According to health communication scholar Gary Kreps (2003) and as written in the Healthy People 2020 project commissioned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, health communication is the study and use of communication strategies to inform and influence individual and community decisions that affect health. It links the fields of communication and health and is increasingly recognized as a necessary element of efforts to improve personal and public health.<br><br>The Department of Communication Studies at IUPUI is pleased to offer one of the first Ph.D.s in the country specifically focused in health communication.<br><br>Students who pursue this degree will have the ability to work with our award-winning faculty in a dynamic program that offers robust opportunities for applied scholarship and research experiences. Classes are small, which allows students to build relationships with faculty and fellow students through discussion- and experience-oriented learning.<br><br>Choosing to pursue a doctorate in the Health Communications program will prepare you for teaching and research in the areas of health and interpersonal relationships, intercultural health, and mediated communication in healthcare contexts. You will be prepared to tackle the development of healthcare campaigns as well as the ethical questions surrounding the communication of healthcare messaging. Your coursework will prepare you to engage with clinical problems affected by communication and develop your ability to translate research into practice, putting you in a prime position for advanced work in academic and healthcare professions.