CAS 253Health Communication

3 credits · Communication Arts and Sciences · Penn State

CAS 253 introduces students to principles of health message design and the general theories and models used to guide these efforts. This course is designed to provide students with theoretical principles for practice in planning and evaluating health messages for dissemination by health organizations, policy makers, and other interested publics. CAS 253 emphasizes the potential positive and negative outcomes associated with specific messages designed to impact individuals' knowledge and behavior with health consequences. It emphasizes the importance of audience segmentation on goal selection in guiding health message design, as well as the effects and effectiveness of source and channel selection for reaching particular audiences. The CAS 253 Health Communication course is one of a series of electives for Communication Arts and Sciences majors or minors interested in pursuing careers in organizational communication, health communication, sales, and training and development in small groups. The course is possibly linked to those with interests in biobehavioral health.