Nov 21, 2024

2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog

2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Communication, Health Communication Concentration, B.S.

Communication Studies
Natalie Hoskins, program director
Natalie.Hoskins@mtsu.edu

The major in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication offers students preparation to understand communication as it applies to various health contexts and learn to be advocates for themselves and others in health experiences. Students will emerge ready for successful careers in a variety of health-related fields and prepared for the option of graduate studies. Acknowledging the dynamic landscape of health, students will learn critical communication skills by engaging with communication research about health theories, organizations, experiences, relationships, and technology.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Communication, Health Communication Concentration, B.S., Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education	41 hours
Major Requirement	45 hours
Major Core	(18 hours)
CSI Concentration	(12 hours)
CSI Electives	(9 hours)
Major Electives	(6 hours)
Optional Minor/Electives	34 hours
TOTAL	120 hours

General Education (41 hours)

General Education requirements include Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Major Requirements (45 hours)

Communication Major Core (18 hours)

COMM 2100 - Introduction to Human Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 2300 - Interpersonal Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 3300 - Communication Theory 3 credit hours
COMM 3740 - Critical Methods in Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 3750 - Quantitative Research Methods in Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 4700 - Senior Seminar in Communication 3 credit hours

Health Communication Concentration (12 hours)

COMM 2400 - Introduction to Health Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 3110 - Relationships in Health Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 3410 - Patient Provider Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 3760 - Health Communication Theory 3 credit hours

Health Communication Electives (9 hours)

Select 9 credit hours from the following. Three (3) credit hours must be at 4000 level.

COMM 3260 - Communication in Healthcare Organizations 3 credit hours
COMM 3470 - Health Risk Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 3730 - Qualitative Communication Research and Inquiry 3 credit hours
COMM 3830 - Topics in Health Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 3920 - Lying and Deception 3 credit hours
COMM 4260 - Independent Study 1 to 3 credit hours
COMM 4340 - The Dark Side of Health Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 4360 - Health Communication Technology and Social Media 3 credit hours
COMM 4400 - Sexual Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 4420 - Stigma, Disability, and Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 4440 - Social Support Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 4750 - Narrative Health and Medicine 3 credit hours
COMM 4900 - Internship in Communication Studies 1 to 3 credit hours
JOUR 3050 - Principles of Health Communication 3 credit hours
HLTH 3240 - Foundations of Health Education 3 credit hours
SW 4640 - Health: Organizations, Policy, and Ethics 3 credit hours

Major Electives (6 hours)

Choose two COMM courses not already taken

Optional Minor/Electives (34 hours)

Recommended Curriculum: Communication, Health Communication

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

The following is a suggested pattern of study. Consult with an advisor before each registration.

Freshman Fall

ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
COMM 2100 - Introduction to Human Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
Mathematics 3 credit hours
Elective 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 15 Hours

Freshman Spring

ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
COMM 2300 - Interpersonal Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 2400 - Introduction to Health Communication 3 credit hours
Natural Sciences 4 credit hours
Elective 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 16 Hours

Sophomore Fall

ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
HUM 2610 - Foreign Literature in Translation 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
COMM 3300 - Communication Theory 3 credit hours
Natural Sciences 4 credit hours
Elective 3 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 16 Hours

Sophomore Spring

COMM 3110 - Relationships in Health Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 3760 - Health Communication Theory 3 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
Elective 3 credit hours
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 15 Hours

Junior Fall

COMM 3410 - Patient Provider Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 3740 - Critical Methods in Communication 3 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
Elective/minor 3 credit hours
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 15 Hours

Junior Spring

COMM 3750 - Quantitative Research Methods in Communication 3 credit hours
Health Communication elective 3 credit hours
Elective/minor courses 6 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 15 Hours

Senior Fall

Health Communication elective 3 credit hours
COMM major elective 3 credit hours
Elective/minor course 3 credit hours
Electives 6 credit hours

Subtotal: 15 Hours

Senior Spring

COMM 4700 - Senior Seminar in Communication 3 credit hours
Health Communication elective 3 credit hours
COMM major elective 3 credit hours
Elective/minor course 3 credit hours
Elective 1 credit hour

Communication, Health Communication Concentration, B.S.

Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education (41 hours)

Major Requirements (45 hours)

Communication Major Core (18 hours)

Health Communication Concentration (12 hours)

Health Communication Electives (9 hours)

Major Electives (6 hours)

Optional Minor/Electives (34 hours)

Recommended Curriculum: Communication, Health Communication

Freshman Fall

Subtotal: 15 Hours

Freshman Spring

Subtotal: 16 Hours

Sophomore Fall

Subtotal: 16 Hours

Sophomore Spring

Subtotal: 15 Hours

Junior Fall

Subtotal: 15 Hours

Junior Spring

Subtotal: 15 Hours

Senior Fall

Subtotal: 15 Hours

Senior Spring

Subtotal: 13 Hours