Deidre Butkus '10
Meeting some of my best friends and attending GVSU football games where we cheer on our Lakers!
Health Communication Career Guide
Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths
Academic Resources
Explore our health communication academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.
Curriculum Guide
Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.
Career Resources
Unlock career potential in Health Communication! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.
Menu of Experiences
Sample Health Communications Internship Sites
Internships provide a way for you to get hands-on, supervised experience in the world of work. You are able to apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment.
Join A Student Organization
Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!
Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills
Developing the relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider strategic elective courses and certificates to pair with their major in order to gain additional skills.
Community Service Opportunities
Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.
The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.
Health Communication Study Abroad Options
Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.
Borders are virtually meaningless in this early 21st century global economy. As a future graduate with a Health Communications major or minor degree, you will be confronting global issues and will work in internationally-operated companies. "Wake up and face the earth!" T. Friedman advised us in his bestseller ‘The World is Flat’.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.
Fellowship Opportunities
Fellowships are high-impact, potentially life-changing opportunities for students and alumni, opening doors to careers in public service, advanced academic study, foreign service, international teaching, and other career and service pathways into meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Health Communication Career Spotlights
Health Communication
Jordan Brown '13
Living in North B during my freshman year was truly a transformative experience for me. As I settled into the second floor, I found myself becoming part of an incredible community that felt more like family than just friends.
Khadijah Johnson '13
As a student employee working for Financial Aid.
Brandon Erhart '13 & '20
There are too many to count. Some of my favorite memories are of how the campus community came together. The GVSU Lip-Dub video, the "Wrecking Ball" era and the Snowpocalypse of 2011 are some of my favorites.
Where Alumni Have Landed
- Medical Device Sales Representative – Zimmer Biomet
- Financial Aid Officer – Ferris State University
- Recruiter – True Health New Mexico
- Purchasing Agent – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Copywriter – Innereactive
- Senior Program Administrator – Mercy Health
- Special Projects Coordinator– St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea
- Account Manager – Smart ID Works
- Campaign Assistant – Greater Ottawa County United Way
- Project Manager – bswift
- Nutrition in Action Educator – YMCA
- Client Support Specialist – Alliant Healthcare Products
- Real Time Analyst – Booking.com
- Development Coordinator – Bluebird Cancer Retreats
- Assistant Director of Greek Life and Student Organizations – Albion College
- Business Development Coordinator – Newago County Health Department
- Senior Account Manager – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
- Digital Marketing Specialist – Merrell
- Patient Services Representative – Spectrum
- Data Analyst – Trinity Health
Attend Events
Career Community- Healthcare
GVSU Winter 2026 Career and Internship Fair
February 19, 2026 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Winter Career & Internship Fair is an excellent place to kick off your job or internship search, or to begin networking with organizations looking to hire Grand Valley students and alumni...
2026 GVSU Health Professional Graduate School Fair
March 25, 2026 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Interested in exploring educational opportunities beyond your bachelor’s degree? Thinking of attending graduate or professional school for healthcare? Save the date for the Health Professional...
Consider joining the Healthcare Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!
Beyond Undergraduate: Graduate or Professional Programs
You’ve built a strong foundation in communication and health-related topics, and now you’re ready to bridge the gap between science and the public. Graduate school in health communication equips you with the skills to shape how people understand health issues, make informed decisions, and change behaviors.
- Master of Arts (MA) in Health Communication: This program focuses on crafting clear, effective messaging in healthcare, public health, and wellness. You'll learn to develop campaigns, improve patient-provider communication, and use media to influence health outcomes.
- Master of Public Health (MPH) with a focus in Communication: Ideal if you're interested in combining communication strategy with public health practice. You'll study topics like health literacy, risk communication, and behavioral change, preparing you for roles in government, nonprofits, or global health organizations.
- Interdisciplinary Programs: Some graduate options combine health communication with digital media, social marketing, or policy. These programs are great for students who want to use their skills to promote health equity, counter misinformation, or improve community outreach on a larger scale.
Discover More
Join a Career Community
Watch Videos from Professionals in the Field
Check out our podcast!
Career Center Resources
Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.