ALL PROGRAMS | College of Education & Human Development Programs

What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

This program will take 2 to 4 semesters to complete.

Where will I take classes?
Online

All required classes to earn a certificate can be completed online.

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

  • Fall:  July 15
  • Spring: December 1
  • Summer: Does not admit

Health Literacy Graduate Certificate

Talk to an enrollment coach
404-413-4393
[email protected]

Talk to the department
Sanquinette Vaughn
404-413-8040
[email protected]

Improved health literacy increases health equity. Addressing health literacy reduces disparities through improved communication between patients and health consumers and those who provide health information, such as doctors or public health workers.

This online graduate certificate strengthens competencies already acquired in fields such as nursing, social work, public health and adult literacy. You will learn the importance of understandable and actionable health information, the challenges of acquiring and changing health-related behavior and the development of programs in the community for addressing low health literacy.

The online Graduate Certificate in Health Literacy combines a theoretical and practical approach to issues of health literate communication in adult education, the health professions, healthcare administration and public health.

This program is designed for :

  • Adult educators
  • Researchers
  • Health care professionals
  • Health system employees
  • Public health practitioners

A significant feature of this certificate is the collaboration among scholars and practitioners in adult education, the health professions, healthcare administration and health promotion and behavior. The program gives students a systematic understanding of how health literacy impacts education, health outcomes, health communication, health promotion and behavior between and among individuals, businesses, health care entities, and traditional and digital media. These skills are critical in industry, academia, business, non-profit organizations, healthcare facilities, and government.

Program Details

Admission Requirements for Health Literacy Certificate

When applying to the Health Literacy Graduate Certificate program, you will need to submit several documents for review:

  • Online application
  • Application fee of $50
  • Goals statement (upload with the application)
  • Official transcript: minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA or master’s degree required for admission. Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended either electronically to [email protected] or by mailing to:

    Georgia State University
    Office of Graduate Admissions
    P.O. Box 4018
    Atlanta, GA 30302

Total Semester Hours for Certificate: Minimum of 12

Required (9 Hours):
EPY 8070 – Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning 3 Credit Hours
EPY 8265 – Health Behavior: Acquisition and Change 3 Credit Hours
PHPB 8275 – Health Literacy 3 Credit Hours

Choose One Course (3 Hours):
NURS 8100 – Health in Vulnerable Populations 3 Credit Hours
NURS 8675 – Health & Law Vulnerable Populations & Disparities 3 Credit Hours
PHPB 8255 – Health Communication 3 Credit Hours
SW 8330 – Contemporary Health Challenges 3 Credit Hours
SW 8350 – Economic Justice, Inequality, and Poverty 3 Credit Hours

Visit the catalog for additional information and to view course descriptions.

Students who complete the Certificate in Health Literacy will be able to:

  • Identify basic theories, concepts and models from a range of social and behavioral disciplines that are used in adult education, public health research and practice, health communication, and health promotion and behavior.
  • Apply steps and procedures for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs, policies, and interventions.
  • Apply evidence-based principles and the scientific knowledge base to critical evaluation and decision-making.
  • Assess individual, organizational and community concerns and resources for health care and health outcomes.
  • Implement best-practice social, emotional, and cognitive practices in applying health literate principles to the instructional process and learning outcomes.
  • Apply social and behavioral risk factors as they contribute to individual and public health outcomes.

Topics covered to address these objectives include the science of learning, human development along the life span, learning, memory and cognition in the real world, behavior analysis, health communication theory and practice, health literacy in research and in practice, writing for health literate communication, linking socio-ecological factors to health outcomes, health promotion and behavior theory and practice, and using a critical approach to human behavior.

Description

Careers

This graduate certificate will add a skill set to careers such as nursing, research, public health and social work.

Contacts

Admissions and Curriculum Inquiries

Sanquinette Vaughn
404-413-8040
[email protected]

Department of Learning Sciences
College of Education & Human Development
Suite 750
30 Pryor St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

College of Education and Human Development Logo30 Pryor Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

The information shared here provides an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For official details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more, refer to the university catalogs.