5 courses with the subject HCOM, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
HCOM 500Communicating to Achieve Health Equity : In recent years, the role of social and mass3
media has had an increasing impact on public health and health outcomes with often seen negative results. In this course, the use of mass communication and social media is turned around and viewed as a tool for promoting health, both domestically and internationally. The course examines the role of media in shaping a social, political, and cultural environment that affects the public health, and then reviews a range of mass media strategies available to the practitioner--public communication campaigns, social marketing, public relations, and media advocacy. Students discuss the strengths and limitations of each approach and gain experience in applying these strategies to specific public health problems. Students work in groups on a final project in which they develop and present a proposal for a plan for a health promotion initiative that uses mass media.
HCOM 503Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication : Responding to a crisis is nothing new. With our3
increasingly fast-moving news cycles and social media echo chamber, a small crisis can grow exponentially in a relatively short period of time, potentially damaging the reputation and brand of a leader, governmental entity, individual, nonprofit or company. And it can shape what happens in regulation, legislation and public policy. The key to crisis communications is to anticipate and plan for it before it happens – and to manage it in such a way that it minimizes the reputational damage and possibly enhances it. This course focuses on communication during emergencies, such as environmental disasters, mass shootings, disease outbreaks, food and drug safety incidents, etc. Students learn core principles in Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication. Global case studies illustrate best 146
HCOM 506Policy Memo Writing for Decision Makers : This course will strengthen students' skills as3
policy writers, learning to write with the proficiency, confidence, clarity, and modes of persuasion necessary for professional policymaking. It will increase knowledge and skills necessary for success in high-level policymaking careers. The course highlights modes of analysis, persuasive arguments, and recommendations that turn research and advocacy into actionable policies, and teach the strategies, techniques, and production habits of highly skilled policy writers.
HCOM 507Persuasive Policy Communication Seminar : Policy advocates at all levels make progress3
by sharing a vision effectively. In this core course, students learn the theory and practice of persuasive communication. Readings and cases explore the interplay between communicating and policy making. Students will learn to make strong arguments, employ evidence effectively, and build professional writing skills that will enable them to communicate across cultures. Through assignments designed to strengthen written arguments (policy blogs) and public speaking (policy presentations), students have multiple opportunities to practice these essential skills, while also working in groups to build their abilities to communicate as part of a team. Prerequisite: Foundations in Health
HCOM 508Writing to Get Published : Publication is a key career-building achievement, and essential for3
your work and ideas to make an impact. This course provides an understanding of effective writing techniques that will set your work apart from the rest, whether you are writing books, policy documents, op-eds, or articles. Students also learn the essential components of a successful book proposal and what authors need to know about how the publishing industry works. In order to successfully complete the course, students will demonstrate their new skills by crafting a high-quality book proposal. Students will be expected to complete several short-written assignments, building up to one longer written piece. Throughout the course, a series of case studies will be used for students to compare and contrast the different styles of writing and to identify varying article structure. The course will also invite guest lecturers from reputable publishers such as Johns Hopkins University Press, APHA Press, Springer Publishing, Health Affairs, and JAMA.
