Posted 10/7/2008

Program is latest initiative by the Arnold School to meet
the needs of the public health industry

The University of South Carolina is offering a new certificate program to develop expertise in health communication for graduate students and working professionals.

Two years in development, the Certificate of Graduate Study in Health Communication is a collaborative effort of the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications, the School of Library and Information Science, and the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior of the Arnold School of Public Health.

The certificate is designed to enhance the professional or clinical skills of working practitioners in public health organizations and the media. “

It also will help academics and researchers to better design and evaluate health communication interventions using media, communication, and health behavior theory and frameworks.

"I’m especially pleased that both schools within our college are part of this collaboration," said Charles Bierbauer, dean of the College of Mass Communications and Information Science.

"We feel there is information and communication component to just about everything a university does. But it’s especially critical that people have access to reliable and useful information regarding their health.”

“Everyone in South Carolina can benefit from a better understanding of their particular health needs and how to obtain them," he said.

The Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior administers the public health studies of the certificate program. That role is in keeping with the department’s focus on understanding how policy, environmental, institutional, and individual actions can improve the public’s health.

“This certificate program is truly the product of months of hard work by multiple faculty across these three colleges at USC -- and all for the betterment of health outcomes in South Carolina through more effective health communication.”

“Arnold School faculty will benefit greatly from the expertise and collegiality being extended by Journalism and Libraries in this effort,” said Arnold School Interim Dean Dr. Tom Chandler.

The certificate program requires 18 hours of post-bachelor's study including a research project or practicum. The curriculum is structured so that students experience an interdisciplinary core of courses and select an emphasis area in Journalism and Mass Communications, Library and Information Science, or Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior.

A limited amount of credit hours in the certificate program can be applied to other USC graduate degree programs. The program culminates in a mentored research project or practicum.

Examples of practicum projects or internships will include appointments with local agencies involved with health communication, or with active research projects on campus or in the community. Faculty members will work closely with students to help secure their practicum.

Dr. Ken Watkins, HPEB’s associate chair and graduate director, said interest in the program is growing. “We have seen an enthusiastic response from current graduate students who are seeking an interdisciplinary approach to learning about the science and applications of health communication.”

“It also is a great way for working professionals to enhance their education without having to seek a master’s degree,” said Dr. Daniela Friedman of HPEB, who teaches Applied Health Communication, one of the certificate’s core courses.

Six faculty members in the three collaborating schools are participating in the program with more expected to join as enrollment expands.

Specifically for the Arnold School, this certificate program is the latest initiative to meet the needs of the public health industry. In the past year, the school has:

• revised its master’s of public health in general public health, a degree program aimed at working professionals.
• introduced Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs in public health, two paths to a broad pre-professional degree.

“Over the next six years, public health workforce development is staring at the precipice of a critical shortage of certified professionals like none before in recent history,” said Chandler.

“Certification is a very effective way to address this shortfall at a time when working professionals in every health field are extremely strapped for time and financial resources to pursue full graduate degrees.”

For more information about the program, contact:

Dr. Daniela Friedman
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior
Arnold School of Public Health
University of South Carolina
Phone: (803) 777-9933
E-mail: dbfriedman@sc.edu

Dr. John C. Besley
School of Journalism and Mass Communications
College of Mass Communications and Information Studies
University of South Carolina
Phone: (803) 777-4105
E-mail: jbesley@sc.edu

Dr. Feili Tu
School of Library and Information Science
College of Mass Communications and Information Studies
University of South Carolina
Phone: (803) 777-3858
E-mail: tuf@mailbox.sc.edu