Humanities, Health, and Medicine Minor
Advisor: hhmminor@umd.edu
The ARHU minor in Humanities, Health, and Medicine engages students in an interdisciplinary curriculum that applies the methods, perspectives, and insights of the arts and humanities to health and medical education as well as practice. Through an exploration of human health and medicine using the inter-disciplinary questions and research methods of literary and cultural studies, as well as the arts, philosophy, communication, and history, the minor aims to develop and nurture skills such as empathy, ethical understanding, socio-cultural analysis, self-reflection, and an appreciation of diversity and inclusion that are essential for humane and effective medical care as well as sound health policy. This minor is open to all Undergraduate students on campus, regardless of major.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students aspiring to enter the health or medical professions will be able to demonstrate a fundamental understanding of the diverse historical, cultural, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of medicine, human health, disease, and death.
- Students will be able to demonstrate a critical, interdisciplinary, empathetic, and holistic understanding of the issues and challenges faced by medical and health professionals.
- Students will be able to analyze and evaluate complex texts relating to the social and cultural aspects of medicine through close reading and critical interpretation of arguments, metaphors, and images.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the fundamentals of "real world" professional application, research, and communication in the health and medical fields, including the research of resources particular to the health professions.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Course | ||
| ARHU230 | Introduction to Humanities, Health, and Medicine | 3 |
| ENGL395 | Writing for Health Professions 1 | 3 |
| or ENGL390 | Science Writing | |
| Take four courses in at least three of the following five core areas. 2 | 12 | |
Arts and Literature of Health, Medicine, Disease, and Death | ||
Philosophical, Ethical, Religious, or Spiritual Perspectives on Health, Medicine, Disease, and Death | ||
Health Communication | ||
Historical Perspectives on Health, Medicine, Disease, and Death | ||
Cultural, Mental, Gender, or Social Dimensions on Health, Medicine, Disease, and Death | ||
| Co-requirements: at least one of the above courses must have a Gen Ed diversity designation | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
- 1
ENGL390H may also be used for this requirement.
- 2
For a list of courses approved for each area, follow this link. At least six of the nine credits must be taken at the 300- or 400-level. Students may satisfy up to 3 credits of the 12-credit core area through a credit-bearing internship experience related to the minor. The internship must be approved by the Humanities, Health, and Medicine minor advisor in order to have these 3 credits count toward their minor.