The Master of Arts in Health and Risk Communication (HRCMA) program will make you an expert in the theory and practice of health communication, one of the most pressing topics in today's world.
Our courses and a practicum will prepare you for working at leading employers in the health sectors, such as:
Past students of the HRCMA program have come from diverse educational backgrounds, including communication, psychology, epidemiology, nutrition, kinesiology, nursing, and various specialty fields across the social, health, and life sciences.
Based in one of the largest colleges of communication in the world, you will master using modern mass communication to inform and influence people about public health - whether in traditional media or via social media channels.
In-person (with hybrid options)
2- year program (including a job practicum)
8 to 15 elective credits (includedin the course requirements)
Our Health and Risk Communication M.A. program equips you with the skills to bridge the gap between complex medical information and the general public, making you an invaluable asset in the fields of healthcare, public health, and crisis management.
> 90% placement rate (>85% into health-related jobs)
The HRCMA comprises 33 credits to make you an expert in health and risk communication. Students complete core courses in the following areas:
Core Courses: Mass Communication and Public Health (CAS825), Health Communication for Diverse Populations (CAS826), Research Methods (COM803), Introductory Epidemiology (EPI810), and Advertising and PR for Health, Science, and the Environment - OR - Environment, Science, and Health Journalism
A practicum in the field of health and risk communication.
Health-related elective courses from several departments on campus
As a student in the Health and Risk Communication M.A. program, you will be able to use the resources of MSU
a R01 university with top-ranked academic units and a diverse academic community
a dedicated Health and Risk Communication Center with over 50 faculty examining all aspects of health and risk communication
a beautiful campus and a vibrant area, including with a rich cultural scene, exciting athletics and sports facilities, and a multitude of economic opportunities and entertainment options
Our college is the first communication college in the nation and home to multiple top-ranked communication programs across the globe.
Becoming a Spartan is to gain entry into one of the largest and most productive groups of alumni networks in the world.
Dr. Maria Lapinski is joint-appointed as a Professor in the Department of Communication and Michigan Ag-Bio Research at Michigan State University (MSU).
Ralf Schmälzle, Ph.D. (SHMAL-ts-lee, 拉尔夫·舍马尔兹勒) is an Associate Professor of Communication Science in the Department of Communication at Michigan State University. His research focuses on brain responses to real-life messages in the domains of health communication and entertainment media. He is cross-trained in communication and psychology, and integrates methods from cognitive neuroscience and AI.
Dr. Holtz's research explores the adoption, perceptions, and outcomes of telemedicine, mobile phone health apps (mhealth), consumer grade sensors (i.e., Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc.), electronic medical records, AI, and social media for health topics.
Fashina (Shina) Aladé is an Assistant Professor of Advertising & Public Relations, and also holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Her work lies at the intersection of media effects, developmental psychology, and early childhood education, with a focus on young children’s comprehension of and learning from educational media.
Dr. Monique Mitchell Turner is Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication at Michigan State University. Prior to this appointment, she served as Associate Dean of MPH programs at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University.
Brandt Endowed Professor of Environmental Communication
Department
Journalism
Bruno Takahashi is a professor of environmental journalism and communication at Michigan State University with a joint appointment in the School of Journalism and AgBioResearch.
Professor Thorson joined the College of Communication Arts faculty at MSU in fall, 2016. Prior, she was Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, and Research Director of the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism. Thorson holds the Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Minnesota, and attended undergraduate school at Macalester College.
Dr. Hyesun Choung is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at MSU. Before taking her current position, she served as a postdoctoral research associate in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. Dr. Choung studies the implications of emerging technologies for human behavior and psychology.
Wei Peng is a Professor in the Department of Media and Information, Michigan State University. She is affiliated with the Games for Entertainment and Learning (GEL) lab and the Health and Risk Communication Center.
I earned a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the University of British Columbia, Canada. Beginning from my master’s thesis, I published in premier journals, including MIS Quarterly, ISR, Communications of the ACM, and ACM Transactions on CHI, which are cited over 1,700 times (as of August 2022, Google Scholar).
Jim Dearing (Ph.D., University of Southern California) is the Brandt Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication at Michigan State University.
Dr. Yoo Jung (Erika) Oh (Ph.D. University of California, Davis) specializes in artificial intelligence (AI) dialogue systems, commonly referred to as "AI chatbots." With an interest in the dynamics of human-AI communication, her research investigates the impact of persuasive AI on human perceptions and behaviors.
Susan McFarlane-Alvarez (PhD, Georgia State University) is a Professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Michigan State University. With three decades of experience spanning academia and the professional advertising and PR industries, Susan has worked as a creative director in Hernandez/Foote, Cone & Belding, then as an independent consultant.
Linked Bachelor's - Master's Degree in Health and Risk Communication
With our Linked B.A.-M.A. in Health and Risk Communication program, students can seamlessly connect from their undergraduate majors in ComArtSci to an advanced degree in health communication, including health promotion, health education, prevention and risk communication.
We understand that money is a key aspect during graduate studies. You can calculate the tuition costs via MSU's current tuition calculator. Although our program does not have the resources to offer dedicated teaching assistantships, we do our best to connect students with fellowship and job opportunities. Fortunately, a large university like MSU does offer many job options:
in our college (e.g. as research assistants in research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health, NIH, or the National Science Foundation, NSF),
across MSU (e.g. in the university's health promotion department or with the National Social Norms Center),
or in the Greater Lansing area in various businesses and organizations.
Moreover, multiple options for scholarships exist for qualified applicants.
Iris Scholar Fellowship: The Iris Scholars program connects HRCC faculty with talented student creators
Sandi Smith Research Fellowship:This fellowship assists HRCMA students with expenses related to health communication research projects
Charles J. Strosacker Foundation Research Fund:This fund provides resources for graduate students to engage in Michigan-focused research and share results and impacts from their projects with their community partners.
Here you find all administrative documents in one place. The central resource is our HRCMA handbook, which includes all you need to know about the degree, requirements, tracks, and so forth. Forms are boring but they guarantee a smooth process and we keep them to a minimum. If you have any questions, we're here to help!
Questions?
Lisabeth Bylina
Academic Programs Coordinator bylinali@msu.edu
517-355-3471
404 Wilson Rd., 472 ComArtSci
East Lansing, MI 48824-1212
Health has always been a stronghold of communication at MSU. Nearly a third of our ComArtSci faculty are engaged in projects that promote healthy people and a healthy planet. By using new and emerging technologies to promote health behavior change and facilitate decision making, we aim to attain optimal health for people, animals and the environment. Our work includes studying the design and implementations of health and environmental information, ways in which health decision-making happens and how behaviors are adopted. Here are some of the ressources and initiatives our students have access to:
The HRCMA program is part of our college's Health and Risk Communication Center (HRCC); the HRCC which brings together over 50 faculty examining health and risk communication in all facets --- from neurons to nations.
Health, Risk, and Science Communication is a dedicated thematic research area fin the college and the slogan Healthy People, Healthy Planet is a key part of our college's strategic plan
Beyond the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, you can find a multitude of resources related to health communication across MSU, such as in the Colleges of Human Medicine, Nursing, Osteopathic Medicine, Social Science, Natural Science, Veterinary Medicine, and Natural Resources.
To prepare our graduates for the job-market, the Health & Risk Communication Masters Program is designed to include a supervised practicum experience. In their practicum, students will will put their theoretical training to practice in their field of interest in a real-world setting.
Whether you're seeking a stimulating academic environment, a thriving job market, or a well-rounded lifestyle, MSU undoubtedly stands out as a remarkable destination:
East Lansing and the MSU campus offer a vibrant cultural scene, numerous shopping locales, restaurants, and sports facilities.
All-year outdoor activities in Michigan: reach the beaches of Lake Michigan or the Mountains of Michigan within a short car ride.
Lansing, the state capital, is the seat of most government branches, and the Mid-Michigan region offers ample business opportunities for 21st-century entrepreneurs.
Great accessibility: Multiple International Airports and large cities are nearby (Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Chicago), an Amtrak Train station is located in East Lansing, and 12*/day bus connects from MSU/East Lansing to the Detroit Airport.
Members of the MSU community are a welcomed part of the East Lansing community, the Lansing capital area, Michigan, the USA - and a network of Spartans across the world.