Planning & Designing Health Communication Interventions

Catalog description

Effective health communication is essential for shaping behaviors, influencing social norms, and driving public health change at local and global levels. This course provides an introduction to key theories in health communication and behavior change, equipping students with practical skills to design, implement, and evaluate communication interventions. This course will draw on case studies from both international global health initiatives and domestic campaigns, as well as the instructors own experience on topics such as gender and health, reproductive health, community empowerment, and violence prevention. Students will examine emerging trends, including digital technologies, behavioral economics, and human-centered design, and critically assess how communication strategies can be adapted across diverse cultural and social contexts. The course will also address power dynamics in health communication practice, encouraging students to reflect on ethical considerations and their own role in fostering equitable and community-driven health initiatives. Through real-world applications and interactive discussions, students will gain a deeper understanding of how strategic communication can be leveraged to improve health outcomes.