Boston University\u2019s online Graduate Certificate in Visual & Digital Health Communication is a 16-unit course of study that examines the impact of the communication technology revolution on the field of health marketing and outreach, and prepares graduates for careers in this rapidly changing and growing industry through the development of visual and digital storytelling tools vital to modern messaging. It can be completed in less than a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next decade will be a transformative one for healthcare. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030 aging baby boomers will outnumber children for the first time. By 2034, more than 77 million (one in five residents) will be age 65 or older. In addition to this predicted demand for healthcare needs, an increase in chronic lifestyle diseases\u2014diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, arthritis, cancer, dementia, and other stress-related disorders\u2014is helping drive expansion of the wellness industry, the value of which is poised to grow by $1,299.8 billion through 2024, according to a report by Technavio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Digital technology will continue to have an impact on healthcare, with venture funding for health tech innovators at $14 billion in 2020 and expected to increase, according to Deloitte. The same can be said of social media. According to a report by Hootsuite and We Are Social, the number of active social media users is in the billions\u2014and growing exponentially. With more than half the world\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Savvy communicators, marketers, and coverage providers 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the Visual & Digital Health Communication certificate program\u2019s required courses, students will learn 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. Students will also examine how social media is used in health care and why using it effectively has become a necessary skill for many health care professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boston University\u2019s Graduate Certificate in Visual & Digital Health Communication consists of four required online courses (16 units).<\/p>\n\n\n
(Four courses\/16 units)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minimum passing grade for a course in the graduate certificate program is B\u2013 (2.7), but an average grade of B (3.0) must be maintained to be in good academic standing and satisfy certificate requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n