Assistant Professor – Health Communication

Assistant Professor – Health Communication

• Posting Number: FAC
  00188PO25
• Campus: Columbia
• College/Division: College of Information and Communications
• Department: CIC School of Journalism and Mass Communications
• Salary: Commensurate with experience
• Employment Type: Full Time, 37.5 hours/week, 9 months, Tenure-Track/Tenured
• Position Category: Full-time Equivalent (FTE)
• Work County: Richland
• Job Search Category: Faculty
• Desired
  
  Start Date:
  
  08/16/2026
• Job Open Date: 09/18/2025
• Open Until Filled: Yes

From the Upstate to the Low country, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning.

All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SJMC) invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Health Communication with an expected start date of August 16, 2026. The successful candidate will conduct original research, teach undergraduate and graduate courses, pursue external funding, mentor students, and engage in service to the school, college, university, and profession. Preferred expertise includes information integrity and trust in health communication, including the role of social media platforms.

Areas of interest include patient-provider communication, health communication campaign design, digital health technologies, AI and data analytics in health information, media coverage of health issues, strategic communication in healthcare, immersive media, interactive platforms, and data visualization.

The College of Information and Communications (CIC) is home to two internationally recognized schools, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SJMC) and the School of Information Science (iSchool), plus the interdisciplinary unit of Information and Communication Studies. CIC advances research, teaching, and outreach across communication, information science and interdisciplinary studies, relying on resources such as the Social Media Insights Lab and the Biometric and User Experience Lab.

The Information and Communication Studies unit expands the college’s programs through undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates in communication, data and communication, health communication, and information security and cyber leadership.

The SJMC enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduates and 120 graduate students across programs in advertising, public relations, broadcast journalism, journalism, mass communication, sports media, visual communication, and interdisciplinary minors. It offers a research-oriented master’s program in theory and research, a professionally focused master’s program, and a Ph.D. in mass communication.

• Ph.D. in Health Communication, Mass Communication, Communication Studies, Communication, Journalism, or a related field by the start date of the position. ABDs will be considered, with the Ph.D. required at the time of appointment.
• An emerging record of scholarly publications or creative activity in health communication.
• Evidence of, or strong potential for, excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Demonstrated potential for securing external research funding.

• Focus in information integrity and trust in health communication, including the role of social media platforms.

Applications are due by October 27, 2025
. The position will remain open until filled.