A health communication professional meeting with another colleague while taking notes

Health Communication

Ready to shape the future of health through communication? Our Health Communication major blends courses from Communication, Technical Communication, and Applied Health Sciences, preparing you to craft clear, culturally relevant messages that improve health literacy and outcomes. Whether in clinical settings, public health, or health media, your communication skills will make a difference.

Careers in Health Communication

Students are prepared for a diverse range of career paths as a professional communicator in the healthcare field, including roles such as digital copywriter, grants writer, healthcare coordinator, marketer, legislative affairs specialist, medical writer and patient advocate.
  • Community Relations Specialist
  • Medical Writer
  • Healthcare Marketing/PR Specialist
  • Health Educator
  • Patient Advocate/Patient Communication Specialist

Potential Salary

Median Salary $66,320

The median annual wage for Media and Communication Workers in May 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Health Communication Degrees at MSU

Health Communication, Bachelor of Science

Health communication provides multidisciplinary skills for communicating in health settings or about health and medical topics. Students analyze and evaluate health communication’s role in hospitals and medical contexts, in mediated messages for diverse audiences, and in everyday conversations. Students create written, visual, oral, and digital communications that deliver health messages in a clear, ethical, and culturally competent manner.

Health Communication, Minor

The Health Communication minor is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide undergraduate students with writing and speaking skills for use in health and medical settings. The minor is beneficial for students majoring in health or biomedical sciences who wish to communicate in patient-centered ways. The minor is also useful to communication-related majors who wish to further specialize their training. 

Casual group of young adults collaborating on a project with laptops in a contemporary office setting

Lambda Pi Eta

Lambda Pi Eta is the official honor society of the National Communication Association and a Recognized Student Organization (RSO) at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Related Programs

Woman looking at laptop and writing in her notebook.

Technical Communication

Our Technical Communication classes will teach you to communicate ideas and information effectively. We typically study how people communicate in a professional environment and focus on making documents that are clear, concise, accurate, thorough, and easy for the audience to use. Courses cover user experience, usability, content strategy, and instructional design, ensuring your work is accurate, thorough, and easy to use.

Student with microphone being filmed in front of a mural painting

Communication and Media

The Communication and Media program equips students with critical thinking, digital literacy, and global awareness, preparing them to be ethical and socially responsible communicators, advocates, and storytellers in a dynamic world.

School gym teacher holding clip board, on the field with students.

Applied Health Science

From undergraduate degrees in alcohol and drug studies to public health or public health education, school health education, pre-occupational therapy, pre-athletic training, or pre-health administration, you'll graduate prepared to make an immediate impact in the health science field through one of these rewarding careers.

Social worker talking with teenager.

Social Work

The Department of Social Work at Minnesota State University, Mankato, offers a nurturing and challenging environment for students committed to social justice and improving lives through a professional social work career. Our accredited BSSW and MSW programs provide students with comprehensive training that includes hands-on experiences in real-world settings, preparing graduates to improve lives and foster change in their communities.

Department of Communication and Media

College of

Humanities and Social Sciences

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is an inclusive community of diverse learners seeking to examine, engage with and transform the social world while nurturing creativity and innovation. Our programs build a foundation of knowledge that adapts to a constantly changing society.

Learn More About the College of Humanities and Social Sciences