Program Overview
The Certificate in Medical Humanities at UIC equips students with an interdisciplinary approach to understanding health and healthcare in diverse cultural and social contexts. Through coursework in medicine, culture, ethics, and electives, students develop critical thinking, communication, and cross-cultural skills essential for careers in the health professions. The program prepares students for roles in medicine, public health, health policy, bioethics, and healthcare administration.
Program Outline
Certificate in Medical Humanities at University of Illinois Chicago
Degree Overview:
The Certificate in Medical Humanities at UIC is designed to equip students with an interdisciplinary approach to understanding health and healthcare in diverse cultural and social contexts. This program is ideal for students pursuing careers in the health professions who want to enhance their ability to work effectively in cross-cultural settings. It is open to undergraduate students from any college or major. The program's goals include:
- Providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the social, cultural, and ethical dimensions of health and illness.
- Developing critical thinking and communication skills to analyze health issues from various perspectives.
- Enhancing students' ability to work effectively with diverse populations in healthcare settings.
Outline:
To earn the certificate, students must complete 15 credit hours of coursework, including:
Required Courses:
- ANTH 216: Medicine, Culture, and Society (3 credit hours)
- Choose one of the following (3 credit hours):
- COMM 205: The Health Media Environment
- ECON 215: Health Economics
- GWS 262: Constructions of Gender, Race, Health, and Human Rights
- PHIL 116: Biomedical Ethics
- SOC 251: Health and Medicine These electives must focus on the background, experiences, and unique challenges of different groups and populations within healthcare systems.
Electives:
Students can choose from a wide range of electives that cover various aspects of medical humanities, including:
- History of Medicine
- Medical Anthropology
- Health Policy and Law
- Literature and Medicine
- Narrative Medicine
- Disability Studies
- Global Health
- Public Health
- Bioethics
- Social Determinants of Health
Assessment:
The program uses a variety of assessment methods to evaluate student learning, including:
- Exams: Traditional exams are used to assess students' knowledge and understanding of course material.
- Papers and essays: Students write papers and essays to demonstrate their ability to analyze and interpret complex information.
- Presentations: Students present their research and findings to the class.
- Group projects: Students collaborate on group projects to develop their teamwork and communication skills.
- Portfolio: Students compile a portfolio of their work throughout the program to showcase their learning and development.
Teaching:
The program features a blend of teaching methods, including:
- Lectures: Faculty members deliver lectures to introduce students to key concepts and theories.
- Discussions: Class discussions provide students with opportunities to engage with course material and share their perspectives.
- Guest speakers: Experts from various fields are invited to share their knowledge and experiences with students.
- Field trips: Students visit healthcare facilities and organizations to gain firsthand experience of the healthcare system.
- Case studies: Students analyze real-world case studies to apply their knowledge to practical situations.
Careers:
The Certificate in Medical Humanities prepares students for various careers in the health professions, including:
- Medicine: Physicians, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, dentists, therapists
- Public Health: Public health officials, health educators, researchers, program managers
- Health Policy: Policy analysts, advocates, lobbyists
- Bioethics: Bioethicists, research ethics consultants
- Health Communication: Health journalists, public relations specialists, patient educators
- Healthcare Administration: Healthcare administrators, managers, consultants
Other:
- At least nine of the 15 credit hours required for the certificate must be at the 200 level or above.
- At least half of the credits must be completed in residence at UIC.
- No more than six credit hours (two classes) can satisfy requirements for both the Certificate in Medical Humanities and the student's major or minor.
Conclusion:
The Certificate in Medical Humanities at UIC provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the social, cultural, and ethical dimensions of health and healthcare. This program is ideal for students who want to improve their ability to work effectively in cross-cultural settings and pursue careers in the health professions.
