Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Public Advocacy - Health Communication

Health communication students learn how people understand health and illness, both individually and collectively. Students will develop the communication competencies needed to inform and influence individual and community decisions for improving individual and public health. Through courses across various health communication domains, communication research methods, activist writing, and community engagement, narrative medicine, and performance and healing, students learn how to prepare, present, disseminate, analyze and respond critically to health messages about disease awareness and prevention. This combination of coursework with the possibility for supporting study in health professions, sociology, history, philosophy, and anthropology will enable students to develop a rich understanding of domestic and global health issues.

The health communication concentration is intended for students who are interested in positions in health communication & education, health literacy, public relations, patient advocacy, hospital and health administration, non-profit organizations, professional writing or editing in healthcare settings and a host of other fields. The concentration is also compatible with double-majoring. The health communication concentration is also an excellent program of study for students preparing for further education in medicine, healthcare administration, public health, health communication, rhetoric, writing studies, or health education.