Health Humanities (Minor)

The Health Humanities minor adds humanistic perspectives to the understanding of wellness and healthcare through interdisciplinary scholarship and research.

The Health Humanities minor focuses on ethical leadership practice, sensitivity to cultural impacts on health and wellness, and communication skills, helping future practitioners bridge the gap between patients and providers.

Minor Requirements

To fulfill the Health Humanities minor course requirements, students must take five (5) courses, for a total of 18–20 credits (depending on whether courses are taken at MCPHS). For more information, consult the Humanities Department Chair.

This minor includes a Capstone for independent research, and students will be encouraged to take optional internship experiences that explore the intersection of health and culture.

Required Course (4 credits)

All minors must complete the following course:

PHIL 131

Biomedical Ethics

Global Health Course (4 credits)

Complete one of the following:

BIOL 104	Introduction to Environmental Science	4
CHEM 101	Chemical Determinants of Health	4
ECON 145	Economics of Sustainability and Resource Use	4
NUTR 150	International Nutrition Issues	4
PH 245/SOCI 245	Global Health	4

Cultural and Historical Perspectives Course (4 credits)

Complete one of the following:

AST 232/SOCI 232/WGSS 232	Race, Gender & Health	4
BUS 220	Introduction to Health Systems	4
HIST 211	Medicine and the African American Experience	4
HIST 255	Pathogens and Peoples: A Cultural History of Disease	4
PH 241/SOCI 241	Health, Illness & Society	4
SOCI 275	Birth and Death	4
SW 251	Human Behavior in the Social Environment I	4

Medical Narrative Course (3–4 credits)

Complete one of the following:

COMM 312	Health Communications	4
MCPHS HUM.456-O	Narrative and Medicine	3

HUM.456-O is taught at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) and requires cross-registration through the Colleges of the Fenway (COF).

Capstone (3–4 credits)

Complete one of the following upper-level courses:

MCPHS HUM.230	Intro to Health Humanities	3
HUM 355	Thesis	4
HUM 370	Humanities Internship	4
PH 345	Health Systems & Policy	4

HUM.230 is taught at MCPHS and requires cross-registration through the Colleges of the Fenway (COF).