College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Communication Studies - Health Communication Emphasis, Online BS

The online Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies will provide you with opportunities to engage in interactions and skill-building in the areas of public speaking, academic writing, relationship maintenance and ethical strategies. This area of study creates an environment in which lifelong learners thrive.  Come learn alongside our award-winning faculty as we prepare you to enter the workforce upon graduation.  As a Utah Tech University Communication Studies graduate you will be skilled, knowledgeable, and prepared to create your own path for success. Join us in our pursuit to understand how human interaction affects the world we live in today.

program overview

$255

Cost Per Credit

4

*Years to Completion

120

Credits

*Some of the elective courses are not currently offered online but will be soon. This means that if you are currently a junior or a senior you need to speak with an academic advisor to see if you can complete this degree online.

career ready

  • Apply and demonstrate the importance of foundations and contributions of communication in both historical and contemporary contexts.
  • Identify and evaluate ethical communication in personal, professional, and societal contexts.
  • Illustrate how communication concepts and theories are used to understand communication behaviors in a variety of contexts, including small groups, organizations, interpersonal and professional relationships, and public discourse.
  • Synthesize and apply communication theory and skills to solve problems, manage personal and professional relationships, and overcome communication barriers.
  • Integrate critical reasoning into the formulation and delivery of effective and ethical personal, social, professional, and public oral and written messages for a variety of audience compositions in numerous contexts.
  • Analyze and critique messages from personal, social, professional, and public sources to determine message effectiveness, ethics, appropriateness, and strategies utilized by the message designer.
  • Apply effective and appropriate written and oral communication skills when exposed to intercultural settings, and cross-cultural environments to achieve a cultural sensitivity to diversity, as well as to navigate and overcome potential communication differences.

employment opportunities

Here are a few examples of jobs you can pursue after completing this degree. This list of jobs is meant to give you an idea of careers you can acquire after completing this degree, but it is not an exhaustive list.

Technical Health Writer

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions.  Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology. Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel. May assist in layout work. Assist in analyzing technical communications and preparing it for mass consumption.

Public Health Journalist

With a focus on public health you will narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.

Public Relations Specialist

Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media. With an emphasis in Health Communication you’ll be able to represent public health organizations.

Social Media Manager

Manage social media accounts by creating content, filtering through content, interacting with the public, creating announcements, and many other tasks. Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. Measure and assess customer and employee satisfaction. With an emphasis in Health Communication you can work for health organizations.

Social Scientist Research Assistant

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management. Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning. Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations. Verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases, correcting any errors.

The job descriptions listed above are credited to ONetOnline.org and UDOL/ETA. This is a link to the license.

admission requirements

1

Application

Fill out an online Utah Tech University application and pay the application fee.

Application
2

Transcripts & Test Scores

Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. If not transferring any college credits or transferring less than 24 credits, also submit high school transcripts and ACT, SAT, or placement scores.

3

*Declare Major

*You do not need to declare your major in order to be admitted to the university. You’ll need to meet with an academic advisor to assist you in your major/emphasis selection.

important dates

May 16, 2022

The next semester and start date for this program.

Registration Open

Registration is open for the summer and fall 2022 semesters.

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Your start dates for the program. More information can be found in the Academic Calendar.

faqs

How do I apply for admission?

First, determine which category of student you are:

  • New Student – A matriculated student who has never attended any college or university, including students who earned credit before graduating from high school.
    These students are NOT concurrent enrollment or early enrollment students.
  • Transfer Student – A matriculated student who, after high school graduation, attended another college or university and did not attend Utah Tech University.
  • Returning Student – A matriculated student who previously attended Utah Tech University after high school graduation but has not attended in three or more semesters, including students who may have attended another college or university since they were enrolled at Utah Tech University.
  • International Student – A matriculated or non-matriculated student who is not a U.S. citizen and has not received immigrant status from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
  • Non-degree Seeking – A non-matriculated student attending college classes for personal interest, enrichment, or growth.
  • Home Schooled – Taught at home using other approved curriculum. Certified by Parent/Guardian.

FOR NEW STUDENTS:

  1. Completed application
  2. $35.00 non-refundable fee
  3. Official high school transcripts or GED scores
  4. Test results (ACT, SAT, Accuplacer)
    • If you are a transfer student, we need official college transcripts for all schools attended. If transferring more than 24 credits, however, then high school transcripts/test scores are not required. Submitting test scores may still be helpful, though, depending on which classes you are enrolling in for prerequisite checking.
  5. To see requirements for the additional student types, refer to the Admissions Summary Sheet.

Visit Admissions

How do I order a transcript?

Transcripts can be ordered from your high school or college/university you previously attended. Some schools and institutions allow you to order your transcript online; check with your school for ordering instructions and pricing. For more detailed information on how to order transcripts, please follow the links below.

High School Transcripts Instructions

College Transcripts Instructions

Please allow time for the transcripts to be received and processed. If you have questions about if we have received your transcripts, you can contact us at 435-879-4323 or email us at brett.lunceford@utahtech.edu.

How will my credits transfer to Utah Tech University?

Once we have received your transcripts our registrars office will perform a transcript evaluation. This will tell us and you how your credits will transfer. You can also use our Transfer Guide to give you an idea of how your credits will transfer.

Transfer Guide

Why can't I log in?

The most common reasons why students cannot login include:

  1. You are not fully admitted yet
  2. You are admitted but aren’t entering the correct login & password (call 435-652-7777)
  3. You have entered the incorrect password more than three times and have been locked out.
  4. Your web browser is not accepting cookies (see google’s article: How to Enable Cookies).

Your username is your DigitalID number (must begin with d).

Is my admissions application complete?

Log into your application portal as a returning user. Or contact the admissions office phone: 435-652-7777, or email us at admissions@utahtech.edu

Application Portal

How do I apply for a scholarship?

If you have been admitted by the scholarship deadline, you are automatically considered for all academic scholarships based on your high school GPA and ACT or SAT test scores.

scholarship website

Contact

support

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Utah Tech One-Stop

Email: OneStop@Dixie.edu
Phone: 435-879-4748
Office: Technology Building #114