Medical History and Humanities (MA)

Program Overview

---

The MA Medical History and Humanities program at York University is an interdisciplinary program that blends medical history with perspectives from literature, sociology, philosophy, health sciences, and policy. It encourages critical and analytical thinking, provides a top-notch research environment, and offers a diverse range of option modules. Graduates are prepared for careers in public health, social policy, medical research, and more, with skills in analytical thinking, communication, and independent research.

Program Outline

---

Extracted Information from the MA Medical History and Humanities Program at York University:

---

Degree Overview:

• Uniquely interdisciplinary: Blends medical history with perspectives from literature, sociology, philosophy, health sciences, and policy.
• Critical and analytical approach: Encourages students to explore illnesses, health, public health issues, and medical history through diverse lenses.
• Top-notch research environment: Delivers cutting-edge research insights and expert guidance from faculty in both history and English departments.
• Global and diverse perspectives: Promotes collaboration and learning from students and staff across various disciplines, historical periods, and geographic regions.
• Dissertation focus: Students delve into a chosen research topic and independently develop a 14,000-16,000 word dissertation.

---

Outline:

• Length: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
• Structure:
• Core Modules:
• Medical History and Humanities: A Critical Introduction
• Research Training
• Option Modules:
• Students choose three modules from a diverse range covering topics in medical history, humanities, and beyond.
Examples include:
• A Picture of Health: The Mass Media and Public Health in the Twentieth Century
• Persecution and Toleration in Early Modern England
• Global Visions and Local Actions: The History and Politics of International Health
• Literature, Medicine and Metropolis, 1785-1850
• The Sickness of Style: on poetry and morbidity 1850 to present
• Healing, Harming, Feeling: Medical Hermeneutics in Early Modern Literature
• Options confirmed after program start.
• Dissertation: Students independently research and write a 14,000-16,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choice, receiving guidance from their advisor.

---

Assessment:

• Primarily assessed through essays and the dissertation.
• Formative assessments provide feedback and guidance on assignments without affecting final grades.
• Opportunities to develop public speaking and presentation skills through various formats.

---

Teaching:

• World-leading academics challenge students to think critically and excel.
• Most modules are delivered through weekly two-hour seminars with small groups of under 20 students.
• Research Training module uses three-hour workshops.
• Teaching primarily takes place in the Department of History located on campus.

---

Careers:

• Prepares graduates for careers in:
• Public health
• Social policy
• Medical research
• Community health
• Arts administration
• Civil Service Fast Stream
• Equips graduates with skills in:
• Analytical thinking
• Argument formation
• Time management
• Communication
• Public speaking and presentations
• Project design and management
• Organization
• Independent research
• Course offers unique insights into health and medical policy, facilitating understanding of links between health and socio-economic development, and cross-cultural policy-making.

---

Other:

• The course is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in humanities, social sciences, science, or public health who are interested in medical humanities.
• An intimate class size fosters engaging discussions on bodies, healthcare, and illnesses across temporal and geographical boundaries.
• The program draws on the expertise of two top-ranked departments at York, with the Department of English in the top ten according to Times Higher Education's REF results and the Department of History achieving an 87.5% rating in research impact.
• Fees and Funding
• Entry Requirements

---

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

---

Annual tuition fees for 2024/25

---

Study mode

Full-time (1 year) £10,590 £23,900

---

Part-time (2 years)

---

£5,295 £11,950

• Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
• For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
• UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
• International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).