Medical Humanities
General Information
The Medical Humanities major helps students increase their understanding of the nature of illness, health, wellness, healing, and medicine by exploring these topics in three blocks of classes that share a commonality of focus. The Major in Medical Humanities is intentionally flexible and interdisciplinary, reflecting both the needs of students and the nature of the field.
To ensure cohesion, all majors take the introductory course, a Medical Humanities Commons course, which is an interdisciplinary examination of a single relevant topic (e.g. “Suffering” or “Compliance”) and a Capstone course in Medical Humanities that includes a project integrating their chosen coursework with community engagement.
Block 1: Inclusivity & Diversity: Courses in this block allow students to explore how race, ethnicity, gender, sex, age and income affect the experience of health, illness and medicine. Demographically, the population of the United States is aging and diversifying and this affects who seeks health care and how they interact with the system. Poverty has an enormous impact on the health and well-being of individuals, communities and populations. Students pursuing careers in health care will therefore benefit from a foundational understanding of these concepts and perspectives.
Block 2: Ethics, Religion & Culture: Courses in this block provide students with a foundation in the values, beliefs and concepts that define how health, illness, disease and medicine are experienced at a social and cultural level by individuals and societies. It prepares students to confront ethical questions of meaning and value that arise in the context of medical research and practice. Spirituality and religion for many patients, practitioners and communities are the heart of health care. Exploring cross-cultural perspectives on medical beliefs, practices and systems encourages students to reflect on the diverse ways humans approach, experience and solve problems of health and health care delivery.
Block 3: Narrative Medicine, Communication & Fine Arts: Courses in this block allow students the opportunity to explore different ways of observing, communicating and understanding health, illness and healing. Narrative medicine encourages students to write, reflect and find meaning in their own and others experiences with health and medicine. Literature introduces students to life situations associated with illness and disability in an intimate and intuitive way. Communication skills are essential for interprofessional teams, and working with clients and patients. Music, visual art and drama courses encourage students to express and experience the human condition in unique ways, as well as improving listening, observation and communication skills.
Other Information
All coursework taken for the medical humanities major must be completed with a grade of “C-“ or better.
Residency
A maximum of three credit hours can be transferred from another university to count towards the medical humanities major, unless the Director agrees to additional credit transfer.
Contact Information
Dustin Pendley
dpendley@unomaha.edu
Website
An education with a humanities perspective on health and medicine shapes individuals to think critically, compassionately and knowledgeably about the human condition, appreciate and respect diverse communities, and develop reflective and resilient habits of the mind. A major in Medical Humanities prepares graduates for health care occupations through its focus on the humanistic aspects of medicine that promote patient centered care and resilient professionals.
Students could benefit from this program if they are planning careers in
- medicine
- public health
- mental health
- counseling
- nursing
- health education
- bioethics
- health care administration
- health communications and public relations
- patient advocacy
- human resources
- wellness
- chaplaincy