PG Diploma in Health Communication

 
This new one year programme in health communication, introduced under the UGC’s Innovative Programmes Scheme, provides candidates with a good understanding of the major concepts and issues in health along with the skills needed to work as health communicators.

The programme includes courses on health policy, major health-related debates, the structure and politics of health systems, media skills for health messages, social and behavior change communication and health campaign planning, research and evaluation. One semester of intensive course work is followed by a semester of project work within the field.

Applying for the course

The course is open to those with a master’s degree in any discipline or a bachelor’s degree followed by two years of experience in a health-related organization. In-service candidates sponsored by their employer may also apply.

Candidates will be admitted through an all-India entrance examination followed by an interview. The entrance examination will comprise 75% of the marks while the interview will account for 25%. Sponsored candidates with a minimum of 2 years of experience in the field will be exempted from the written examination but will be invited for an interview subject to their meeting the minimum eligibility criteria.

The programme

The two-semester course will combine theory and practice, with the first semester spent on intensive coursework and the second on a field engagement. Courses in the first semester will include:
 

Optional courses: Special topics (focus areas) in health/Innovations in health communication

The second semester will be spent on a practicum that can be done with a specific organization. Students will also build a media portfolio comprising  a variety of platforms.

Faculty and resources

Apart from the core faculty at the Department, the programme will draw upon the vast network of relationships built over the years to bring considerable value to the programme in terms of teaching resources and in providing practical learning contexts. Faculty will be drawn from the following organizations, with new partnerships being forged every day.