Master of Arts in Health and Risk Communication

The Health and Risk Communication M.A. (HRCMA) program will make you an expert in the theory and practice of health communication, one of the most pressing topics in today's world. You will learn to design, write/create, implement, and evaluate evidence-based health and risk messages to communicate effectively. Courses on mass communication and public health, epidemiology, health communication for diverse populations, quantitative research methods, and a practicum will make you a well-rounded professional health communicator.
The Master of Arts degree in Health and Risk Communication is an interdisciplinary program administered by the College of Communication Arts and Sciences in cooperation with the College of Human Medicine. The program prepares students to harness the power of communication principles and risk communication strategies to promote positive public health outcomes. The program is designed to help students to gain a broad understanding of health and risk communication theory and principles, to gain practice in creating effective health and risk communication programs and interventions, and to learn how to design, use, and critique relevant research. Graduates may pursue careers with government agencies, hospitals, HMOs, insurance companies, nonprofits, the medical trade press, and other health service-related organizations.
Individualized programs of study can be tailored to accommodate a broad range of academic and professional backgrounds. Previously enrolled students have undergraduate degrees in biology, anthropology, communication, public relations, kinesiology, dietetics, pre-medicine, and English as well as other fields. In addition to completing core courses in health communication, research methods, epidemiology, and a health or risk-related internship with a local, state, national, or international organization, students may choose electives from a broad range of health-related courses offered throughout the university. Students may select courses that are related to broad areas within health communication such as health communication theory and principles, risk communication, health marketing, designing health and risk messages, policy, sociology of health, science writing, media relations, and other communication-focused areas.

All Official Transcripts. Bachelor Degree is required for Admission. TOEFL PBT - 550. TOEFL IBT - 80. IELTS - 6.5.
To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts degree program in health and risk communication, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree from an approved institution and a grade-point average of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate study. Students must submit:
an academic statement of purpose outlining academic and professional goals.
a personal statement including background and life experiences, social, economic, cultural, familial, education or other challenge or opportunities that motivated the decision to pursue graduate study.
two letters of reference from persons who are familiar with the applicant's academic and professional work.
the Graduate Record Examination General Test scores.
for international applicants only, the Test of English Language Fluency (TOEFL).
one transcript from each college and university attended.