Current Course Offerings
Students select 4 courses (3 credits each) from the listing below. Students may take up to 1 methods course (3 credits) to count for the certificate (see approved methods courses below). Additional MMC 6936 Special Topics in science communication will be offered and could count toward the certificate with approval. To receive approval, contact gradapps@jou.ufl.edu.
Choose 4 courses from the course options: (all 3 credits each, letter-graded)
- MMC 6409 Science/Health Communication
- MMC 6936 Environmental Communication
- MMC 6936 Translational Communication
- MMC 6936 Science Policy
Methods Courses with Science Communication Focus (only one course can be chosen from this list):
- MMC 6936 Systematic Review Methods (in Health, Medicine and Science) (Bylund)
- MMC 6936 Advanced Qualitative Methods: Narrative Health Research
COURSES:
Science/Health Communication
Course Description: This seminar is designed as a broad overview of the fields of and theories used to investigate and understand science and health communication and communication’s effect on public understanding.
Translational Communication
Course Description: This seminar focuses on how principles of communication science can inform the development of strategies that enhance the accessibility, understandability and usability of science in the public sphere.
Science Policy
Course Description: Given the central role played by science, technology and health, it is critical to develop knowledge of the interface of science, technology and decision making. This class attempts to help you understand how these relate. How do political or social issues affect the construction of a particular science/health issue? How do findings in a particular science/health issue inform the development of policy in that area? What role do the media play? In other words, how is scientific knowledge generated, presented, understood and applied as various political forces shape the development of policy in that scientific/health area?
Advanced Qualitative Methods: Narrative Health Research
Course Description: This course provides students with training in how to conduct narrative inquiry in health and science research with a heavy focus on integrative narrative across the research process: from theoretical framework and sensitizing constructs to method selection to narrative and thematic analysis.
Systematic Review Methods (in Health, Science, and Medicine)
Course Description: In this course, we will examine and practice the science and rigorous methodology of conducting a systematic review, using the PRISMA guidelines. Students will finish the course 1) as a critical consumers of systematic reviews; and 2) equipped with the skills and experience necessary to produce their own systematic reviews.
Environmental Communication
Course Description: This class is designed to introduce you to the role of communication in the formation of attitudes, opinions, and knowledge about important science and environmental issues. Topics covered include how structural factors affect the coverage of science and environmental issues, how different forms of media affect public opinion about these topics, and how people process environmental and scientific messages.