Graduate Certificate: Interdisciplinary Health Communication
Learn more about the graduate certificate in Interdisciplinary Health Communication.
About the Certificate
Addressing many public health priority problems requires a solid foundation of training in public health-related program planning, evaluation, and research methods as well as effective and responsible communication strategies. Health communication strategies can facilitate dissemination of information about health risks, improve underserved populations’ access to services and navigation of healthcare systems, enhance the quality of patient care, improve healthcare decision-making, and influence adoption of healthier lifestyles in populations with elevated risk of chronic disease.
The graduate certificate in Interdisciplinary Health Communication (IHComm) is a 12-credit certificate program administered by the College of Public Health's Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) in collaboration with the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication to create opportunities for interdisciplinary training of their graduate students. The certificate program's name emphasizes the interdisciplinary structure of the curriculum and its instructors drawn from the College of Public Health and the Klein College of Media and Communication. The curriculum is designed to facilitate advanced knowledge and training in critical evaluation of public health problems and how to address them using health communication methods, applying key concepts and theories germane to public health and health communication interventions, and accessing research as guided by the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH). Faculty within the certificate program have training and expertise across a dozen public health- and media-related disciplines, including advertising; communication; ecology; health communication; health psychology; health education and health promotion research; health systems research; media studies; public health program planning and evaluation; public relations; research methods in social, behavioral, and communication sciences; and theories of communication and health behavior change.
The IHComm certificate is structured to enable its completion by existing graduate students enrolled in M.P.H. and public health-related doctoral programs as well as Klein College’s Media and Communication Ph.D. and Communication for Development and Social Change M.S. programs. In addition to M.P.H. and Klein graduate students, the certificate is open for enrollment by graduate students in other programs throughout Temple University as well as non-matriculated, non-degree-seeking students as a continuing education certificate.
Time Limit for Certificate Completion: 2 years
Campus Location: Main and online
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The graduate certificate may be completed on a part-time basis.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: The certificate program is open to non-matriculated graduate students.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall and Spring admissions are on a rolling basis.
For the Interdisciplinary Health Communication certificate, all applicants — whether currently enrolled graduate students or non-matriculated students — must apply via the Centralized Application Service for Public Health (SOPHAS). The system can be accessed at https://sophas.liaisoncas.com/.
Applicants should check their application status on the SOPHAS portal often and inquire directly of SOPHAS about receipt of materials. For other questions, please contact the CPH Office of Admissions at cph@temple.edu or 215-204-5200.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required Only of Non-Matriculating Applicants: 2
From Whom: At least one letter of recommendation should be obtained from a college/university instructor, preferably at the graduate level.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree and provide transcripts as indicated:
- Applicants currently enrolled in a Temple graduate program must demonstrate a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in completed coursework.
- Non-matriculating applicants must present a transcript demonstrating successful completion of the baccalaureate degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 OR a transcript demonstrating successful completion of a graduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Statement of Goals: State your career goals and describe how the certificate is relevant to those goals.
Resume: Current resume or CV required.
Certificate Requirements
Number of Credits Required to Complete the Certificate: 12
Required Courses:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
GDC 8002 | Communication for Social Change Project Design | 3 |
or CMGT 5002 | Leadership in Crises and Conflict Management | |
SBS 8105 | Health Communication | 3 |
Communication Elective | ||
Select one from the following: | 3 | |
Persuasion and the Marketplace | ||
Communication Theory for Professionals | ||
Research Approaches in Communication, Development and Social Change | ||
Public Information Media Campaigns | ||
Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective | ||
Select one from the following: | 3 | |
Fundamentals of Public Health | ||
Risk Communication and Public Health | ||
Health Promotion in Vulnerable Populations | ||
Health Psychology | ||
Total Credit Hours | 12 |
GPA Required to be Awarded the Certificate: 3.0 minimum
Courses
SBS 5001. Fundamentals of Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: College of Public Health, Social Work.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5002. Program Planning, Theory, and Practice. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5004. Understanding Stress and Change. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5009. Risk Communication and Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5015. Public Health Nutrition. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5102. Theoretical Foundations of Health Behavior. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: College of Public Health, Social Work.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5105. Maternal and Child Health. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5201. Nutritional Biochemistry. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5204. Nutrition in the Life Cycle. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5211. Medical Nutrition Therapy. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
(KINS 1223|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (SBS 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
SBS 5214. Cultural and Community Nutrition. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5216. Nutrition Education and Counseling. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5217. Food Preparation and Management. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 5500. Seminar in Current Issues in Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: College of Public Health, Social Work.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
SBS 8001. Research Methods in Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: College of Public Health, Social Work.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
(SBS 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR SBS 5102|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (EPBI 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (EPBI 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR EPBI 5101|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
SBS 8005. Health Promotion in Vulnerable Populations. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 8006. Addictions and Dependencies. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: College of Public Health, Social Work.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 8009. Health Psychology. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: College of Public Health, Social Work.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 8018. Obesity: From Genes to Junk Food. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
EPBI 5101|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR PBHL 5101|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR EPBI 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR PBHL 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
SBS 8105. Health Communication. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
SBS 8111. Public Health Program Planning. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
(EPBI 5101|Minimum Grade of B-|May be taken concurrently
OR PBHL 5101|Minimum Grade of B-|May be taken concurrently
OR EPBI 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May be taken concurrently
OR PBHL 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May be taken concurrently)
AND (EPBI 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May be taken concurrently
OR PBHL 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May be taken concurrently)
AND (SBS 5102|Minimum Grade of B-|May be taken concurrently
OR PBHL 5102|Minimum Grade of B-|May be taken concurrently)
SBS 8112. Concepts and Methods to Improve Public Health Interventions. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
SBS 8009|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR SBS 8105|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR SBS 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
SBS 9083. Readings and Conference in Public Health. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
SBS 9289. MPH Fieldwork I. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
(SBS 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR SBS 5102|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (EPBI 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (EPBI 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR EPBI 5101|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
SBS 9291. Dietetics Experiential Learning. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
(SBS 5214|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (SBS 5211|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
SBS 9389. MPH Fieldwork II. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
(SBS 9289|Minimum Grade of C-|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (SBS 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR SBS 5102|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (EPBI 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (EPBI 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR EPBI 5101|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
SBS 9994. Preliminary Examinations. 1 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
SBS 9998. Dissertation Proposal Research. 2 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
Pre-requisites:
SBS 9994|Minimum Grade of P|May not be taken concurrently.
SBS 9999. Dissertation Research. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Student Attribute Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Student Attributes: Dissertation Writing Student.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
Contacts
Certificate Program Web Address:
Admissions Information:
College of Public Health Office of Admissions
1101 W. Montgomery Avenue, Suite 370
Philadelphia, PA 19122-2715
215-204-5200
Submission Address for Application Materials:
IHComm Graduate Certificate Program
College of Public Health Office of Admissions
1101 W. Montgomery Avenue, Suite 370
Philadelphia, PA 19122-2715