Program at a Glance

  • Online
  • Part-Time Study
  • 16 Credits
  • 8–12 Months to Completion
  • 13 Faculty
  • No GRE/GMAT
  • Tuition & Fees Range—Part-Time Study*: $11,920-$15,400

*Based on 2022–2023 Boston University tuition and fees. Merit scholarship may reduce cost.

Master the Tools of Visual & Digital Health Communication

The online Graduate Certificate in Visual & Digital Health Communication at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET) examines the impact of the communication technology revolution on the field of health marketing and outreach and equips graduates with the modern visual and digital storytelling tools necessary for careers in this rapidly evolving industry.

The COVID-19 pandemic is just the latest public health emergency to illuminate the value of health communication—and the need for skilled practitioners who can help the public cut through misinformation, conflicting messages, and changing guidelines in order to access reliable insight and advice. The next decade will be a transformative one in healthcare. According to a report by Hootsuite and We Are Social, the number of active social media users is in the billions—and growing exponentially. With more than half the world’s population using social media, and with such rapid and continued expansion, it is essential to harness the power of this tool in your healthcare marketing and communication efforts.

Savvy communicators, marketers, and brand strategists recognize the importance of effective storytelling and strategic social media practices in capturing the engagement and participation of patients, consumers, or desired target audiences. How those audiences and consumers experience initiatives through social media, websites, mobile apps, videos, and branded content can make or break the success of an otherwise well-defined health campaign or project.

BU MET’s Visual & Digital Health Communication certificate program introduces the fundamental principles of design and how to apply them to the creation of powerful health education and delivery application tools, such as infographics, data visualization graphics, videos, websites, mobile apps, and branded content. You will also examine how to effectively and responsibly leverage social media to connect with a variety of audiences and stakeholders.

Awards & Accreditations
The course 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.

Charles River Campus

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Why Earn a Graduate Certificate in Visual & Digital Health Communication at BU?

Advance Your Skills in Visual & Digital Health Communication

The Graduate Certificate in Visual & Digital Health Communication is part of BU’s Health Communication program, which also includes the Master of Science in Health Communication (MSHC) degree program—developed in collaboration with BU’s College of Communication—and the Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Health Communication and Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Promotion, Media & Marketing.

Designed for professional health communicators and those looking to transition into the field, BU’s Health Communication program provides a comprehensive education in the areas of healthcare marketing and professional communication, interactive marketing, social media management, and public and media relations.

Taught by full-time university professors and leading professionals practicing in the field, coursework is practical and immediately applicable on the job. The program faculty create a dynamic learning environment by blending theory, practice, and scholarship in every course. The program curriculum, offered fully online, is designed to broaden and deepen students’ understanding of communications, PR, marketing, health sciences, and public health, as well as issues of privacy, regulation, ethics, health equity, and cultural humility.

Graduate with Expertise in Healthcare Communication

Metropolitan College’s Visual & Digital Health Communication graduate certificate will equip you with:

  • Knowledge of the value and significance of traditional, social, and emerging digital media practices in the health communication field.
  • The ability to design communication strategies and methods that employ digital and visual information to influence audiences or affect change on health-related topics and issues.
  • An understanding of the critical role that communication—including digital and visual content—plays in the healthcare industry.
  • The capacity to analyze, synthesize, interpret, and present health and scientific information for public consumption using clear and concise messaging.
  • Proficiency in creating digital images and visual tools—including infographics, branded content, video, data visualization graphics, webpage, and mobile page design—that purposely and ethically help bridge digital divides in health education and comprehension.

Certificate-to-Degree Pathway

You can earn the master’s in Health Communication with a concentration in Visual & Digital Health Communication by completing the Graduate Certificate in Visual & Digital Health Communication and the Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Health Communication. To be eligible for the degree, you must apply for admission and be accepted into the degree program. Consult with a graduate admissions advisor to learn more about these options.

Courses

(Four courses/16 credits)

Plus two of the following:


Health Communication Faculty

 

Tuition & Financial Assistance

Competitive Tuition

Our part-time rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education.

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Comprehensive Financial Assistance

Our services include scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans.

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Get Started

Please visit the BU MET admissions page for details on how to apply, financial assistance, tuition and fees, requirements for international students, and more.

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News & Events

Events

April 18th, 2023 at: 2:30pm - 3:15pm

Financing your BU MET Graduate Education (for DOMESTIC students)

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Events

April 21st, 2023 at: 10:00am

Computer Science Research Seminar Series: Multimodal Machine Learning and Human-Centered Computing for Health and Wellbeing

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Events

April 21st, 2023 at: 3:00pm

Celebrating with the ABA Community the 5th Anniversary of MS in ABA

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