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Health Communication

Health Communication

A major or minor in Health Communication is an applied program of study aimed at providing both practitioners and future civic leaders with the knowledge they need to improve health services and public health.

The curricular structure of the Health Communication program is listed below for students entering the program. Students must complete an applied capstone course.

Major Requirements

Major: Health Communication

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122

Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Degree Requirements                                                                            

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree – The completion of a minor program of study, a second major, or a second degree is required.                                                                            

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree – Second year language proficiency required.

General Education Requirements

First Year Experience (F):
UNIV 189Skills For Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take UNIV 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
Select one of the following:3
Writing in the Technical Professions
Writing in the Health Professions
Writing in the Sciences
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R): Select from current general education list3
Science & Technology (S):10
A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course. Select from current general education courses.
Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B):6
Courses needed to fulfill this category will be completed as part of the pre-communication requirements.
Wellness (W): Select from current general education list2
Cultural Diversity (D):
COMM 216Intercultural Communication3
Global Perspectives (G): Select from current general education list
Total Credits40

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences College Requirements

An additional 9 credits are required by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for all Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree programs of study, except the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, the Bachelor of Music degree, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree, and the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree:

AH&SS College Requirements
Courses used to satisfy any general education requirement cannot be used to also count toward the AH&SS College Requirements. A minimum of three credits is required in each of the 3 following areas for a total of 9 credits. Choose only those courses with the prefixes listed for each area. A course with the WGS prefix can only be used in one area.
Area One: Humanities3
ARB, ENGL, FREN, GERM, HIST, HUM, PHIL, RELS, SPAN, or WGS
Area Two: Social Sciences3
ANTH, CJ, COMM, EMGT, POLS, SOC, or WGS
Area Three: Fine Arts3
ARCH, ART, ENVD, LA, MUSC, or THEA
Total Credits9

Major Requirements

General Education Requirements40
AH&SS College Requirements9
Pre-Communication Requirements
Students must complete the following 21 credits of selected courses with a grade of 'B' or better to be a communication major. These courses may be repeated only once for grade improvement.
ENGL 120College Composition II3
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
or COMM 111 Honors Public Speaking
COMM 112Understanding Media and Social Change3
COMM 114Human Communication3
COMM 212Interpersonal Communication3
COMM 216Intercultural Communication3
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Sociology
Introduction to Political Science
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Professional Health Communication Major
Communication Core:
COMM 320Communication Analysis3
COMM 301Rhetorical Traditions3
or COMM 321 Introduction to Communication Theory
COMM 380Health Communication I3
COMM 431Communication Ethics3
COMM 480Health Communication II (Capstone)3
Applied Health Core:
Students are required to take 12 credits in Applied Health areas: Nursing; Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science; Pharmacy Practice; or Psychology. Consult your advisor on elective options.12
Professional Specialization
Select three of the following:9
Introduction to Media Writing
Principles of Internet Web-Based Design
Principles and Practices of Advertising and Public Relations
Patient-Provider Communication
Organizational Communication I
Issues in Communication
Crisis Communications in Public Relations
Principles of Risk Communication
Degree Requirements: Potential of 28 credits to reach 122.28
Total Credits122

Minor Requirements

Health Communication Minor

Minor Requirements

Required Credits: 21

Required Courses
COMM 112Understanding Media and Social Change3
COMM 114Human Communication3
COMM 212Interpersonal Communication3
COMM 216Intercultural Communication3
COMM 380Health Communication I3
COMM 381Patient-Provider Communication3
Professional Specialization: Select one of the following:3
Principles and Practices of Advertising and Public Relations
Health Communication II
Crisis Communications in Public Relations
Principles of Risk Communication
Total Credits21

Minor Requirements and Notes

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.