Health Communication Minor

The Minor in Health Communication provides foundational competencies in communication with advanced studies and practical strategies for applied work in health-focused fields. Students who complete the minor are prepared to address health communication issues in a variety of careers including patient service, clinic management, population health messaging, and communication for health organizations. 

The minor consists of 18 credits of coursework beyond the prerequisite course, including 12 elective credits with a common health communication focus approved by your minor advisor. 

Coursework & Duration

Prerequisite Course

Course Number	Course Name	Credit
CO 101	Introduction to Communication	3 credits

Elective Courses

Choose 12 credits with a common health communication focus approved by your minor advisor. Examples of courses are listed below:

Course Number	Course Name	Credit
CO 204	Public Speaking	3 credits
CO 320	Relational Communication	3 credits
CO 700	Health Communication and Education	3 credits
CO 711	Health Literacy	3 credits
CO 720	Behavior Change Communication	3 credits
CO 730	Health Care Communication	3 credits
CO 740	Social Media for Health	3 credits

One course in research methods or statistical analysis, such as:

Course Number	Course Name	Credit
OT 650	Applied Research Methods	3 credits
SS 221 and SS 222*	Research Design & Statistical Analysis I and II	4 credits each
SS 400	Qualitative Methods in Social Science	3 credits
*SS221/222 requires both courses in sequence.

Independent Study or Directed Research

Choose one:

Course Number	Course Name	Credit
CO 399	Independent Study	3 credits
CO 498	Directed Research	3 credits

Requirements & Expectations

• A minimum of 12 credits of minor coursework must be completed in addition to any courses (required courses or program electives) included in the major curriculum
• Up to 6 credits of coursework, with an earned grade of "C" or better, taken at another accredited institution may be applied to the course
  requirements of the minor upon prior approval of the department chair.
• Interested students should apply to the health communication minor program early in their academic career, usually by the fifth semester of college work, but no later than the end of the drop/add period of the first semester of their last year of didactic work