The minor in health communication is for students who are interested in using communication skills and technologies to improve individual and public health. Pursuing this minor will give students a better understanding of how communication between individuals, within organizations, and across society affects mental and physical health. Classes within this minor expose students to essential skills and knowledge that are critical to improving healthcare practice and policy. Students in the health communication minor have the opportunity to learn from leading health communication experts in patient-provider communication, strategic communication, e-health, and health campaigns. With this minor, students can expect to get jobs in the rapidly growing health communication field such as Health Communication Specialist, Campaign Strategist, Public Health Information Officer, Policy Analyst, and Healthcare Account Manager.
Opportunities
Students will have the opportunity to learn from health communication experts working with the USAID, NCI, Mayo Clinic, WHO, Department of Health and Human Services, Women’s Health Organization, CDC, FDA, and INOVA. The minor will help students build skills in health communication fields and have the opportunity to get involved in research with Mason’s Center for Health & Risk Communication. Students can take courses according to their health interests and learn from health communication experts in various areas like the following:
- Generating campaigns to reduce risky behaviors like smoking or promote healthy behavior like cancer screening
- Enhancing technology and e-health (like using avatars, web sites, or social media) to manage or enhance care
- Helping providers to communicate better in the organization and on interdisciplinary health care teams
- Attending to cultural disparities in health care
- Training the CDC how to address public health concerns
- Designing interventions to help genetic counselors talk with families about disease risk and genetic testing
- Using narrative medicine in medical education or to help families prepare for challenging diagnoses like cancer
- Developing tools for adult children to use to talk to aging parents about caregiving and future care needs
