Curriculum

This highly flexible, low-residency program can be specifically tailored to meet your learning goals and lifestyle. You may choose to complete an individual 12 credit certificate, or you can complete two certificates, plus a capstone to earn the full MS Health Communication Design Degree, for a total of 30 credits. A full-time student can complete the program in one year, or you can extend the experience if part-time learning works better for you.

The two certificate options are:

• Design and Communication for Disease Prevention, Management and Cure: Ethics and Accessibility Focus (offered in fall semesters)
• Design and Communication for Life Stages and Identity: Sustainable Systems Focus (offered in spring semesters)

Each certificate consists of:

1 Project Core (4 credits)

• This is a studio style course where students put design and communication theory into practice to work on projects relevant to the certificate theme and individual student’s career goals.

1 Topic Core (3 credits)

• The Topic Core exists to support the Project Core with active research and discussion of related contemporary issues in design and health.  

2 Skills Modules (1 credit each)

• These shorter courses run for only a portion of the semester and provide students with an opportunity to dive deeper into skill-based topics. Example topic include: design thinking, health communication defined, negotiation, organizational change management and capstone research.

1 Elective Course (3 credits)

• Students choose from a variety of options including but not limited to: Health and Package Design, Communicating Health Data, Design and Business Entrepreneurship, Cognitive Psychology for Design, Internship and more.

After completing two certificates, students have the option to complete a six-credit Capstone to earn the full MS Health Communication Degree. The Capstone experience provides students the opportunity to conduct deeply immersive research and experimentation to deliver a solution that provides unique value to the field of Health Communication Design.

Students from all disciplinary backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Foundational courses may be recommended upon review for some applicants who do not have a design background.

Note: The MS Health Communication Design program trains students to develop impactful design-led communication strategies in response to some of the most pressing issues in human health. To support students’ intellectual growth and preparedness for life beyond graduation, this important and potentially life-saving work may require engaging with subject matter that is emotionally challenging.