HLTH 431
Health Communication and Advocacy
Public Health
College of Life Sciences
Course Description
This course will study applied health communication strategies that inform individual and community decision-making aimed at enhancing health. It also embeds the role of advocacy by incorporating social networking and mobilization, interpersonal communication and negotiation, as well as the use of earned media and social platforms for generating public discourse.
When Taught
Fall and Winter
Grade Rule
Grade Rule 8: A, B, C, D, E, I (Standard grade rule)
Min
3
Fixed
3
Fixed
3
Fixed
0
Other Prerequisites
HLTH 100, HLTH 210. Majors only.
Title
1. Communication skill development involving peer feedback
Learning Outcome
Enhance professional writing skills for audiences relevant to public health by learning new tools and communication strategies (interpersonal communication, mass media, new media, and team-building skills with linguistic and cultural proficiency), and by listening, reflection and data gathering, and both receiving and providing peer feedback.
Title
2. Promote appropriate communication
Learning Outcome
Select communication approaches for disseminating public health data and information, including social media, technology, modern mass media and community gatherings, to influence stakeholders, policy makers and their constituents on issues of public health importance.
Title
3. Audience sensitivity and Discipleship
Learning Outcome
Reflect personal interests and professional plans to be sensitive to the views of others, especially audiences most affected by a problem, by learning how people think, feel and act as a result of a communicated product or experience.
Title
4. Advocate for policy or environmental change
Learning Outcome
Identify relevant constituencies and appropriate advocacy strategies to influence decision makers regarding health-related policies, regulations, laws, or rules at organizational and community levels using health communication tools.
Title
5. Advocacy experience
Learning Outcome
Identify advocacy practices, including framing health issues, to advocate for policy change in compliance with local, state, and/or federal policies and procedure.
