The Certificate in Health and the Humanities exposes students to a range of historical, cultural, and philosophical factors that impact health and influence people’s decisions about their healthcare. Courses examine aspects of healthcare systems throughout history and the world, and illuminate ways that people’s experiences of illness and healthcare implicate far more than biology, such as social, legal, religious, and ethical factors, to support health and wellness.
If you are interested in declaring the certificate, you will find more information on the Declaration page. Starting Fall 2026, the certificate no longer requires an application.
You can learn more about Health Humanities on our What is Health Humanities page.
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Learning Goals
After completing the certificate, you will be able to:
- Identify major developments in the history of medicine and the medical profession
- Describe how the meaning of “health” has varied over time and space
- Comprehend and evaluate complex arguments about politics, values, healthcare, and health in contemporary society
- Understand health and illness as grounded in personal experience, develop empathy for others’ experiences, and use creative means to reflect on those experiences
- Display sensitivity for what health means among differently positioned people