About

Do you like to help people? Would you like to influence the nascent field of health communication?

Our innovative graduate program prepares you to address the important issues that emerge at the intersection of health and communication. The health issues facing us today are complex and have important implications for our future. The School of Communication offers a master of arts degree in communication with an emphasis in health communication. Graduates integrate communication theory and research into practice and influence the direction of the field of health communication.

Develop knowledge and skills to evaluate the role of communication in health-related contexts. Our program examines communication issues that exist between and among patients, providers and family members; how the media influences health decision making; the effects of organizational structures in health communication; the creation and dissemination of health information; and multiple influences of culture on health communication.

ECU Advantage

Our small, hyperfocused program ensures that you'll get the academic attention you deserve. And, Greenville his home to a major medical community, providing you access to a surfeit of opportunities to research, observe and put your communication skills into practice.

What You Will Study

Note: This program is in the process of discontinuing the health communication concentration and will no longer accept students effective fall, 2023. Students interested in applying to the strategic communication concentration can contact the program coordinator for more information. 

Program Coordinator: Keith Richards (102 Joyner East; 252-737-4641; richardsk@ecu.edu)

The Communication, MA prepares students for careers or advanced academic training in communication. Students select a concentration in either health communication or strategic communication. The program provides thesis and non-thesis options.

Minimum degree requirement is 30 s.h. as follows:

I. Required courses - 6 s.h.
  • COMM 6000 - Communication Theory
  • COMM 6030 - Research Methods
II. Concentrations - 12 s.h.

Select a concentration from the following: 

    A. Strategic communication concentration
      Strategic communication core (3 s.h.)
      • COMM 6310 - Strategic Communication
      Strategic communication electives (9 s.h.)

      Select 3 courses from the following: 

      • COMM 6124 - Organizational Communication
      • COMM 6131 - Social Influence
      • COMM 6140 - Special Topics in Communication
      • COMM 6211 - Health Communication Campaigns
      • COMM 6312 - Risk and Crisis Communication
    B. Health communication concentration
      Health communication concentration electives (12 s.h.)

      Select 4 courses from the following: 

      • COMM 6210 - Media and Health Communication
      • COMM 6211 - Health Communication Campaigns
      • COMM 6215 - Communication Approaches to eHealth
      • COMM 6216 - Community Engagement and Health Communication
      • COMM 6220 - Interpersonal Health Communication
      • COMM 6221 - Intercultural Communication in Health Contexts
      • COMM 6222 - Family Communication and Health
      • COMM 6224 - Communication and Health Organizations
      • COMM 6226 - Communication Approaches to Health Advocacy
      • COMM 6230 - Introduction to Health Communication
      • COMM 6240 - Special Topics in Health Communication
III. Options - 12 s.h.

Select an option from the following:

    A. Thesis option:
    • COMM 7000 - Thesis - 3-6 s.h.
    • Electives (COMM or related areas) - 6-9 s.h. *
    B. Non-thesis option:
    • COMM 6999 - Applied Communication Capstone (3 s.h.)
    • COMM or related areas electives (9 s.h.)*
    Note:

    *Electives are chosen in consultation with the graduate program coordinator/director. A maximum of 6 s.h. may be in related areas (outside of COMM) and must be at the 5000 level or above. A maximum of 3 s.h. may be taken at the 5000 level.

    Comprehensive assessment requirement

    All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The assessment for this program is the successful completion of COMM 6999 (non-thesis option) with a grade of B or better or the successful completion of COMM 7000 (thesis option).

      For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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