Medical Humanities, Minor

The medical humanities undergraduate minor program at Saint Louis University is dedicated to the study of the humanities as foundational disciplines for quality health care education and professional development. 

Curriculum Overview

SLU's minor in medical humanities is intended to prepare students for careers in the health sciences by giving them an expanded awareness of how disease and care have been imaged and experienced by people in diverse personal circumstances, cultures, and eras, and how people's values often conflict in the health care setting. Such awareness can be a foundation for competent, ethical care that acknowledges and respects differing interpretations and meanings of illness experience and suffering. It also serves as the base for responsibly addressing the conflicts of value that arise in treatment endeavors.

Students must complete a minimum total of 15 credits for the minor.

Capstone Requirement

In the final year of the minor, each student will be required to complete a substantial (18-20 page) research paper on a topic chosen in consultation with the director. Often, this paper expands on written work completed in the student’s coursework for the minor. Each spring, students completing the minor will present their capstone papers at a public forum on campus.

Continuation Standards

All medical humanities minor courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher in order to count for the minor and for the student to continue in the minor.

For additional information about this program, please contact englishadmin@slu.edu or call 314-977-3016.