Dec 10, 2024  
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2020-21 
    
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2020-21 [Archived Catalog]

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COMS 3400 - Introduction to Health Communication


Concerned with issues in the theory and practice of health communication. Topics include provider-patient communication; organizational communication in health care delivery systems; communication in community/consumer health education; information technologies in health communication; communication in support systems for the elderly, disabled, and terminally ill; and, communication training for health care professionals. Writing is integrated into this course in several ways. First, students will write regularly throughout the term. Course assignments will require that students engage with the content of the course while simultaneously attending to principles of writing. Second, we will devote class time to learning about writing via lectures, discussions, and activities. Writing topics will focus on macro, mezzo, and micro issues in writing including ideas, organization, paragraphs, sentences, and grammar. Third, students will produce several short and/or one longer piece of writing that comprises at least 10-15 pages of original writing. Fourth, students will revise and resubmit at least one writing assignment based on peer and/or instructor feedback. Fifth, as appropriate, students will provide their peers with feedback on writing assignments and will use the feedback from their peers for revisions .

Requisites: (C or better in COMS 2350) and (ENG 1510 or 151A) and Soph or Jr or Sr
Credit Hours: 3
General Education Code: 1JE
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:
  • Define the field of health communication.
  • Explain the symbolic negotiation of health, illness, and healing in a variety of contexts including healthcare training, provider-provider, patient-provider, patient socialization, family/friends-patient, organizational and media contexts.
  • Develop an understanding of significant theories and forms of health communication.
  • Experience the application of the theories and forms of health communication in written communication.
  • Integrate health communication skills with knowledge in students’ major area of study and/or to personal experience in health care situations.



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