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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 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.

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

 

Additional Graduate Program Information


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 Last Modified 9/6/24