Undergraduate Certificate in Health Communication
Shape the future of health communication and improve lives with CU Denver’s online Health Communication certificate.
The Undergraduate Certificate in Health Communication at CU Denver equips students to influence individual and community health decisions through effective communication strategies.
- Analyze and design impactful health messages and campaigns.
- Develop skills in storytelling, digital media, and culturally sensitive communication.
- Fully online program tailored for undergraduates and adult learners seeking career advancement.
This program prepares students for roles in healthcare, public health, and related fields where clear, accurate, and ethical communication is critical.
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Degree LevelUndergraduate Certificate -
School & CollegeCollege of Liberal Arts and Sciences -
Total Credit Hours15 -
Class Type100% Online -
Time CommitmentFull-Time or Part-Time -
Start Term(s)Fall, Spring, Summer
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Program Overview
Health communication is a dynamic, growing field that is dedicated to the study and use of communication methods that positively influence individual and community decisions about health.
Effective health communication has the power to move communities to adopt healthier lifestyles, motivate individuals to take steps to improve their health, change public opinion about health issues, and encourage behavioral changes that promote health. Through this fully online certificate program, you will learn the major theoretical and methodological approaches to healthcare communication, how to create and assess health messages, and how to use storytelling to design health messages and campaigns that make an impact.
Create, analyze, and assess health communications in a diverse and global world, where health is an increasingly important aspect of our lives.
Tuition Breakdown
| Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|
| $506* per credit | $607** per credit |
*See Undergraduate Student Tuition and Fees page for undergraduate tuition disclaimer.
** Out-of-state students may qualify for discounted tuition through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.
Core Courses
Students in the health communication certificate program are required to take the following 3 core courses:
Health Communication (COMM 2500)
This class explores health as a system of language and power, helping students think about personal, community, and national health within the growing health industries sector.
Advanced Health Communication (COMM 4500)
This class examines communication in health contexts, including cultural views on health, public health campaigns, client-provider interactions, telemedicine, and medical journalism.
Designing Health Messages (COMM 4575)
This course focuses on designing and assessing health communication messages and campaigns using various tools in a participatory, process-oriented approach.
Courses and Timeline
Our 15-credit undergraduate certificate provides a theoretically rich and practically relevant education in how health messages are generated, negotiated, and understood across a wide range of communication contexts, spanning intrapersonal communication to the mass media. Our hands-on coursework offers you the opportunity to learn essential skills in writing, marketing, technology, media relations, and patient communication. The certificate program concludes with an experiential capstone that allows you to put the knowledge and skills you’ve gained throughout the program into practice.
Timeline
The online Health Communication Certificate is a five-course, 15 credit-hour program that allows you to specialize in the growing field of health communication.
Elective Courses
Students are required to choose one elective from a wide variety of interdisciplinary health classes, including:
| Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ANTH 4600 | Medical Anthropology |
| COMM 4525 | Health Communication and Communities |
| COMM 4550 | Rhetorics of Medicine and Health |
| COMM 4620 | Health Risk Communication |
| ENGL 4745 | Humanistic Writing Regarding Medicine & Biology |
| ETST 3002 | Ethnicity, Health, and Social Justice |
| GEOG 3501 | Geography of Health |
| HIST 4346 | Medicine and Society: Ancients to Present |
| PBHL 3070 | Perspectives in Global Health |
| PBHL 3041 | Health, Culture, and Society |
| PSCI 4330 | U.S. Health Policy |
| PSYC 3262 | Health Psychology |
| SOCY 4110 | Society of Health Care Interdisciplinary (health elective approved by certificate advisor) |
Health Capstone
At the end of the Health Communication Certificate program, you must complete a health communication-related capstone that uses experiential learning or a high-impact practice. You can complete this requirement with an internship related to healthcare communication, a health communication-related service learning class, or another high-impact health communication practice class to apply your knowledge and skills.
| Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|
| COMM 3660 | Social Media for Social Change (Service Learning) |
| COMM 3939 | Internship (in Health Communication) (Internship) |
| COMM 4051 | Advanced Strategic Communication (Service Learning) |
| COMM 4525 | Health Communication and Communities (Service Learning) |
| COMM 4588 | Digital Health Narratives (Service Learning) |
| COMM 4550 | Rhetorics of Medicine and Health (Writing Intensive) |
| COMM 4620 | Health Risk Communication (Writing Intensive) |
| TBD | Discipline-specific health methods class approved by certificate advisor |
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, students will:
- Articulate theoretical models of health communication.
- Design and assess health communication campaigns.
- Use storytelling to create compelling health messages.
- Conduct and apply health communication research.
- Address diverse cultural needs in health messaging.
Career Outlook
Our program serves as a gateway to healthcare-related careers and opportunities by honing in on the communication aspects of health through theoretical and real-world applications. This online certificate benefits undergraduates and adult learners looking to build a career as a health communicator or improve their role within the healthcare industry through the use of clear, accurate, culturally sensitive, and ethical health communication.
Admissions
Admission requirements and deadlines vary based on the program. In addition, you will have different requirements depending on if you are a first-time student, a transfer student or an international student.
As you consider an online education, we understand that it’s important for you to know that you’re getting a high-quality, affordable, and flexible online education that helps you reach your goals. That’s why the CU Denver Enrollment Team is available to offer guidance and answer any questions that you may have.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Investing in your future is a big decision. However, becoming a fully online student at CU Denver is a high-quality and affordable option for learners of all types. Tuition and fees are based largely on the degree program you enroll in.
Tuition is determined based on which CU Denver program is chosen, undergraduate or graduate level, and your resident status. Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.
Experience flexible, career-focused programs with CU Denver’s renowned quality—100% online—taught by expert faculty in engaging courses within a supportive community, all at an affordable tuition with financial aid and scholarships available.
Flexible, career-focused programs with the same CU Denver quality—100% online.
Expert faculty, engaging courses, and a supportive online community.
Affordable tuition with financial aid and scholarships for online students.
Take the Next Step
Ready to make a difference in health communication? Take the first step toward earning your online certificate by filling out the form above for more information or calling us at 303-860-5604.