Medical Humanities

Medical schools and other institutions that train health professionals seek candidates who have a solid understanding of science as well as an appreciation for the art of health care.  Candidates who understand the ethical, interpersonal, legal, poltical, business and leadership issues of healthcare, in addition to the science of the human body, simply make better practitioners. At Richmond, we believe that health care professionals should begin their education at the undergraduate level, where a broad understanding of the human condition can be fostered, as well as an appreciation for the public and social issues that underlie health care decision-making.  Our medical humanities minor was designed to meet these goals.

The medical humanities minor complements the science-intensive pre-health curriculum by providing future healthcare practitioners with a solid foundation in the interpersonal, cultural, bioethical, legal, economic, business, and political facets of medicine. In physician-led courses, particular emphasis will be placed on the physician-patient relationship. By combining a mastery of the sciences with the development of medical humanity skills, students will be well-equipped to become effective healthcare providers.

The Medical Humanities Minor

IDST 200 The Medical Humanities

LDST 377 Ethical Decision Making in Healthcare

RHCS 102 Interpersonal Communication

PLSC 365 U.S. Healthcare Policy and Politics

One course, chosen from

CLSC 210 A History of Early Medicine

ECON 260 Health Economics

PHIL 220 Contemporary Moral Issues

PLSC 363 Global Health, Infectious Disease, and Human Rights

PLSC 364/PSYC 353 Mental Health and Policy

PSYC 331 Behavioral Neuroscience

or another approved elective

Students are expected to fulfill all prerequisites necessary for courses within the minor. Prerequisites do not count toward the minor unless otherwise noted.