Eastern Illinois University

Majoring in Health Communication prepares students to work in professional health care settings or in health advocacy. Coursework focuses on creating knowledge of health behaviors combined with developing effective communication skills. Graduates are prepared to communicate on behalf of health organizations or work with clients to influence individual and community decisions and promote positive health behaviors.

At Eastern we utilize an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes the intersection of strategic communication and health promotion as the foundation for educating individuals and creating healthier and more vibrant communities. Eastern students learn to design, evaluate, and implement health communication programs in a variety of professional settings, including hospitals, nonprofit and community organizations, and government agencies.

The need for health communication specialists continues to grow rapidly in both healthcare and health advocacy settings. Health advocacy professionals and health practitioners need to be ready to effectively communicate about health maintenance, prevention, and wellbeing with diverse populations. The Health Communication major at EIU prepares students to meet these challenges by providing the foundation necessary for them to be successful in such settings.