Medical Humanities, Minor

The UTRGV Medical Humanities Minor offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to develop an understanding of the cultural, economic, gender, and historical factors that influence health and healing. At the same time, the program will foster respect for the pluralistic diversity in society at large. For those who are interested in the practice of healthcare, this minor will be invaluable in examining crucial components of the healing arts, including ethical considerations in patient/client-caregiver relations and humanistic elements of positive healthcare delivery, such as effective communication, respect amongst patients/clients and providers, integrity, excellence, compassion, empathy, altruism, and service. By participating in this program of study, students will have the unique opportunity to work with faculty in the humanities who have strong teaching and research interests in the area of healthcare. This minor encourages students to think innovatively about their own roles in improving health throughout the world, no matter their future profession or past background.

Note: For a PDF version of the degree requirements for this program go to the Undergraduate Programs page on the UTRGV website. 

 

Minor Requirements – 18 Hours (9 advanced)

Choose 18 hours of Medical Humanities coursework, of which 9 hours must be advanced.

Medical Humanities Core – 3 hours (3 advanced)

Required

MEDH 4301Critical Thinking and Medical Humanities

3

Introductory Core – 6 hours

Required

PSYC 2301General Psychology

3

SOCI 1301Introduction to Sociology

3

Humanities and Health Electives - 9 hours (6 advanced)

Choose three elective courses (9 hours) from at least two different disciplines:

ANTH 2311Global Health and Social Justice: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Illness and Inequality

3

ANTH 4309Anthropology of Sex & Gender

3

ANTH 4311Medical Anthropology

3

ANTH 4350Mexican American Folk Medicine

3

COMM 3346Health Communication

3

COMM 3354Healthcare Provider Communication

3

ENGL 4320Literature and Psychoanalysis

3

HIST 4303Public Health in the Americas

3

INDS 2381World Literature and Global Health

3

INDS 2382Narratives of Illness

3

PHIL 2322Ethics, Health, and Culture

3

PHIL 4316Philosophy of Science

3

PSYC 3337Developmental Psychology: Lifespan

3

SOCI 3324Sociology of Health

3

SOCI 3393Sociology of Aging

3

SPAN 3348Advanced Spanish for Healthcare Professionals II

3

SPAN 4348/TRSP 4348/MASC 4348Sociolinguistics and Latino Health

3

Note: SPAN 3348 and SPAN 4348 have additional prerequisites

Classes from the Colleges of Liberal and/or Fine Arts that are at least 50% health focused and meet at least 3 of the 5 MEDH Program SLOs may be counted toward the minor with prior approval.