Advanced Graduate Certificate in Health Communication

Build trust and inspire good health outcomes

Alda - health round table

Health is about more than individuals.

Health is communal. It's regional. It's societal.

Creating healthy societies means understanding that community's culture and history; building trust; and using empathy and compassion to improve health outcomes.

Academic Programs

Earn your health communication graduate certificate

This 18-credit advanced graduate certificate is offered by the SBU Program in Public Health and the Alda Center for Communicating Science through the School of Communication and Journalism.

The Health Communication program complements ongoing graduate-degree work, or can be completed as a stand-alone credential. It can be completed in as little as one year.

Explore Program Offerings

Required Courses

JRN 565: Communicating your Science

HPH 523: Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health

HPH 551: Practice of Health Communications

HPH 585: Introduction to Biostatistics & Epidemiology

Sample Elective Courses

JRN 522: Communicating Science to Decision Makers

JRN 534: Communicating your Science using Digital Media

JRN 585: Communicating Science & Health Risks to the Public

HPH 500: Contemporary Issues in Public Health

HPH 552: Planning & Implementing Community Health Initiatives

Admissions Information

Students are admitted to the program on a rolling basis. You may apply to the program throughout the academic year and enroll in the fall, spring or summer terms.

We encourage you to apply at least a month before the beginning of the term you'd like to start taking classes.

Apply now!

Bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 GPA from an accredited college or university.
Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools. All international transcripts must be evaluated by an agency accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (see below for more).
Two references that can address the applicant's capacity to succeed in the field of health communication or a related field and ability to complete a course of graduate-level certificate study.

Recent Graduates

If the applicant graduated within two years, at least one letter must be from a college or university faculty member with whom the applicant has studied.

Working Professionals

If the applicant has been working, at least one letter must be from a supervisor who is familiar with the applicant's work.

Complete application with writing sample.
One essay of 500 words or fewer must be submitted with the application in SOPHAS Express, uploaded in the Attachments section. Essay Topic: How do the skills/knowledge you will attain through the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Health Communication relate to your career/educational goals?

International applicants who trained in non-English speaking schools and do not reside in an English speaking country must take the TOEFL exam.

Computer-Based Test

Minimum Score: 213

Internet-Based Test

Minimum Score: 90

Paper-Based Test

Minimum Score: 550

International students are required to have a course-by-course educational credential evaluation completed by an agency accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). We require using World Evaluation Services (WES). This evaluation provides a U.S. course equivalent including semester hours earned, course content and corresponding letter grade for all courses listed on the applicant's transcript. This evaluation must be completed before the application can be considered.
Learn more about requirements for international students.

Get in Touch

To learn more about the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Health Communication, fill out thisform.

You can also email us at SoCJ_Grad@stonybrook.edu.

Graduate Bulletin

Stony Brook Graduate School

Academic Programs