The Department of Life Sciences Communication is a world leader in science communication research, education, and practice. The doctoral minor in Life Sciences Communication allows students enrolled in doctoral programs from the biological and physical sciences, as well as interested students from other social science and humanities departments, to supplement their existing doctoral coursework with a transcriptable minor in Life Sciences Communication.
A doctoral minor in Life Sciences Communication is particularly valuable for graduate students in the natural and physical sciences who are interested in the ethical, legal, and social implications of emerging technologies, or who want to build an intellectual foundation for a future career in policy or various mission agencies (e.g., AAAS policy fellowships) dealing with public understanding and communication of science. Many students from these fields routinely take classes in our department, and a doctoral minor allows them to get formal recognition for their doctoral-level work in this area.
More information may be found on the department website.
Students do not need to apply for the minor prior to taking coursework. However, students interested in pursuing the LSC doctoral minor are strongly encouraged to contact the department student services coordinator to discuss course planning.
The doctoral minor in Life Sciences Communication is a course-based minor (10 credits) for students enrolled in other Ph.D. programs who would like to supplement their existing Ph.D. coursework with a minor in science communication.
Courses must be at the 300 level or above and should have the graduate attribute to count toward the minimum graduate coursework (50%) rule.
A minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.5 in LSC Doctoral Minor coursework is required.
Contact the Student Services Coordinator to discuss course selection for the minor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| LSC 700 | Colloquium in Life Sciences Communication | 1 |
| LSC 720 | Introduction to Communication Theory and Research | 3 |
| or LSC 902 | Public Opinion of Life Science Issues | |
| or LSC 625 | Risk Communication | |
| or LSC/ENVIR ST/JOURN 823 | Science and Environment Communication | |
| Approved Electives | 6 | |
| Visualizing Science and Technology | ||
| Communicating Science with Narrative | ||
| Social Media for the Life Sciences | ||
| Theory and Practice of Integrated Marketing Communication | ||
| Contemporary Communication Technologies and Their Social Effects | ||
| Documentary Photography for the Sciences | ||
| Web Design for the Sciences | ||
| Scientific Writing | ||
| Health Communication in the Information Age | ||
| Risk Communication | ||
| Data Analysis in Communications Research | ||
| Conceptualization and Design of Mass Communication Research | ||
| Science and Environment Communication | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Public Opinion of Life Science Issues | ||
| Total Credits | 10 | |