Program Overview

Program Overview

The Medical and Health Humanities program at Xavier University is an interdisciplinary field that studies the intersection of medicine and the humanities. It explores the social, cultural, ethical, and historical aspects of health and illness, combining subjects like literature, philosophy, history, art, and theology to provide a deeper understanding of the human experience of health and disease.

Program Description

By studying medical and health humanities, students develop critical thinking, empathy, and communication skills, all of which are essential for healthcare professionals. Students learn not only how cultural and social contexts determine individual health and well-being but also how medicine and healthcare are practiced both within and outside dominant biomedical and public health paradigms. This work helps to view patients as whole individuals, not just as medical cases.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Medical and Health Humanities major includes a range of courses that explore the historical, philosophical, literary, linguistic, and religious dimensions of health and medicine. Some of the sample courses include:

• Epidemics in America (HIST 237): This course examines the causes and consequences of the spread of epidemic disease in the American past.
• Doctors in Literature & Culture (ENGL 335): This course considers representations of doctors in literature, visual arts, music, and history, querying the religious, philosophical, and socio-cultural rationale behind our long-standing fascination with medicine, doctors, and the human bodies they treat.
• Theology and Trauma (THEO 416): This course explores the intersection of trauma and theology, investigating the nature of God as understood through the experience of trauma and post-trauma.

Outcomes

98% of Xavier students are working, volunteering, or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2023). Xavier students have a high acceptance rate to medical schools, with a 5-year average of 86% compared to the national average of 40%.

Career Preparation

Xavier's Career Development Office assists students in their search for employment by offering individual career counseling sessions, conducting workshop series on interviewing and resume writing techniques, and maintaining an educational, vocational, and employer information resource center.

Related Programs

The Medical and Health Humanities major can be paired with a range of other majors, including:

• BS in Biomedical Sciences
• BS in Exercise Science
• BA in English
• BS in Genetics
• BS in Health Administration
• BA in History
• BS in Microbiology
• BS in Neuroscience
• BS in Pharmaceutical Science
• BSN (Nursing)
• BSW (Social Work)

Program Features

The Medical and Health Humanities program at Xavier University offers a range of features, including:

• Grounded in Jesuit values, the curriculum ensures students develop critical thinking, communication, and empathy skills needed to excel in the healthcare industry.
• Customizable curriculum with a wide range of electives, including bioethics, the history of medicine, disability studies, and narrative medicine.
• Opportunities for innovative research, collaborating with faculty on original research projects.
• Pre-professional health advising, providing students with a competitive edge in medical school admissions and beyond.

FAQ

• What is medical humanities? Medical humanities is an interdisciplinary field that studies the intersection of medicine and the humanities, exploring the social, cultural, ethical, and historical aspects of health and illness.
• What jobs can you get with a medical and health humanities degree? A Medical and Health Humanities major prepares students for postgraduate medical, dental, pharmacy, or veterinary school, as well as a range of roles in government, civic engagement, and the healthcare industry.
• What majors pair well with the BA in Medical and Health Humanities? The Medical and Health Humanities major can be paired with a range of other majors, including Biomedical Sciences, History, and English.
• Does Xavier offer an honors program for students in the Medical and Health Humanities major? Yes, the University Scholars Honors Program offers students in the Medical Health and Humanities major a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree.