Help guide the healthcare conversation
Oregon State's undergraduate certificate in medical humanities, delivered online through OSU Ecampus, is a multidisciplinary program that focuses on the study of health, medicine and the healing professions. The certificate program emphasizes professional development focused on “the art of healing” by developing skills in professional identity, reflective writing, cultural competency and diversity as a complement to the scientific features of the healing professions.
Learn how students developed critical skills in compassion, empathy, cultural literacy and diversity to help guide them through sensitive and difficult patient conversations. Read more »
By completing the certificate, you will develop knowledge and experience that will prepare you to:
- Empathize with the sufferings of others
- Reflect critically on medical knowledge and discourse
- Create new representations of the medical experience
- Confront moral, psychological and ethical dilemmas
Coursework
The medical humanities certificate consists of 27 credit hours and centers on key courses including:
- Medical anthropology
- Literature and medicine
- Medical history
- Philosophical courses in disability studies, medical ethics, and death and dying
Visit the medical humanities undergraduate certificate curriculum page on the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion's website for complete requirements and course details.
My health humanities training from Oregon State has changed my approach to medicine because I understand the importance of communication in bridging the cultural gap and paying attention to patients' understanding of their own health so I can better serve them and build trusting doctor-patient relationships.
– Jamie Faulkner, OSU 2014 biology graduate with a certificate in medical humanities
NOTE: The U.S. Department of Education has approved this certificate for federal financial aid eligibility as part of a full degree program, but not as an independent certificate program. Alternate funding sources (e.g. loans, private funds) may be required to cover the costs associated with this program.
Important dates
See our academic calendar for our full quarter term schedule.
Degree details
* Oregon State University is on a quarter-term system. There are four quarters each year and classes are 11 weeks long. This program's 27 quarter credits are equal to 18 semester credits.
† Cost per credit is calculated using tuition per credit for the current academic year. It does not include associated fees, course materials, textbook expenses, and other expenses related to courses.
‡ You can complete all or nearly all requirements of this program online. View the curriculum.
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