Study health communication abroad

Health communication is a relatively new, but rapidly growing discipline. It is the study of communication in relation to health professionals and health education. This includes the study of practitioner and patient interactions, as well as how important health information is communicated through organizations and to the public.

As an international student studying health communication, you’ll focus on research methodology, and investigate communication from a range of perspectives. You’ll also get the chance to explore the role of language in a diverse range of health care settings.

Studying health communication abroad will give you an invaluable opportunity to experience a different approach to healthcare. The need to effectively communicate healthcare issues has never been more important, and as an international student, you’ll be uniquely placed to appreciate global concerns.

You can study health communication at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is more commonly offered at universities in the USA, but programs can be found elsewhere including the UK and Lebanon.

Health communication bachelor’s programs are offered as a BA and a BSc, but there is usually not much difference between the two. The BSc may include more modules that focus on the scientific elements of healthcare communication.

In the US, your health communication bachelor’s degree will last four years using the liberal arts model. This means you’ll have the opportunity to study other subjects, especially in your first two years, before focussing on health communication modules in the second half of your program.

You can study for an MA in health communication if you already hold a bachelor’s degree in a related subject. This is a great option if you want to expand your knowledge or enhance your career in the healthcare sector. Most MA programs require one or two years of study and can be teacher or research-led.

How you’ll learn on your health communication program will vary depending on where you study, but you can expect to take part in lectures, workshops, seminars, and some fieldwork. Assessments will generally be through exams, essays, reports, and a final year dissertation.

Some of the most common health communication modules you’ll study include:

• Research methodology for health communication
• Healthcare narratives
• Communication in the workplace
• Management of healthcare
• Health psychology
• Corpus linguistics
• Healthcare documentation

Efficient communication in healthcare is vital to the success of hospitals and public health campaigns. Therefore, your skills as a health communication graduate will be in high demand.

Here are some of the roles you might consider after graduation:

• Hospital manager
• Healthcare manager
• Health promotion officer
• Hospital administrator
• Medical practitioner
• Healthcare marketing executive

Some of the careers above will require additional qualifications, so make sure you’re aware of what you’ll need when choosing your career. If you need help working out which career path to take, speak to your university’s career services, who can help you discover what role might best suit you.