Medical Humanities and Culture Minor

The medical humanities and culture minor prepares students to become well-rounded practitioners with holistic perspectives on medicine. Through a range of courses in the humanities and social sciences, students explore the ethical, social, representational and historical dimensions of disease, health, disability and health careCourses include the philosophy and art of medicine, the social and cultural aspects of health and well-being, the sociology/anthropology of health care and health care systems, the intersectionality of disparities and equities in health, and the social construction and deconstruction of health. The minor may especially complement majors in Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Public Health, and Psychology among others as well as provide practical experience toward a career in medicine, nursing, public health, global health, health policy, health promotion, law, journalism, psychology or patient advocacy. 

Minor Requirements

The minor in Medical Humanities and Culture consists of 18 credit hours or 6 classes.

  • Two-four courses (6-12 credit hours) must be chosen from offerings in the humanities (Group A); if two humanities courses (6 hours) are chosen, then 12 hours must be chosen from the social sciences, so that the student takes the requisite 18 hours total. 
  • Two-four courses (6-12 credit hours) must be chosen from offerings in the social sciences (Group B); if two social sciences courses (6 hours) are chosen, then four courses (12 hours) must be chosen in the humanities, so that the student takes the requisite 18 hours total.
Course Title Credits
Group A: Humanities
Select two-four of the following:6-12
Art, Anatomy, and Medicine, 1700-Present
Figure Structure I
Topics in Renaissance Art
Medical and Scientific Terminology
Classical Origins of Western Medical Ethics
Literature and Medicine
History of Medicine: Antiquity to the Scientific Revolution
Making Modern Science: The Life Sciences
The History of American Medicine
The History of Science in America
Health Communication: The Science and Practice
Classical Origins of Western Medical Ethics
Medical Ethics
Ethics of Science and Technology
History and Philosophy of Science
Philosophy of Science
Health Care Ethics
Readings in Philosophy
Religions, Medicines, and Healing
Spanish for Healthcare Professionals
Performing Arts Safety
Group B: Social Sciences
Select two-four of the following:6-12
Plagues Past and Present
Food and Culture
Anthropology of Globalization and Development
Forensics of Sherlock Holmes
Basic Forensic Anthropology
Medical Experimentation and the Black Body
Disease, Health, and Social Inequities
Medicine, Disease, and Slavery
Global Women's Health
Cultures, Pregnancy, and Birth
Medical Anthropology: Fieldwork
Medical Anthropology
Health and Disease in the Past
Criminal Justice and Mental Health
Principles of Global Health
Social Determinants of Health
Health Economics
Environment and Obesity
Concepts of Environmental Health Science
Health Promotion in a Changing Society
Southern Discomfort: Public Health in the American South
Race, Ethnicity, and Health: Examining Health Inequalities
Consumer Health in Contemporary Society
Medical Anthropology: Field Work
Medical Anthropology
Maternal and Child Health
Health Economics
Health Psychology
Psychology of Drug Use and Effects
Social Demography
Global Population Issues
Sociology of Medicine and Health
Life Course Demographics
Women's Health
Cultures, Pregnancy, and Birth
Global Women's Health
Maternal and Child Health
Total Credit Hours12-24

Note: Departmental or Honors College special topics courses related to medicine may satisfy the minor requirements in either the humanities (Group A) or social sciences (Group B), provided that the course substitutions are pre-approved by the Office of Undergraduate Studies in Flinn Hall in consultation with faculty content experts.  Email a syllabus along with a request for substitution and any other relevant details to CASundergrad@mailbox.sc.edu for pre-approval. Appeals to register in pre-approved honors college courses should be directed to the Honors College.