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 public crisis, organisational 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. The 1.5 year program (full-time) delivers core media and direct communication 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 international health, community-oriented health practice, non-communicable 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 in communicating health and wellbeing, incorporating a cross-disciplinary, collaborative approach. Units of study provide training in campaign development, advocacy, humanitarian and crisis health issues, bioethics, and an understanding of health cultures, policy and promotion. Qualified students will have the chance to attain high-level skills from work experience via a well-regarded internship program while fostering professional contacts and networks prior to completion. Units of study available in the degree include: Crisis Communication; Health Communication, Social Marketing; 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:

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.