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Eastern Illinois University
Archived catalog. This is a historical catalog kept for reference. View the current catalog.

Health Communication (B.S.)

Interdisciplinary Major of the School of Communication & Journalism and the Department of Public Health & Nutrition

Admission Requirements for the Health Communication Major

All students wishing to declare a major of Health Communication must request admission to the major. EIU's admission requirements will serve as requirements to become a Health Communication major.

After completing 15 cumulative semester hours, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Students who fall below this requirement will be placed on probationary status for the next term in which they are actively enrolled at the University. If their cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 at the close of the probationary term, they will be removed from the major. Students who have been removed from the major have the option of applying for admission to the major again in the future once they are able to meet all admission requirements.

Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours

Semester hours required for the major: 59 semester hours (including an 8 s.h. internship)

All Public Health (PUBH) and Health Communication (HCM) classes are approved for online delivery. Select Communication Studies (CMN) classes are approved for online delivery.

Requirements

A grade of C or better is required in all Communication Studies, Health Communication, and Public Health courses counting toward the major.

Students must enroll in a minimum total of 8 semester hours of internship.

Major GPA based on all Communication Studies/Public Health courses taken at EIU. The minimum GPA required for graduation is 2.0.

Students may earn up to 12 s.h. of course credit in the major through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). PLA evaluates the college-level knowledge and skills an individual has gained outside the classroom, and determines if and how the knowledge and skills acquired translates to specific college-level courses. PLA awards credit for LEARNING, not just for experience or time "on the job". Students who wish to earn course credit through PLA must consult with the academic advisor for their academic program, and follow the Health Communication major's approved process.

 

Required Courses: Total 47 semester hours of core

PUBH 2800
Foundations of Public Health Research & Scholarship.  (3 credits)

Or

CMN 3000
Communication Research Methods.  (3 credits)

(Online)

CMN 2040
Argumentation and Critical Thinking.  (3 credits)

(Online)

CMN 2630
Introduction to Interpersonal Communication.  (3 credits)

(Online)

CMN 3100
Persuasion.  (3 credits)

(Online)

CMN 3710
Intercultural Communication.  (3 credits)

(Online)

CMN 42751
Internship I.  (1 to 12 credits)

(See Footnote *)

PUBH 42751-42759
Internship.  (1 to 9 credits)

(See Footnote *)

HCM 2910
Introduction to Health Communication.  (3 credits)
HCM 3910
Communication in Health Professions.  (3 credits)
HCM 4910
Applied Health Communication.  (3 credits)
HCM 4950A, B, D-F, H-M, O-Q, & T-Y
Special Topics in Health Communication.  (3 credits)
PUBH 2270
Community and Public Health.  (3 credits)
PUBH 2700
Foundations in Health Literacy.  (3 credits)
PUBH 3700
Health Behaviors: Theory & Practice  (3 credits)
PUBH 3750
Health Care Delivery Systems.  (3 credits)

Electives: 12 hours

Students will select 12 hours of coursework in consultation with the Health Communication advisor.

CMN 2010
Introduction to Communication Theories.  (3 credits)
CMN 2650
Introduction to Organizational Communication.  (3 credits)
CMN 2920
Introduction to Public Relations.  (3 credits)
CMN 2990
Introduction to Rhetorical Studies.  (3 credits)
CMN 3030
Promotional Communication.  (3 credits)
CMN 3650
Case Studies in Organizational Communication.  (3 credits)
CMN 3640
Advanced Interpersonal Communication.  (3 credits)
CMN 3660
Communication and Conflict Management.  (3 credits)
CMN 3903
Rhetoric of Gender and Sexuality.  (3 credits)
CMN 3940
Advertising: Theory and Practice.  (3 credits)
CMN 3950
Conference and Event Planning.  (3 credits)
CMN 3960
Public Relations Writing and Production.  (3 credits)
CMN 3980
Strategic Social Media Communication.  (3 credits)
CMN 4765
Communication in Families.  (3 credits)
CMN 4950
Workplace Relationships.  (4 credits)
PUBH 2200G
Health Citizenship.  (3 credits)
PUBH 2900
Human Diseases.  (3 credits)
PUBH 3100
Disasters and Public Health: Planning and Response.  (3 credits)
PUBH 3300
Mitigation of Unintentional Injuries.  (2 credits)
PUBH 3500
Human Sexuality.  (3 credits)
PUBH 3560G
Women's Health.  (3 credits)
PUBH 3765
Principles of Epidemiology.  (3 credits)
PUBH 4770
Health Services Administration.  (3 credits)
PUBH 4800
Drugs and Society.  (3 credits)
PUBH 4830
Perspectives on Health and Humor.  (3 credits)
PUBH 4890
Health and Aging.  (3 credits)

Footnote:

*Students must enroll in a minimum total of 8 semester hours of internship.

Information sourced from the 2025-2026 EIU Undergraduate Catalog.