Bachelor of Arts - Health Communication

Health communication is one of the fastest growing areas in the communication field and a stated focus of Healthy People 2020, the Centers for Disease Control, the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine), and the National Cancer Institute. Students who major in health communication develop the communication competencies needed to inform and influence individual and community decisions for improving health.

Experiences of health and illness are ubiquitous to everyone, and the health communication major spans all areas of the communication field. Students majoring in health communication study the relationship between communication and health in interpersonal, organizational, and mediated contexts. They may also take courses in health-related disciplines.

The University of Houston's goal is to provide students who major in health communication with the knowledge and skills needed to address specific communication issues and socially relevant problems. Within the classroom, they complete practical projects and interact with diverse members of the community (e.g., providers, patients, advocates, organizational members). Students majoring in health communication also secure internships with health-related organizations in the Texas Medical Center and greater Houston community.

The health communication major is designed for students who aspire to become communication specialists in health environments or address societal challenges related to communication and health. The program prepares them for a variety of careers in healthcare contexts, including hospitals, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and medical settings. Graduates with a degree in health communication may seek jobs as health communication specialists, health educators, curriculum/instructional designers, patient advocates, health directors, public relations practitioners, and health campaign developers, or may pursue graduate study in health communication for careers in teaching and research.