Skip to main content

Humanities, Health, and Medicine minor

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.

Contact Us

ARHU230: Introduction to Humanities, Health, and Medicine

Take one of the following courses:

ENGL395: Writing for Health Professions
- ENGL390H may also be used for this requirement.
ENGL390: Science Writing

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

View a list of courses approved for each area in the section below.

At least one of the above courses must have a Gen Ed diversity (UPS or CC) designation.

ARTH 389A: The Art of Drawing: A Left and Right Brain Experience
ARTH 389B: The Art of Color: A Left and Right Brain Experience
ARTT 100: Two-Dimensional Design Fundamentals
ARTT 110: Elements of Drawing I
DANC 398Y: Yoga, Improvisation, and Embodied Metaphors: Investigating Philosophy through Movement
ENGL 255: Literature of Science and Technology
ENGL 296: Reading and Writing Disability (DSHU; DVUP)**
KNES 289W: The Cybernetic Human

**Courses that meet the DVUP/DVCC Co-Requirement

ANTH 210: Introduction to Medical Anthropology and Global Health (DSHS;DVUP)**
ANTH 221: Introduction to Forensic Sciences
ANTH 265: Anthropology of Global Health (DSHU; DVUP; SCIS)**
ANTH 310: Method and Theory in Medical Anthropology and Global Health (DSSP; DVUP)**
ANTH 411: Global Migration and Health
ANTH 413: Health Disparities in the United States
ANTH 415: Advanced Studies in Global Health
BMGT 298I: Why Good Managers Make Bad Decisions
CHIN 443: Cultural Histories of Medicine in China
DANC 398Y: Yoga, Improvisation, and Embodied Metaphors: Investigating Philosophy through Movement
FMSC 110: Families and Global Health (DSHS; DVCC)**
FMSC 170: Modern Families
FMSC 190: Man Up! Where are the Fathers?
FMSC 310: Maternal, Child, and Family Health
FMSC 381: Family Inequality (DSHS; DVUP)**
FMSC 383: Health and Human Services Delivery and Evaluation
FMSC 460: Violence in Families (DSHS; DVUP)**
HIST 329B: Drugs in the Modern World: From Opium Wars to the War on Drugs
HIST 401: Science and Gender (DVUP)**
HIST 406: History of Technology
HLTH 325: Poor in America: Health and Wellbeing
HLTH 424: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health
HLTH 460: Multicultural Population Health
KNES 289W: The Cybernetic Human
PHIL 140: Contemporary Moral Issues
PHIL 202: Know Thyself: Wisdom Through Cognitive Science
PHIL 203 (formerly PHIL 209J): The Rights and Wrongs of Killing People
PHIL 209A: Bioethics: Regulating Right and Wrong
PHIL 209N: Know Thyself: Wisdom Through Cognitive Science
PHIL 220: Bioethics: Regulating Right and Wrong
PHIL 250: Philosophy of Science I
PHIL 256: Philosophy of Biology I
PHIL 261: Philosophy of the Environment
PHIL 308U: The Philosophy and Practice of Yoga
PHIL 341: Ethical Theory
PHIL 344: Philosophy of Race (DVUP)**
PHIL 354: Philosophy of Physics
PHIL 362: Theory of Knowledge
PHIL 366: Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 453: Philosophy of Science II
PHIL 456: Philosophy of Biology II
PSYC 301: Biological Bases of Behavior
PSYC 304: Biological Psychology
PSYC 318D: Domestic Violence
PSYC 344: Health Psychology
PSYC 346: Death, Dying, and Grieving: What Future Healthcare Professionals Need to Know
PSYC 498L: Death, Dying, and Grieving
SOCY 236: Gender and Health
SOCY 335: Sociology of Health and Illness
SOCY 412: Family Demography
SOCY 413: Sociology of Aging
WGSS/HLTH 471 (formerly WMST 471): Women’s Health
WGSS 488B: (formerly WMST 488): Health Inequality and Social Determinants

**Courses that meet the DVUP/DVCC Co-Requirement

ANTH 210: Introduction to Medical Anthropology and Global Health (DSHS;DVUP)**
ANTH 265: Anthropology of Global Health (DSHU; DVUP; SCIS) **
ANTH 323: Plagues, Pathogens, and Public Policy
ANTH 412: Hypermarginality and Urban Health
BMGT 298I: Why Good Managers Make Bad Decisions
COMM 324: Communication and Gender (DSHU; DVUP)**
COMM 382: Essentials of Intercultural Communication (DVCC)**
COMM 398E: Health Communication
COMM 424: Communication in Complex Organizations
COMM 427: Crisis Communication
COMM 470: Listening
EDSP 376: Fundamentals of Sign Language (DVCC)**
EDSP 476: Communication with Sign Language
ENGL 297: Introduction to Professional Writing
ENGL 390: Science Writing
ENGL 393: Technical Writing
ENGL 395: Writing for the Health Professions
FMSC 310: Maternal, Child, and Family Health
FMSC 431: Family Crises, Emergencies, and Interventions
FREN 387: Critical Writing on France and the French Speaking World
HLTH 140: Personal and Community Health
HLTH 230: Introduction to Health Behavior
HLTH 234: Global Health Messages: Understanding Exposure and Impact (DSHS; DVCC; SCIS)**
HLTH 285: Controlling Stress and Tension
HLTH 325: Poor in America: Health and Wellbeing
HLTH 424: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health
HLTH 431: Health Literacy in Action
HLTH 460: Multicultural Population Health
KNES 260: Science of Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health
PLCY 359M: Leadership on the Information Ages
PSYC 354: Multicultural Psychology in the U.S.
PSYC 498L: Death, Dying, and Grieving
SOCY 236: Gender and Health
SOCY 412: Family Demography
SOCY 413: Sociology of Aging
SPAN 371: Spanish for the Health Professions
WGSS/HLTH 471 (formerly WMST 471): Women’s Health

**Courses that meet the DVUP/DVCC Co-Requirement

AASP 189I: HIV/AIDS in a Global Perspective (DSSP; DVUP; SCIS)**
ANTH 265: Anthropology of Global Health (DSHU; DVUP; SCIS)**
ANTH 323: Plagues, Pathogens, and Public Policy
ANTH 413: Health Disparities in the United States
ARTH 389E: Intersections Between Science and Visual Culture in the Early Modern World
CHIN 443: Cultural Histories of Medicine in China
CLAS 317: Ancient Medical Thought and Modern Medical Terms
FMSC 170: Modern Families
FMSC 460: Violence in Families (DSHS; DVUP)**
FREN 449: Studies in 18th Century French Literature and Culture
HIST 204: Introduction to the History of Science
HIST 213: History of Sexuality in America
HIST 261: Medicine in the Age of Empires, 1500-1800 (DSHU, DVUP)**
HIST 289Y: Zombies, Fear, and Contagion: A Cultural History of Public Health, Medicine, and Technology (DSHS OR DSHU; DVUP; SCIS)**
HIST 401: Science and Gender (DVUP)**
HIST 404: History of Modern Biology
HIST 406: History of Technology
KNES 285: History of Physical Culture, Sport, and Science in America
PERS 498M: Sex, Gender, and Sexuality in the Islamic World
PHIL 250: Philosophy of Science I
PSYC 100: Introduction to Psychology
PYSC 206: Developmental Biopsychology
PSYC 404: Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology
SOCY 435: Society, Biology, and Health
WGSS 105 Introduction to Disability Studies (DSHU, DVUP)**
WGSS 205 Reproductive Justice: An Introduction (DSHS, DVUP)**
WGSS 290 (formerly WMST 298D): Bodies in Contention (DSHS; DVUP; SCIS)**
WGSS 319D: Disability Justice
WGSS 488B: (formerly WMST 488): Health Inequality and Social Determinants

**Courses that meet the DVUP/DVCC Co-Requirement

AASP 189I: HIV/AIDS in a Global Perspective (DSSP; DVUP; SCIS)**
AASP 441: Science, Technology, and the Black Community
AMST 260: American Culture in the Information Age
AMST 328L: Introduction to Comparative Ethnic Studies
AMST 498Q: Asian American Psychology
ANTH 210: Introduction to Medical Anthropology and Global Health (DSHS;DVUP)**
ANTH 263: Sexuality and Culture (DSHS;DVUP) **
ANTH 265: Anthropology of Global Health (DSHU; DVUP; SCIS)**
ANTH 412: Hypermarginality and Urban Health
ANTH 413: Health Disparities in the United States
ARTH 389E: Intersections Between Science and Visual Culture in the Early Modern World
BSCI 150: Beyond Race: Human Biological Diversity (DSNL or DSSP; DVUP; SCIS)**
BSCI 151: Beyond Race: Human Biological Diversity (DSNS or DSSP, DVUP, SCIS)**
BSCI 452: Diseases of the Nervous System
DANC 398Y: Yoga, Improvisation, and Embodied Metaphors: Investigating Philosophy through Movement
EDHD 320: Human Development Through the Life Span
EDHD 402: Social Development
EDHD 411: Child Growth and Development
EDHD 412: Infant Development
EDHD 413: Adolescent Development
EDHD 440: Adult Development
EDSP 220: Disability in Community
EDSP 376: Fundamentals of Sign Language (DVCC)**
EDSP 470: Introduction to Special Education (DVUP)**
EDSP 476: Communicating with Sign Language
ENGL 255: Literature of Science and Technology
ENGL 296: Reading and Writing Disability (DSHU; DVUP)**
ENGL 368N: Race, Health, and Narrative
ENGL 378K: Narrating Madness
ENGL 479Q: Food Words: Stories, Being, and the Gut
FMSC 110: Families and Global Health (DSHS; DVCC)**
FMSC 170: Modern Families
FMSC 190: Man Up! Where are the Fathers?
FMSC 260: Couples, Marriage, and Families: Intimate Relationship Across the Life Course
FMSC 310: Maternal, Child, and Family Health
FMSC 332: Children in Families
FMSC 431: Family Crises, Emergencies and Interventions
FMSC 432: Adult Development and Aging in Families
HIST 213: History of Sexuality in America
HIST 289Y: Zombies, Fear, and Contagion: A Cultural History of Public Health, Medicine, and Technology (DSHS OR DSHU; DVUP; SCIS)**
HIST 406: History of Technology
HLTH 140: Personal and Community Health
HLTH 285: Controlling Stress and Tension
HLTH 325: Poor in America: Health and Wellbeing
HLTH 424: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health
HLTH 460: Multicultural Population Health
HLTH 471: Women’s Health
HLTH 489I: East Meets West: Contrastic Public Health Priorities, Pragmatics, and Polemics in the U.S. and India (Education Abroad)
JAPN 425: The Atomic Bomb in Literature and Memory
KNES 260: Science of Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health
KNES 285: History of Physical Culture, Sport, and Science in America
KNES 289W: The Cybernetic Human
PERS 498M: Sex, Gender, and Sexuality in the Islamic World
PHIL 204: Happiness
PHIL 245: Political and Social Philosophy I
PHIL 344: Philosophy of Race (DVUP)**
PSYC 100: Introduction to Psychology
PSYC 234: Living the Good Life: The Psychology of Happiness
PSYC 301: Biological Basis of Behavior
PSYC 304: Biological Psychology
PSYC 318D: Domestic Violence
PSYC 344: Health Psychology
PSYC 346: Death, Dying, and Grieving: What Future Healthcare Professionals Need to Know
PSYC 354: Multicultural Psychology in the U.S.
PSYC 404: Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology
PSYC 414: Science of Sleep and Biological Rhythms
PSYC 455: Cognitive Development
SOCY 236: Gender and Health
SOCY 302: Intersectionality and Illness
SOCY 335: Sociology of Health and Illness
SOCY 412: Family Demography
SOCY 413: Sociology of Aging
SOCY 435: Society, Biology, and Health
SOCY 470 Pregnancy and Parenthood in an Unequal Society
WGSS 105: Introduction to Disability Studies (DSHU, DVUP)**
WGSS 205 Reproductive Justice: An Introduction (DSHS, DVUP)**
WGSS 290 (formerly WMST 298D): Bodies in Contention (DSHS; DVUP; SCIS)**
WGSS 319D: Disability Justice
WGSS/HLTH 471 (formerly WMST 471): Women’s Health
WGSS 488B: (formerly WMST 488): Health Inequality and Social Determinants

**Courses that meet the DVUP/DVCC Co-Requirement