Medicine & the Liberal Arts (MLA)
The program in Medicine & the Liberal Arts analyzes healthcare issues from a variety of disciplines. Students will be exposed to a broad humanistic viewpoint of the medical situations that present themselves to individuals over the course of a lifetime. Pre-med students will gain a fuller understanding of the art of healing and of relating to patients than what can be obtained solely through the study of the sciences. Students planning careers in government, ministry, and healthcare administration which deal explicitly with medical issues will also benefit. Additionally, all will have the opportunity to gain a deeper knowledge of the ethical, religious, and social implications of the medical perplexities each of us face as citizens, family members, and individuals.
While it is not a major, courses applied toward requirements for Medicine & the Liberal Arts may also be counted toward requirements in other programs, majors, or minors.
Students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours consisting of four courses from at least three different disciplines (subject codes) and MLA 475 Medicine & the Liberal Arts Seminar. Other course offerings may be approved by the Program Coordinators on a case-by-case basis, including classes taken while studying abroad. Students interested in pursuing a medical or healthcare internship as part of the program should consult with the coordinator well in advance to secure approval.
Program Requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Options | 12 | |
| Select four courses (from three different disciplines) from the following: | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Global Health | ||
| Introduction to Public Health | ||
| Economics of Medical Care | ||
| Health & the Environment | ||
| Health Care Policy & Administration | ||
| Independent Study in Medicine & the Liberal Arts | ||
| Bio-Medical Ethics | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Philosophy of Medicine | ||
| Religion & Medicine | ||
| Spirituality & Traditional Chinese Medicine | ||
| Seminar | 3 | |
| Medicine & the Liberal Arts Seminar | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
MLA 470. Independent Study in Medicine & the Liberal Arts. 1 to 3 Hours.
Under the guidance of an appropriate faculty member, students will investigate a medical topic from a liberal arts perspective. The course topic must be approved in advance by the coordinators of the Medicine and the Liberal Arts program. Course credit hours (between 1 and 3) are determined by the instructor. Restricted to students declared in the Medicine and the Liberal Arts program.
MLA 475. Medicine & the Liberal Arts Seminar. 3 Hours.
An overview of the insights offered by a variety of disciplines regarding situations involving health and healing. While the class will deal with the liberal arts as a whole, special emphasis will be given to the perspectives of the humanities and social sciences. Students will produce a final project articulating a liberal arts viewpoint on a medical topic. This course is required of all students in the Medicine and the Liberal Arts program.