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 |
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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 |
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) |
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
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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 |
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PUBH5416 (2) Vaccines in Public Health |
PUBH5032 (2) Making Decisions in Public Health |
PUBH5422 (6) Health and Risk Communication |
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PUBH5418 (6) Tobacco Control in the 21st Century |
PUBH5420 (4) Public Health Advocacy Strategies |
SCWK6910 (6) Working with Communities |
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PUBH5422 (6) Health and Risk Communication
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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: