Health Communication

The BS in Health Communication is a nonclinical communication studies program that explores specialized health concepts, theories, and the practice of human communication. As a versatile and interdisciplinary degree, it is unique among CUNY communication programs due to its focus on health. The curriculum prepares graduates with essential communication skills applicable across healthcare settings, public health, government agencies, media, education, communication technology, and other industries.

Graduates of the program become highly skilled communicators, proficient in multiple modalities, including written and oral, verbal and nonverbal, face-to-face, and virtual communication. Strong communication skills are highly valued by employers, particularly in healthcare, where miscommunication is a major contributor to patient outcomes and healthcare costs. With the increasing demand for healthcare services, trained health communicators are needed across all industries. This program prepares students for careers that involve mass media campaigns at the population level and provider-patient interactions at the individual level, offering a broad range of professional opportunities.

The program offers two specialized concentrations: Health Communication and Culture and Health Promotion and Media. Students may also work with advisors to create a personalized concentration tailored to their academic and career goals. The BS in Health Communication is an excellent option for:

• Health Sciences AS students

• Students preparing for accelerated clinical programs (e.g., Nursing, Radiology or Premed)

• Students planning to pursue graduate studies in Health Communication, Public Health, or Health Psychology

• Unclassified students interested in health related careers

• Transfer students interested in a health related career

By the third or fourth semester, students complete an internship to apply their learning in real-world settings. Internship opportunities may include positions at news and media organizations, marketing and public relations firms, health and wellness businesses and nonprofits, hospitals, healthcare facilities, and private practices, community activism and advocacy groups, public health promotion and disease prevention initiatives, language access services. Fitness, recreation, and nutrition programs, emergency preparedness and health technology sectors.

The Health Communication Baccalaureate Program provides students with the skills and knowledge to navigate the intersection of health and communication, empowering them to make a meaningful impact in healthcare, media, education, and beyond.

1. Graduates can pursue careers with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and related public health agencies. Potential positions include:

• Health Program Administrator

• Public Health Educator

• Public Information Officer

• Health Promotion Coordinator

• Communication Specialist

2. Graduates can pursue nonclinical roles in a hospital that focus on communication, patient advocacy, education, and administration. Job titles include:

• Patient Advocate

• Patient Experience Coordinator

• Community Health Liaison

• Health Communications Specialist

• Media Relations Specialist

• Social Media & Digital Content Coordinator

• Hospital Outreach Coordinator

• Staff Training & Development Coordinator

• Wellness Program Coordinator

• Quality Improvement Specialist

• Medical Interpreter Coordinator—with language translation certification

3. Graduates can pursue careers in media and technology, health journalism, digital content creation, marketing/campaigns, and health tech communications. Here are some potential career paths:

• Health Reporter/Writer

• Medical/Science Journalist

• Social Media Manager/Content Creator (Health & Wellness)

• Podcast Producer (Health & Medicine)

• Content Strategist (Health Topics)

• User Experience (UX) Researcher (Health Tech)

• Telehealth Coordinator

• Health Informatics Communication Specialist

• E-Learning Developer (Health Training Programs)

• Public Relations Specialist (Health Industry)

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program should be able to

• Communicate clearly in speech, writing and electronic media

• Function as communication professionals in occupational settings

• Think critically and employ research methods to find solutions to communication problems

• Research, evaluate and cite information sources

• Better understand communication in interpersonal, intercultural, mediated, and other contexts

• Identify, assess and effectively respond to ethical issues in communication

• Value cultural diversity and consider the influence of culture and language on health outcomes

• Recognize structural, biological and behavioral determinants of health

• Challenge disparities related to race, gender, ethnicity, income, sexual orientation, age or ability

Admission Requirements

Entrance into the BS in Health Communication is available to freshmen meeting college entry requirements and to associate degree graduates (AS & AA) in good academic standing. For transfer students, a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required, along with evidence of college level competency in English and mathematics, such as grades of a C or better in non-remedial courses from an accredited college or university.

Articulation Information

The BS in Health Communication has articulation agreements with the following degrees. Please refer to the full text of the agreements for additional information.

• LaGuardia Community College Communication Studies (AA)

• LaGuardia Community College Public and Community Health (AS)

• Borough of Manhattan Community College Health Information Technology (AAS)

• Borough of Manhattan Community College Communication Studies (AA)

• Borough of Manhattan Community College Community Health Education (AS)

Advisement Information

Email: Healthcom@citytech.cuny.edu
Phone: 718-260-5018

Dr. Denise Scannell Guida, Program Director, Dscannell@citytech.cuny.edu
Dr. Zheng Zhu, Internship Coordinator, ZZhu@citytech.cuny.edu
Dr. David Lee, Liberal Arts Program Liaison, DLee@citytech.cuny.edu
Dr. Duval Bodden, dbodden@citytech.cuny.edu
Dr. Jaclyn Griffith, jgriffith@citytech.cuny.edu