K-State launches online graduate certificate in strategic health communication
Thursday, May 2, 2024
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's College of Arts and Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine are launching an online graduate certificate in strategic health communications. Classes will begin in fall 2024, and prospective students can apply to the program now.
The interdisciplinary certificate equips learners with the necessary skills to analyze data, design strategic plans, create content and effectively communicate to various audiences about public health issues to improve and enrich personal and community behaviors and public health practices.
The certificate is designed for working professionals in public health and hospital administration, health care, environmental communication, public relations, research, media, government and many others as well as graduate students.
Learners can choose from two pathways to an advanced degree: a master's in mass communications or a master's in public health.
"Health communication is an expansive field that includes health education, risk communication, health and policy advocacy, outbreak communication, patient and provider communication, and health literacy," said Nancy Muturi, assistant director of advertising and public relations in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication.
Muturi said health communication strategies allow doctors and nurses, community health centers, hospitals and hospital administrators, nursing homes, health educators, nonprofits, government agencies and others to disseminate information that can positively influence personal health behaviors and choices.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Muturi worked to advance and modernize the online certificate program, which was initially envisioned in 2015, in collaboration with Ellyn Mulcahy, director of the Master of Public Health program in the College of Veterinary Medicine, and Alan Boyer, assistant director of digital innovation in media in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication.
"This certificate can be utilized for advanced training for health professionals to expand their skills in communication and prepare them for working with diverse populations and incorporating diverse perspectives," Mulcahy said.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy People 2030 Initiative says effective health communication is critical to health and well-being. Because health information and messages are often overly complex, health care providers who communicate clearly can help people make informed health-related decisions.
"This is another example of how our university is giving professionals an edge in their fields, meeting the needs of employers and serving society," said Chris Culbertson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "These certificate earners will stand out among their peers and be better prepared to help citizens address health issues now and in the future."
The program's 15-hour curriculum includes three required courses, one required research course and one additional elective based on the student's professional interests. The required courses, which do not have prerequisites, are Introduction of Epidemiology, Strategic Health Communications and Environmental Communications.
Students select one research course from Fundamental Methods of Biostatistics, Introduction to Statistical Methods for the Sciences or Communication Research Methods; and one elective from Global Health Issues, Multidisciplinary Thought and Presentation, Global Health and Nutrition, Community Mental and Relationship Health Interventions, or Social and Behavioral Bases of Public Health.
Learn more about the online graduate certificate in strategic health communication.
