Buies Creek, N.C. — From hospital administration to patient-provider interaction, health communication is an area that affects virtually everyone. In fall 2010, Health Communication will also be a track in the Department of Communication Studies.
Health communication is a relatively new – and quickly growing – area that focuses on the communication issues within health care settings.
“It is a growth area in our field and a step in moving the department to be more comprehensive,” said Dr. Dean Farmer, chair of the Department of Communication Studies. “We are providing more job opportunities to graduates.”
The track, which places emphasis on human communication and developing broad competency skills, calls for different requirements than other concentrations to meet these needs, such as requiring interpersonal communication and world religion courses.
The department first offered a course in health communication in spring 2009.
Job opportunities for majors vary, including pharmaceutical sales and working with public health agencies, hospitals or educational institutions with median salaries ranging from $60,000 to $75,000.
Amber Cava, a 2005 graduate of the department, recently accepted the position of Director of Marketing and Community Relations for Sampson Regional Medical Center (SRMC) in Sampson County and credits the department with inciting her interest in the area through an internship with REX Healthcare.
“The internship really opened a new door and exposed me to career opportunities I had not considered before,” said Cava. “My education at Campbell is one of my most valuable assets. My adviser, professors, and coursework all prepared me with the foundation and skills necessary to be successful in the workforce.”
The Department of Communication Studies also offers advertising, broadcasting and electronic media, journalism, public relations and generalist tracks.
Prepared by Chelsea Wilde, student writer