policy. Includes readings, projects, exams, and class interaction. (Fall)

HC 602: Media Strategies for the Health Professional

4 Credits
Students develop an understanding of the strategic use of the media by health communicators in message development and communication strategy execution. Students also explore the ethical concerns of healthcare professionals who utilize the media. Students learn how to develop effective health communication campaigns that bring about behavioral change among target audiences and influence health policy issues at the local, state, national, and international level. In addition, students learn how to develop evaluation techniques for health communication strategies. (Spring)

HC 603: Research Methods

4 Credits
This course is organized around the research process where students learn how to formulate a research question and define a research problem, decide upon a research design, assess data collection methods, define a sampling frame, determine types of data analyses, interpret data appropriately, and prepare a research report. Topics in both qualitative and quantitative research methods will be included. Further, students will gain an understanding of the importance of research in the development of health communication strategies. (Fall)

HC 604: Social Marketing

4 Credits
Focuses on changing the voluntary behaviors of a society (e.g., smoking cessation, diet and exercise habits). Students learn how to apply marketing techniques and concepts to social contexts like preventive health, education, and politics. As part of their course requirements, students must complete a marketing audit of a nonprofit organization involved in social marketing. In addition, cases and exercises allow students to develop their skills and knowledge in this area. (Fall)

HC 610: Applied Learning Experience

4 Credits
A capstone experience for students completing the Health Communication program. Students conduct research and develop and implement a communication plan to address the needs of a health-related organization in the Boston area. Projects may include the creation of training modules for health professionals, patient education, health information dissemination, policy advocacy, and the like. Students produce a final report. Prerequisites: HC 601, HC 602, HC 603, HCTU 1, HCTU 2. One of the five prerequisites can be taken concurrently with the ALE. (Spring)

HCTU 1: Introduction to Clinical Medicine

4 Credits
Emerson College-Tufts University Core Course
Introduction to Medicine is a survey of clinical medicine as physicians and other health care providers in Western countries practice it. During the first half of the course, students are introduced to basic human physiology, pathophysiology, and the fundamentals of clinical medicine including history taking, the physical examination, diagnostic testing, and modern therapeutics. The second half of the course is designed to apply this information to the most prevalent diseases that plague the developed world. Issues pertaining to population medicine and public health, health promotion and disease prevention, behavioral influences on health, and alternative medicine are also covered in the context of applicable disease states. (Fall, Spring)

HCTU 2 Epidemiology and Biostatistics: How to Read the Medical Literature

4 Credits
Emerson College-Tufts University Core Course
This course provides students with the skills and resources necessary to understand and critique published medical studies. Lectures and small group exercises introduce students to the concepts and methods of epidemiology and biostatistics. The course is divided into two components. The initial component presents basic methods for measuring disease frequency and for quantifying relationships between determinants of health, medical, and/or public health outcomes. Students are also provided with fundamental skills for the critical evaluation of biomedical and epidemiological literature. The second part of the course explores in detail the principles of epidemiological research design and their application to a critical evaluation of the literature. (Spring)