Communicating in Healthcare, Graduate Certificate

WKU COMM: Connect, Collaborate, Captivate

The Communicating in Healthcare Certificate is a 12-credit hour program designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the role of communication in healthcare contexts. This certificate will explore interpersonal as well as organizational factors affecting healthcare and will assist students in developing communication strategies and skills. Students completing the program not only will understand how to communicate more effectively within their health profession but also will know how better to communicate with patients to maximize compliance and enhance advocacy.

Students will take 6 credit hours of required courses related to health communication and health campaigns, and 6 credit hours of restricted electives from intercultural, group, interpersonal, or organization communication, and from healthcare administration, public health, or gerontology. All of the coursework can be completed online and in one year.

Graduate Programs in Communication Brochure

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements for the Communicating in Healthcare Certificate Program

A person seeking a Graduate Certificate in Communicating in Healthcare must satisfy the Graduate School admission requirements and must provide a letter of application and an academic writing sample from an undergraduate or graduate course.

Curriculum

Core Courses (6 hours):

COMM 523: Health Communication
COMM 553: Health Communication Campaigns (New Course)

Restricted Elective (6 hours):

COMM 528: Communication in the Nonprofit Sector
COMM 564: Crisis Communication
COMM 578: Interpersonal Communication
COMM 581: Applied Organizational Communication
COMM 586: Processes of Group Communication
COMM 590: Intercultural Communication
HCA 540: Health Care Organization and Management
HCA 541: Strategic Management and Marketing of Health Services
PH 548: Community Health Organizations
PH 564: Public Health Issues in Women's Health
PH 578: Health Disparities
PH 580: Introduction to Public Health
PH 581: Applied Methods in Public Health Practice/Field Epidemiology
PH 587: Health Behavior
NURS 501: Nursing Politics and Health Policy
NURS 528: Leadership and Management in Nursing Administration

Total Hours: 12

Contact/Advising

Jieyoung Kong, Ph.D.
Associate Professor / Communication / Graduate Academic Program Coordinator

Additional Graduate Program Information