COMM 6760 - Public Health Communication

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: one graduate-level research methods course.

J. Niederdeppe.

Provides an overview of theory and research on public communication related to health behavior and policy change. Topics include theories of behavior change and message effects; formative and evaluative research; campaigns related to cancer, AIDS, obesity, smoking, nutrition, and drug use; and heterogeneity in campaign effects between populations.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to reflect on their own epistemology (what they think counts as knowledge, good evidence, and good decisions/actions).

Outcome 2: Students will be able to identify how others think about knowledge and information, and will work through examples of how contexts, decisions, and actions influence thought.

Outcome 3: Students will be able to critically evaluate theories of epistemology, noting that both the theories themselves, and the practice of how people make sense of (and use) information are socio-culturally influenced.

Outcome 4: Students will be able to generate examples of the dynamic, mutual impact of educational, technological, connective and entertainment media on ‘how we think.’

Outcome 5: Students will be able to identify ethical issues of equal access to information, and will understand that differential access to information and different epistemological perspectives have an impact on society. Specifically, examine connective and social media’s influence on thought and sociality (social engagement/ disengagement, education, prosocial behavior, etc.).

Outcome 6: Students will be able to engage in ongoing dialogue and group leadership in the seminar and write a proposal and final paper for the course.