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Loyola University Maryland

Emerging Media

Prepare for your future communications career in health and wellness

Health Communication

The online Health Communication certificate and Master's specialization prepares professionals to be communication leaders in the fields of health and wellness. Enrolled students experience insights and training to incorporate dynamic emerging communication opportunities into their work. By implementing the knowledge, strategies, and techniques learned, students are better positioned to advance the health and wellness of both individuals and communities. 

Student in class

Both the certificate and the graduate specialization are suitable for professionals of all levels. From individual practitioners engaged in promoting health and wellness, to those working in major private, non-profit, and governmental health-related organizations, students learn not only the skills to take advantage of the latest trends and platforms in communication, but how to apply them.

Both programs are ideal for prospective students who work in a hospital, clinic, an insurance company, public or private health organizations, the wellness industry, or those who seek to enter a field that is full of opportunity. Those who complete the Emerging Media – Health Communication Certificate program will have studied the latest trends in communication and healthcare and leave prepared to take their organization into the future.

Designed from the ground up to be flexible, the certificate and specialization option are entirely online and asynchronous, which translates to a life, work, education balance.

Students may complete either the certificate or the Master's in Emerging Media with a specialization in Health Communication in as little as 1.5 years.

Admission and How to Apply

For questions or inquiries regarding entry into the Health Communication certificate or Master's specialization, please request information below, email graduate@loyola.edu, or call 410-617-5020. Students interested in applying to this program are encouraged to begin the application early to ensure all materials and transcripts are received on time. More information about admission requirements may be viewed on the admission page.

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Sara Magee
Faculty

Sara Magee, Ph.D.

This professor specializes in emerging media, social media, journalism, and ethics in her field

Communication

What You'll Learn

  • ME 601.W01 - Exploring Digital Culture

    In this course students will investigate the social, political, cultural, intellectual and economic impact of new communication services such as Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, virtual and augmented reality, the World Wide Web, and others. We will assess the way the Internet and its applications have influenced the way we see ourselves and others; the way we interact and govern ourselves formally and informally; the ways we do business, and even the way we think. It will address critical issues such as privacy, cyber-bullying and civility, identify theft and security, free speech and more.

    3.0 credits

  • ME750 Foundations of Health Communication

    In this course, students will learn how information regarding health (promotion, risk, care, etc.) is communicated to the individual and community by individuals (doctors, patients) and groups (hospitals, governmental and non-governmental organizations, media) within the boundaries set by governmental regulations. The course will highlight the use of new and emerging digital media on mobile and web platforms as a part of the health communication channel mix.

    3.0 credits

  • ME755 Health Communication and Culture

    This course operates at the intersection between public communication, health care information, and culture. It looks at the complex relationship between patients and providers in multicultural heath care settings, with a particular emphasis on the ways in which various groups utilize new and emerging media to seek out health related information and to manage their own care or care of others. This course examines the ways in which culture affects health and health care decisions, including perceptions of health, disease, treatments, and the values associated with these factors. The need for cultural sensitivity to various populations based on race and ethnicity, age and income, among other factors in health information, is stressed as well as the ethical ramification and implications of health communication.

    3.0 credits

  • ME760 Health Communication Campaigns

    Our world is fraught with health-related issues from substance abuse to diabetes and beyond. Public awareness of health-related issues and behavior change can come about through the use of new and emerging media. This course seeks to apply strategic communication approaches to health-related issues. Students will create their own health communication campaigns, based on their employment, personal passion or the desire for thought leadership on a given health issue. Students will begin with a strategic mission and vision, develop goals and objectives and designate KPIs for their campaigns. They will identify target audiences through the development of personas and consider key messages directed toward each. A corresponding content strategy will be carried out and analytics employed in order to determine the degree of success achieved. Finally, students will examine and explore the relevant ethics issues and legal constraints and requirements of public health communication and marketing.

    3.0 credits

  • ME765 New Approaches to Health Communication Research

    This course reviews a diverse range of research methods used by scholars, organizations and companies working in the area of health communication. The course will look at traditional research methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and ethnography, community-based methods such as participatory research and community assessment, and the impact of big data on health communication research. Students will have completed a literature review of on a topic of their choice by the end of the semester.

    3.0 credits

Program Outcomes

This program is designed to be completed in 1.5 years.

This program will cost $15,900 if completed within normal time. There may be additional costs for living expenses. *Note: Costs for the program are estimated based on academic year 2019-20 rates. Rates are subject to change.

There are no states that require licensure for this profession.

For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/.