Design and communicate audience-focused, clear, useful, and culturally relevant health information for a range of formats and channels.
Our MPH in Health Literacy and Public Health Communication is a practice-oriented degree to prepare social and behavioral science professionals to create, select, share, and promote health information that supports personal and organizational health literacy and informed decisions about health.
Perfect for
- Those in public health fields who want to enhance their skills in communication and culturally appropriate approaches to promotional initiatives
- People who are passionate about equipping others to make informed decisions about their health
- Students who seek to harness technology to improve public health and implement public health interventions
Career paths
- Health Communication Specialist
- Patient Engagement Manager
- Community Health Educator
- Communications Analyst
- Community Outreach and Engagement Program Associate
- Marketing and Communications Coordinator
- Public Health Analyst
Program Overview
Students train in the theory, methods, and application of health literacy and public health communication for public health information, messages, materials, and campaigns.
4:1
For more information, email: BCH-MPH@umd.edu
Competencies
Upon completion of the degree requirements, all students are expected to demonstrate their ability to:
- Select and apply health literacy and health communication strategies to design public health communication practice or research activities that improve health.
- Plan implementation and evaluation activities that apply health literacy and health communication strategies.
- Select, apply, and critique health behavior and health communication theories to analyze public health problems and inform health promotion activities.
- Translate empirical findings to inform community health promotion and practice.
- Use a critical lens to analyze and address the systemic inequities that impact the health of socially and structurally marginalized groups.
Program Requirements
Students admitted to the Master of Public Health in Health Literacy and Public Health Communication will complete 45 credit hours of coursework. The course of study includes 9 elective credit hours, 4 credits of practical experience, and a 3-credit capstone project.
SPH Foundational Core Courses (14 credits)
SPHL601: Core Concepts in Public Health
SPHL602: Foundations of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
SPHL603: Public Health Data Laboratory
SPHL610: Health Program Planning, Development, Evaluation, and Resources
SPHL611: Public Health Ethics
SPHL620: Leadership, Teams, & Coalitions: Policy to Advocacy
BCH Departmental Core Courses (15 credits)
HLTH671: Public Health Communication
HLTH672: Public Health Informatics
HLTH674: Health Literacy
HLTH665: Health Behavior I: Theoretical Foundations of Health Behavior
HLTH710: Methods and Techniques of Research
BCH Practical Experience and Capstone Courses (7 credits)
HLTH778: Practical Experience in Public Health
HLTH784: Guided Capstone Preparation Seminar
HLTH786: Capstone Project in Public Health
Elective Courses (9 credits)