Medical Humanities program

Medical Humanities

Medical humanities is a growing interdisciplinary field that brings the perspectives of social sciences, humanities and the arts to the study and practice of health care. Studying medical humanities connects students with the personal side of medicine, providing a more expansive view of career opportunities. Rather than limiting the student to a single focus, this interdisciplinary study allows for room to create a career path specific to the desires of the individual while laying a foundation for advanced degrees. We aim to fulfill the mission of Harding by graduating students who are both capable and compassionate.

Wide perspective

The medical humanities degree is a collaboration between arts, humanities and sciences. As a result, students are taught by professors from various disciplines and receive a wider perspective on how medicine and humanities work hand in hand. Harding’s Christian mission makes the major a perfect fit to expand students’ worldview, especially relating to health care, poverty and missions around the globe.

Weekend seminar

A weekend seminar is offered in the spring for one hour of course credit and is open to all students, not just medical humanities majors. The seminar includes a variety of speakers from various disciplines as an introduction to the medical humanities. Other weekend seminars which can count toward the major or minor or as an elective are offered. Topics have included compassion and empathy, vulnerable populations, medical missions, rural medicine, and spirituality and diversity in medicine.

Graduate Opportunities

Along with appropriate prerequisites, students are also prepared for post-graduate studies in

Medicine
Dentistry
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Physician assistant
Other health science fields
Humanities

Medical Humanities