University of Sydney Handbooks - 2019 Archive

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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 journalistic 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 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 communication and public health, our program incorporates media marketing, as well as organisational and health communication skill building.

The Master program provides communication skills for aspiring and professional health advocates in public and corporate health communications, health care public affairs, public relations, community relations, healthcare promotions and health journalism. It offers a solid, evidence-based education in international health, community-oriented health practice, obesity and other disease prevention strategies. The flexible program is 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. 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 communication and health disciplines, incorporating a cross-disciplinary, collaborative approach. Units of study provide training in clear communication of public health campaigns and policy topics, the creation of public education programs that nurture a more healthcare-literate population, the ability to raise awareness of, and advocate for, specific healthcare matters, and management of communication technology, including social media, to ensure information accuracy and uphold ethical standards. 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.

See also: Media Practice, Publishing, Strategic Public Relations, Digital Communication and Cultures

To assist with your elective unit selection, we provide the following pathways based on the typical professional areas, graduates with a health communication degree enter. They are suggestions only (i.e., students can choose other electives as well based on availability and acceptance) but are meant to provide direction for selecting a beneficial study plan.

Master of Health Communication suggested pathways

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

BETH5203 (6)

Ethics and Public Health

ARIN6902 (6)

Internet Cultures and Governance

ARIN6905 (6)

New Media Audiences

BETH5209 (6)

Medicines Policy, Economics and Ethics

BETH5206 (2)

Introduction to Public Health Ethics

CISS6004 (6)

Health and Security

BETH5203 (6)

Ethics and Public Health

BETH5206 (2)

Introduction to Public Health Ethics

CEPI5214 (4)
Writing and Reviewing Medical Papers

GCST5902 (6)

Natures and Cultures of Bodies

LAWS6839 (6)

Critical Issues in Public Health

BETH5209 (6)

Medicines, Policy, Economics and Ethics

BETH5207 (6)

Arts in Health

EDPK5003 (6)

Developing a Research Project

MECO6901 (6)

Media Relations

MECO6900 (6)

News Writing

CISS6004 (6)

Health and Security

BETH5209 (6)

Medicines Policy, Economics and Ethics

LNGS7002 (6)

Language, Society and Power

MECO6936 (6)

Social Media Communication

MECO6901 (6)

Media Relations

HPOL5000 (6)

Introduction to Health Policy

DVST6906 (6)

Culture and  Politics of Health Development

LNGS7006 (6)

Cross-cultural Communication

MECO6941 (6)

Podcasting

MECO6915 (6)

Writing Features: Narrative Journalism

HPOL5007 (6)

Global Health Policy

EDPK5003 (6)

Developing a research project

PUBH5010 (6)

Epidemiology Methods and Uses

PUBH5024 (2)

Obesity and Health Promotion

MECO6926 (6)

International Media Practice

LAWS6052 (6)

Govt Regulation, Health Policy and Ethics

GCST5902 (6)

Natures and Cultures of Bodies

PUBH5018 (6)

Introductory Biostatistics

PUBH5027 (6)

Public Health Program Evaluation Methods

MECO6936 (6)

Social Media Communication

LAWS6839 (6)

Critical Issues in Public Health Law

MECO6936 (6)

Social Media Communication

PUBH5027 (6)

Public Health Program Evaluation Methods

PUBH5032 (2)

Making Decisions in Public Health

MECO6941 (6)

Podcasting

LAWS6848 (6)

Law and Health Lifestyles

MECO6941 (6)

Podcasting

PUBH5111 (4)

Environmental Health

PUBH5033 (6)

Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

MIPH5117 (2)

Global Non-communicable Disease Control

MECO6901 (6)

Media Relations

MIPH5124 (4)

Health Issues and Humanitarian Emergencies

PUBH5422 (6)

Health and Risk Communication

PUBH5118 (4)

Indigenous Health Promotion

MIPH5124 (4)

Health Issues and Humanitarian Emergencies

MECO6908 (6)

Strategy Selection in Corporate PR

MIPH5135 (4)

Health Systems in Developing Countries

PUBH5500 (6)

Advanced Qualitative Health Research

 

 PUBH5420 (4)

Public Health Advocacy Strategies

PUBH5111 (4)

Environmental Health

MECO6926 (6)

International Media Practice

NURS5099 (6)

Promoting Health and Care in the Community

QUAL5005 (4)

Introducing Qualitative Health Research

SEXH5140 (6)

Sexual Health Promotion

PUBH5114 (4)

Alcohol, Drug Use and Health

MECO6936 (6)

Social Media Communication

PUBH5032 (2)

Making Decisions in Public Health

SCLG6902 (6)

Doing Social Research

 MECO6942 (6)

Managing Social Media Communities

PUBH5116 (4)

Genetics and Public Health

MECO6941 (6)

Podcasting

 PUBH5420 (4)

Public Health Advocacy Strategies

 MECO6942 (6)

Managing Social Media Communities

 

PUBH5416 (2)

Vaccines in Public Health

PUBH5032 (2)

Making Decisions in Public Health

PUBH5422 (6)

Health and Risk Communication

 

 

PUBH5418 (6)

Tobacco Control in the 21st Century

PUBH5420 (4)

Public Health Advocacy Strategies

SCWK6910 (6)

Working with Communities

 

 

 

PUBH5422 (6)

Health and Risk Communication

 

MECO6942 (6)

Managing Social Media Communities


Awards and requirements

Please refer to the Course Rules in this handbook for information on the specific admission requirements for different coursework award courses.

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


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 from core units of study
  • a maximum of 24 credit points from elective units of study


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; and
  • a maximum of 12 credit points of core elective 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 e.g. a bachelor's degree in a directly relevant field in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Medicine

1.5 years (dependent on the specialisation selected)

72

Relevant professional experience equivalent to a Graduate Certificate

1.5 years

72

AQF Level 8 e.g. Honours in a relevant discipline

1 year

48

Contact

Department of Media and Communications website: sydney.edu.au/arts/media_communications/
School of Literature, Art and Media website: sydney.edu.au/arts/slam/

Degree Coordinator: Dr Olaf Werder
Phone: +61 2 9114 1219
Email: