Master in Communication of Science and Health 12 months Postgraduate Programme By Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele |TopUniversities

Programme overview

Main Subject

Communication and Media Studies

Degree

Other

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

The Master's Degree in Science and Health Communication, now in its fifth edition, is a highly specialized course in communication and the relationship between science and society. It aims—through theoretical and practical training—to develop professionals capable of communicating with diverse audiences interested in research and innovation in the health sector, defined according to the One Health approach, in which human, animal, and environmental well-being are closely intertwined.  

The Master's program offers a highly interdisciplinary theoretical and practical training experience: students acquire skills ranging from journalism to the philosophy of language, from the philosophy of science to bioethics, from multimedia storytelling to data journalism, from social media management to corporate communications for techno-scientific companies. Seminars, workshops, and project work are also included, allowing students to immediately test their newly acquired skills.

The faculty is composed of academics and professionals in journalism, publishing, and communications. This dual nature of professors, who rotate throughout the program, represents a significant added value. Collaboration with leading institutions in their fields guarantees students a unique educational experience.

The master's courses cover five macro-areas:

1. Philosophical perspectives on communication and science. The courses in this area develop cultural skills regarding the nature of science as an intellectual enterprise, the relationship between science and other forms of knowledge, the relationship between knowledge and society, and communication as a tool for strengthening citizens' critical thinking.

2. Science and Society: Technical and Cultural Transformations in the Information World. Courses in this area focus on information in a changing world, with a focus on the world of science and journalism covering science and health. Topics covered include vaccine controversies, the risk of pandemics, risk communication related to planning prevention campaigns and managing emergencies, the phenomenon of disease mongering, fake news, and the impact of new technologies on journalistic communication.

3. Research in Medicine, Biology, Psychology, and Environmental Science: New Communication Challenges. The courses in this area provide the tools for deepening and critically analyzing research in medicine, biology, environmental science, and neuroscience/psychology, starting with specific cases and with the input of internal (OSR/UniSR) and external experts. Special consideration will be given to the most current and socially debated topics in these fields, such as gene editing in medicine and food, global warming, and microplastic pollution. The goal is not only to present and discuss scientific issues, but also to reflect on their social impact and the role and effectiveness of communication.

4. Writing practice. The courses in this area develop practical skills in how to craft effective communication depending on the context (journalism, publishing, corporate communications, institutional communications). Three different writing workshops are offered: long-form journalism, in which a news story is developed in an in-depth narrative; writing for the web; and creative writing.

5. Explore dissemination channels and tools. Courses in this area also develop practical skills, with a two-fold objective. On the one hand, they provide an overview of communication channels and the conceptual tools for their use—from social media to event planning, from podcasts to audio-video content creation. On the other, they provide the skills necessary for data journalism : how to collect, process, visualize, and interpret empirical data to tell a story.

Who is it for?

The Master's program is designed for those seeking a new career path, as well as communications professionals who wish to specialize in the medical-scientific field, acquiring new skills and mastering the industry's tools and languages.

Educational objectives

The Master's program aims to train communicators capable of mediating scientific content and news, capable of producing clear and accurate information for their target audiences and their contexts. The communicator, in this sense, is also a cultural practitioner: a professional equipped with the intellectual tools to undertake the complex work of negotiating meanings and values ​​between different audiences—ordinary citizens, doctors, researchers, institutions, politicians, patients—which is at the heart of science communication and its social role: ensuring dialogue and collaboration between all these entities, based on facts and trust.

In particular, the Master's degree aims to create an educational path aimed at training:

- science journalists;
- press officers for public and private institutions;
- communicators in research centers, hospitals, science museums, companies, and universities;
- operators in the field of educational and scientific publishing;
- multimedia content producers;
- organizers of scientific events and festivals;
- creators of awareness and prevention campaigns

Programme overview

Main Subject

Communication and Media Studies

Degree

Other

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

The Master's Degree in Science and Health Communication, now in its fifth edition, is a highly specialized course in communication and the relationship between science and society. It aims—through theoretical and practical training—to develop professionals capable of communicating with diverse audiences interested in research and innovation in the health sector, defined according to the One Health approach, in which human, animal, and environmental well-being are closely intertwined.  

The Master's program offers a highly interdisciplinary theoretical and practical training experience: students acquire skills ranging from journalism to the philosophy of language, from the philosophy of science to bioethics, from multimedia storytelling to data journalism, from social media management to corporate communications for techno-scientific companies. Seminars, workshops, and project work are also included, allowing students to immediately test their newly acquired skills.

The faculty is composed of academics and professionals in journalism, publishing, and communications. This dual nature of professors, who rotate throughout the program, represents a significant added value. Collaboration with leading institutions in their fields guarantees students a unique educational experience.

The master's courses cover five macro-areas:

1. Philosophical perspectives on communication and science. The courses in this area develop cultural skills regarding the nature of science as an intellectual enterprise, the relationship between science and other forms of knowledge, the relationship between knowledge and society, and communication as a tool for strengthening citizens' critical thinking.

2. Science and Society: Technical and Cultural Transformations in the Information World. Courses in this area focus on information in a changing world, with a focus on the world of science and journalism covering science and health. Topics covered include vaccine controversies, the risk of pandemics, risk communication related to planning prevention campaigns and managing emergencies, the phenomenon of disease mongering, fake news, and the impact of new technologies on journalistic communication.

3. Research in Medicine, Biology, Psychology, and Environmental Science: New Communication Challenges. The courses in this area provide the tools for deepening and critically analyzing research in medicine, biology, environmental science, and neuroscience/psychology, starting with specific cases and with the input of internal (OSR/UniSR) and external experts. Special consideration will be given to the most current and socially debated topics in these fields, such as gene editing in medicine and food, global warming, and microplastic pollution. The goal is not only to present and discuss scientific issues, but also to reflect on their social impact and the role and effectiveness of communication.

4. Writing practice. The courses in this area develop practical skills in how to craft effective communication depending on the context (journalism, publishing, corporate communications, institutional communications). Three different writing workshops are offered: long-form journalism, in which a news story is developed in an in-depth narrative; writing for the web; and creative writing.

5. Explore dissemination channels and tools. Courses in this area also develop practical skills, with a two-fold objective. On the one hand, they provide an overview of communication channels and the conceptual tools for their use—from social media to event planning, from podcasts to audio-video content creation. On the other, they provide the skills necessary for data journalism : how to collect, process, visualize, and interpret empirical data to tell a story.

Who is it for?

The Master's program is designed for those seeking a new career path, as well as communications professionals who wish to specialize in the medical-scientific field, acquiring new skills and mastering the industry's tools and languages.

Educational objectives

The Master's program aims to train communicators capable of mediating scientific content and news, capable of producing clear and accurate information for their target audiences and their contexts. The communicator, in this sense, is also a cultural practitioner: a professional equipped with the intellectual tools to undertake the complex work of negotiating meanings and values ​​between different audiences—ordinary citizens, doctors, researchers, institutions, politicians, patients—which is at the heart of science communication and its social role: ensuring dialogue and collaboration between all these entities, based on facts and trust.

In particular, the Master's degree aims to create an educational path aimed at training:

- science journalists;
- press officers for public and private institutions;
- communicators in research centers, hospitals, science museums, companies, and universities;
- operators in the field of educational and scientific publishing;
- multimedia content producers;
- organizers of scientific events and festivals;
- creators of awareness and prevention campaigns

Admission Requirements

Admission Procedures

A bachelor's degree or a specialist/master's degree is required, or a degree according to the old system prior to Ministerial Decree no. 509/1999. Those in possession of an equivalent qualification awarded abroad, recognized as suitable under current legislation, may also apply.

Documents to be attached to the application for admission:
  • Self-certification or Bachelor's degree certificate with grade indication
  • Self-certification or Master's degree certificate (if obtained)
  • Signed professional training curriculum vitae
  • Copy of a valid personal identity document
  • Any other titles

Candidate selection process:

The selection of candidates will consist of an evaluation of qualifications and an interview which will be conducted using the following criteria:
Maximum score: 15 points divided as follows*:
  • Degree grade: up to 2 points for grades ≤ 100, up to 3 points for grades ≥100, 4 points for grades equal to 110 with honors
  • Master's Thesis: up to 3 points, based on relevance to the methodologies and topics covered in the Master's program
  • Master's/specialist/old system degree (if applicable): maximum 1 point
  • Any other qualifications: maximum 2 points
  • Maximum interview score: 5 points
* Candidates who obtain a score equal to or lower than 5 points will not be considered eligible for admission to the Master's program.

STEPS after submitting the application:
  • Notice of admission interview, which will be held remotely the week following the closing of admission applications.
  • Publication of the ranking and instructions for proceeding with any enrollment.

1 Year

Tuition fees

Domestic
3,500 EUR
International
3,500 EUR

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