Research Opportunities

Health Communication Research Opportunities at the U

The University of Utah provides robust opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students to engage in health communication research:

 

Graduate Programs and Specializations:

Within the Department of Communication’s M.A. and Ph.D. programs, students can specialize in health communication. Graduate seminars on topics like health communication theory, patient-provider interaction, and communication campaign evaluation are regularly offered. Students work closely with faculty mentors on research projects as research assistants, gaining hands-on experience in study design, data collection, and analysis. Doctoral students often focus their dissertations on health communication topics – for example, examining social media health misinformation or designing interventions to improve vaccine uptake – contributing new knowledge to the field.

Undergraduate Involvement:

At the undergraduate level, communication majors at Utah can take courses in health communication and related areas. Motivated undergraduates have opportunities to assist in faculty research through the Office of Undergraduate Research’s programs. The University’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides funding and support for students to conduct their own research under faculty supervision, and health communication is a popular area for such student-led projects.

Interdisciplinary Training:

The collaborative environment at the University of Utah means students can also bridge programs. There are practical training opportunities, such as internships with the University Health system’s patient education departments or with local public health agencies, where students apply communication research in real-world settings. These interdisciplinary and applied opportunities ensure that graduates are well-prepared for careers in academia, healthcare administration, public health advocacy, or health communication consulting.

Overall, students at both graduate and undergraduate levels are actively integrated into Utah’s health communication research endeavors, learning alongside faculty and contributing to meaningful projects that often have direct community impact.