2026-2027

Medical Humanities, Minor

Department of Comparative Cultural Studies

College of Arts and Letters

The Medical Humanities minor develops cultural literacies and competencies relative to a variety of health environments and patient populations. Students are equipped to understand and work effectively within diverse communities and professional settings across cultural and religious contexts. Coursework focuses on tools and strategies for building resilience in health environments and the ability to make humanistic connections among qualitative and quantitative health data.

  • A minor is earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree.

    To receive a minor (18 - 24 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. At least 12 units of the minor must be unique to that minor and not applied to any other minor.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

No more than fifty percent of the units used to satisfy minor requirements may be used to satisfy major requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 18
Major GPA 2.0
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Optional

Purpose Statement

The medical humanities minor is an interdisciplinary program that brings a humanities lens to the study of health and medicine. The program focuses on the places where science and the humanities intersect to understand cultural perspectives on medicine, illness, wellness, and the body. Students will learn cultural perspectives relevant to illness and health care, to develop and enhance cultural literacy and the skills of analysis, interpretation, synthesis, evaluation, and communication.

The program curriculum includes courses in cultural studies, history of medicine, bioethics, narrative health, disability studies, and the sociocultural aspects of health and medicine. A required introductory methods course lays the disciplinary foundations, and a selection of complementary electives allows students to explore multiple dimensions of healthcare within the human experience. Students in the program will develop tools and strategies for resilience in health environments, draw humanistic connections between qualitative and quantitative health data, and demonstrate the ability to apply cultural literacies and competencies in these settings. Learning experiences include engagement with representations of health in art, literature, and other media, as well as curricular engagement with historical contexts and cultural and religious differences. Undergraduate research opportunities and interactions with guest experts will also foster engagement with cultural diversity. 

In addition to developing essential skills in critical thinking and cultural literacy, students will be able to analyze and evaluate topics that sit at the dynamic intersection of healthcare, science, and culture. The curriculum will also cultivate self-awareness, open communication, resilience, and empathy, key competencies for professionals working in today's diverse health care environments. These qualities are especially vital for a multicultural regional setting, as affirmed in conversations with leadership from the Colleges of Health and Human Services and Nursing. The program will support NAU's broader mission to expand and strengthen Arizona's healthcare workforce.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Recognize and understand the ways cultural and religious contexts inform health-related decisions.
  • Understand the relationship between culture and health, and the socially determined nature of health.
  • Apply communication skills from humanities disciplines to prepare for professional life.
  • Analyze how humanities disciplines contribute to the study of health and inform the practice of health professionals.
  • Evaluate the relationship between cultural perspectives, health care environments, and patient populations to enhance health and wellness in a variety of settings.
  • Develop models to integrate unique cultural responses to illness and death into communication and care practices.

Minor Requirements

  • Students enrolled in this minor may not enroll in or pursue the following:

Additional Information

  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.