Dublin City University

Science & Health Communication

We are excited to add a new health communication strand to our longstanding expertise in researching and teaching science communication.

As well as teaching and training for those entering - and continuing - careers in STEM education and public engagement, we welcome students interested in leadership and communication in the commercial medical sector as well as public health policy, administration and regulation.

The new MSc in Science and Health Communication includes e-health governance, stakeholder engagement and management, policy drafting and data communication alongside existing topics on media skills and STEM communication.

DCU's School of Communications has just been ranked in the top 200 communications schools internationally. The only ranked Irish media/communications School in the QS ranking.

Programme

This programme is offered full-time over one year and part-time over two years.

Students take a combination of core and option modules in areas such as Research Methods; Strategic Communications for STEM, Environment and Healthcare; Informatics in eHealth; Science and Health in the Media; Data Communication; Understanding Social Media. The programme also includes practically oriented modules including Media and Communication Skills and Making Smartphone Videos. All students complete a Major Project/Dissertation and can avail of a work placement.

Why DCU

The MSc in Science and Health Communication is located in the School of Communications at DCU, which has an internationally recognised reputation for teaching and research excellence in media, communications and journalism. Staff include leading academic scholars and experienced industry professionals. Their innovative peer-reviewed and internationally ranked research, which is shared in a classroom environment, also helps shape policy decisions about the worlds of media, communications and journalism both in Ireland and internationally. With a tradition stretching back almost 40 years, today the School is home to almost 1,000 students studying undergraduate and postgraduate degrees as well as undertaking doctoral research.

Entry requirements

Requirements

General Entry Requirements

For admission to the MSc in Science and Health Communication programme, successful applicants will have -

•A degree at the level of an Irish or UK Honours undergraduate degree (H2.2 or above) or equivalent

•Applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may also be considered. This includes discipline-specific knowledge and know-how; transferable skills; basic research competency; personal effectiveness.

•International candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language.

Duration

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Careers or further progression

Graduates of this programme have found employment in science public relations and information services, science journalism, science broadcasting, science teaching, science demonstration and display, science publishing, web editing for science institutions and educational software authoring.