13.5.4 Graduate Certificate in Public Health Strategic Communication
Health communication has been defined as “the main currency of healthcare in the 21st century”(Clancy quoted in Krisberg, 2004). Health Communication is a multidisciplinary field with the objective to share public health information to multiple audiences. The goals of public health communication is to influence, engage, and support individuals, communities, health professionals, special groups, policy makers, and the public to champion, introduce, adopt, or sustain a behaviour, practice, or policy that will ultimately improve health outcomes. The diversity of the audience for public health information necessitates that public health professionals be sensitive to the public’s needs, cultural practices, and environments where they work and live. Additionally, the public health professional must take into account the best research evidence and translate (communicate) this evidence into action.
A. Admission Requirements
A four-year baccalaureate degree from a recognized educational institution (in a field such as environmental health, nursing, or related health sciences) or equivalent combination of education and experience and have a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credits of post-secondary education. A professional resume is also required.
B. Program Requirements
- 9 credits required, to include:
- PHSC 620 (Public Health Communications: From Theory to Practice)
- PHSC 621 (Public Health Communication: Becoming a Knowledge Broker)
- PHSC 623 (Public Health Advocacy)
- PHSC 624 (Community Engagement in Public Health)
- PHSC 627 (Strategic Risk Communication in Public Health Practice)
- PHSC 628 (Social and Behavioural Change in Public Health)
- achieve a minimum overall GPA of 2.7 in the required courses
- complete program within 3 years
E. Graduation Requirements
Students graduate on one of the three degree-conferral dates following successful completion of their program requirements as well as the general program requirements of The Faculty of Graduate Studies, section 13.1.4. For further information about graduation requirements, see Graduation Requirements, section 13.1.5.