An Inside Track for APR-Holding Public Relations Professionals

• 100% Online
• Part-time
• No GRE/GMAT required

Leverage your Accreditation and Earn Your Master’s Degree in as Few as 14 Months
Professionals who hold the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) may waive two courses upon acceptance to the Boston University’s Master of Science in Health Communication (MSHC) program. Equivalent to 8 academic credit hours, the two-course waiver recognizes the mastery of strategic communication practice, competencies, and ethical standards achieved by those holding the APR—internationally recognized for more than 50 years as the industry standard in credentials for public relations professionals.

Students are admitted to the program on a rolling basis throughout the year. Upon acceptance to the program, students with the APR can:

• Waive the following two courses, the equivalent of 8 credit hours:
  • Contemporary Public Relations (MET HC 756)
  • Media Relations for Health Communicators (MET HC 758)
• Save an estimated 20 percent in tuition costs
• Earn a master’s degree in as few as 14 months

The Master of Science in Health Communication (online)

Twenty-first century health communication is a distinct and exciting discipline. With roots in the field of public health education and promotion, today’s professional health communicators leverage PR, storytelling, media and marketing know-how to build effective strategies and actionable, ethical communication plans in highly regulated health care environments.

To prepare you for these tasks, BU’s Metropolitan College (MET) and College of Communication (COM) collaborate to offer the cutting-edge Master of Science in Health Communication, available in a flexible online format.

The Health Communication master’s program at Boston University immerses students in a curriculum comprising health care fundamentals, visual branding and storytelling, marketing, mass media strategies, health literacy, public relations, health care policy, biology, epidemiology, and research methods.

Because MET is focused on practical, insightful, and adaptable knowledge, the tools and skills you learn at MET today can be immediately applied on the job while remaining relevant, useful, and valuable to your career growth for years to come.

Choose from the following online graduate degree programs:

• Master of Science in Health Communication (online)
• Master of Science in Health Communication Concentration in Healthcare Promotion, Media & Marketing (online)
• Master of Science in Health Communication Concentration in Visual & Digital Health Communication (online)

The multidisciplinary program will prepare graduates to leverage their expertise in marketing and communication strategies, consumer health and wellness promotion, digital and social media management, health advocacy, patient education, journalism and writing, and multi-media content development to help patients, consumers, providers, and health organizations effectively communicate about health care and wellness.

Explore a wealth of issues in the rapidly-growing health care field, examine best practices, and position yourself for career opportunities in government agencies; health insurance; public health education; hospitals and medical practices; advertising, marketing, and public relations; medical device companies; biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies; health journalism and media; education; and the non-profit sector, among others.

Top Reasons Why You Should Consider BU’s Health Communication Master’s

• Each class comprises small groups taught by experienced health professionals and faculty experts from across Boston University, including the College of Communication, School of Public Health, and Metropolitan College.
• Faculty are engaged in current research, and have hands-on expertise in health care, media, public health education, public relations, and health care marketing.
• Flexible 100% online format allows you to study on your terms and balance your education, work, and other commitments.
• Small, online facilitator-led mentoring groups (facilitator/student ratio 1:15).
• A course elective to the program, Visual Communication in the Digital Health Age (MET HC 762) received the 2017 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Teaching & Learning—a global honor recognizing excellence in delivering students a flexible, innovative online learning experience.
• Introduced in 2008, BU’s master’s degree in Health Communication was the first degree of its kind to be offered fully online—and continues to lead the way in health communication education.