Health Communication
Coursework
The Master of Health Communication delivers core communication skills to help students to become effective communicators across health and medicine, public affairs, public relations, community relations and journalism aspects of public health. Our unique Health Communication program is the most comprehensive and specialised course of its kind in Australia, combining the expertise of the University of Sydney’s Department of Media and Communications with the public health resources of the School of Public Health. With a cross-disciplinary and collaborative approach to both media and health disciplines, our program incorporates media relations, organisational communication, and health communication approaches.
Health communication is one of the largest industry workforces in public relations and media, acting as a bridge between medical bodies, public health authorities and the wider public through the media. The 1.5 year program (full-time) delivers core media skills to help you become an effective communicator across health and medicine, public affairs, public relations, community relations and health journalism. As a Master of Health Communication graduate, you will enter the profession with a solid, evidence-based education in in international health, community-oriented health practice, obesity and other disease prevention strategies, and health promotion. Designed to meet the needs of those already working in, or wishing to enter, the private and public health sectors, as well as non-government and community organisations, our program is flexible. For example, the Graduate Diploma (1 year full-time) and Graduate Certificate (6 months full-time) courses provide shorter avenues to update and extend one’s professional skills, or to explore new career directions.
Our degrees will equip students with knowledge, understanding and expertise across media and health disciplines, incorporating a cross-disciplinary, collaborative approach. Units of study provide training in campaign development, advocacy, humanitarian and emergency health issues, bioethics, and an understanding of health cultures, policy and promotion. Featuring a well-regarded internship program, students will have the chance to attain high-level skills from work experience while fostering professional contacts and networks prior to completion. Units of study available in the degree include: News Writing; Dealing with the Media; Health Communication, International Health Promotion; and Organisational Communication.
See also: Media Practice, Publishing, Strategic Public Relations, Digital Cultures
Contact
Department website: sydney.edu.au/arts/media_communications/
Dr Olaf Werder
Phone: +61 2 9114 1219
Email:
Master of Health Communication suggested pathways | ||||
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Health communication research | Health promotion/marketing | Health journalism/writing | Health PR/policy support | Community Engagement |
BETH5207 (6) Arts in Health |
ARIN6905 (6) New Media Audiences |
ARIN6901 (6) Network Society |
ARIN6901 (6) Network Society |
ARIN6905 (6) New Media Audiences |
CEPI5214 (4) Writing and Reviewing Medical Papers |
BETH5206 (2) Introduction to Public Health Ethics |
BETH5203 (6) Ethics and Public Health |
ARIN6902 (6) Internet Governance |
BETH5206 (2) Introduction to Public Health Ethics |
EDPK5003 (6) Developing a Research Project |
GCST5902 (6) Natures and Cultures of Bodies |
CISS6004 (6) Health and Security |
BETH5203 (6) Ethics and Public Health |
BETH5207 (6) Arts in Health |
LNGS7002 (6) Language, Society and Power |
MECO6901 (6) Media Relations |
LAWS6839 (6) Critical Issues in Public Health |
CISS6004 (6) Health and Security |
DVST6906 (6) Culture and Politics of Health Development |
LNGS7006 (6) Cross-cultural Communication |
MECO6936 (6) Social Media Communication |
MECO6900 (6) News Writing |
HPOL5000 (6) Introduction to Health Policy |
EDPK5003 (6) Developing a Research Project |
PSYC5011 (6) Applying Models of Health Behaviour |
MKTG6203 (6) Innovative Marketing Strategies |
MECO6901 (6) Media Relations |
HPOL5007 (6) Global Health Policy |
GCST5902 (6) Natures and Cultures of Bodies |
PUBH5010 (6) Epidemiology Methods and Uses |
MKTG6204 (6) Contemporary Consumer Insights |
MECO6915 (6) Writing Features: Narrative Journalism |
LAWS6052 (6) Govt Regulation, Health Policy and Ethics |
MECO6936 (6) Social Media Communication |
PUBH5018 (6) Introductory Biostatistics |
PUBH5024 (2) Obesity and Health Promotion |
MECO6926 (6) International Media Practice |
LAWS6839 (6) Critical Issues in Public Health Law |
MIPH5124 (4) Health Issues and Humanitarian Emergencies |
PUBH5027 (6) Public Health Program Evaluation Methods |
PUBH5026 (2) Mass Media Campaigns and Social Marketing |
MECO6936 (6) Social Media Communication |
LAWS6848 (6) Law and Health Lifestyles |
MIPH5135 (4) Health Systems in Developing Countries |
PUBH5111 (4) Environmental Health |
PUBH5027 (6) Public Health Program Evaluation Methods |
MIPH5117 (2) Global Non-communicable Disease Control |
MECO6901 (6) Media Relations |
NURS5095 (6) Primary Health Care in the Community |
PUBH5205 (2) Decision Analysis |
PUBH5032 (2) Making Decisions in Public Health |
MIPH5124 (4) Health Issues and Humanitarian Emergencies |
MECO6908 (6) Strategy Selection in Corporate PR |
PUBH5032 (2) Making Decisions in Public Health |
PUBH5309 (2) Translational Health |
PUBH5033 (6) Disease Prevention and Health Promotion |
PUBH5111 (4) Environmental Health |
MECO6926 (6) International Media Practice |
PUBH5420 (4) Public Health Advocacy Strategies |
PUBH5422 (6) Health and Risk Communication |
PUBH5118 (4) Indigenous Health Promotion |
PUBH5114 (4) Alcohol, Drug Use and Health |
MECO6936 (6) Social Media Communication |
PUBH5422 (6) Health and Risk Communication |
PUBH5500 (6) Advanced Qualitative Health Research |
PUBH5414 (2) Public Health Advocacy |
PUBH5116 (4) Genetics and Public Health |
PUBH5032 (2) Making Decisions in Public Health |
QUAL5005 (4) Introducing Qualitative Health Research |
QUAL5005 (4) Introducing Qualitative Health Research |
PUBH5420 (4) Public Health Advocacy Strategies |
PUBH5308 (2) Health Workforce Policy Analysis |
PUBH5414 (2) Public Health Advocacy |
SCWK6910 (6) Working with Communities |
SCLG6902 (6) Doing Social Research |
SEXH5410 (6) Sexual Health Promotion |
PUBH5416 (2) Vaccines in Public Health |
PUBH5420 (4) Public Health Advocacy Strategies |
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PUBH5418 (6) Tobacco Control in the 21st Century |
PUBH5422 (6) Health and Risk Communication |
Awards and requirements
Please refer to the degree resolutions in this handbook for information on the specific admission requirements for different coursework award courses. sydney.edu.au/handbooks/arts_PG/coursework/masters/health_communication.shtml
Graduate Certificate in Health Communication
Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Health Communication must complete 24 credit points including:
- a minimum of 12 credit points of core units of study
- a maximum of 12 credit points from elective units of study
Graduate Diploma in Health Communication
Candidates for the Graduate Diploma in Health Communication must complete 48 credit points including:
- a minimum of 24 credit points of core units of study
- a maximum of 24 credit points from elective units of study
Master of Health Communication
Candidates for the Master of Health Communication must complete 72 credit points including:
- a minimum of 24 credit points of core units of study
- a maximum of 42 credit points from elective units of study
- at least 6 credit points of capstone units of study
Candidates who have completed previous study in a relevant discipline may be eligible for a reduction in the requirements in accordance with the table below.
Level of prior learning | Full-time duration | Credit points to complete |
---|---|---|
AQF Level 7 eg. a bachelor's degree in the Humanities, Social Sciences or Law | 1.5 years | 72 |
Relevant professional experience equivalent to a Graduate Certificate | 1 year | 48 |
AQF Level 8 eg. Honours in a relevant discipline | 1 year | 48 |