Help guide the conversation in health care
Medical professionals are confronted daily with the suffering of their communities. When conversing with patients and their families, they also confront cultural and socioeconomic differences, language barriers, ethical dilemmas and more.
Earning an undergraduate certificate in medical humanities online from Oregon State University can help you reflect critically on medical knowledge and discourse. Designed to support the scientific features of any healing profession, this certificate will help you better empathize with the suffering of others and leave you more prepared to navigate important conversations and decision-making processes in health care.
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, Oregon State biology graduate with a medical humanities certificate
Coursework
This certificate helps you better understand and confront various moral, psychological and ethical dilemmas in medicine. The online courses emphasize cultural responsiveness, critical thinking, interpersonal communication and self-reflection.
Curriculum details and certificate requirements are available on Oregon State’s academic catalog.
Sample Course Topics
- Literature and medicine
- Medical anthropology
- Biomedical ethics
- Medical history
- Health and social justice
- Disability studies
- Migrant health
- Sociology of aging
Prerequisites
You may need to complete additional coursework prior to enrolling in this program and taking the required certificate courses. This could mean completing 3 or more additional credits, depending on your individual educational background as it relates to the program requirements. We recommend that you evaluate this prior to applying for admission.
Benefits of learning online with Oregon State
- All classes are developed by OSU's world-class faculty, who are known worldwide for their expertise, research and innovation.
- Oregon State is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
- OSU Ecampus students receive the same transcript-visible certificate as on-campus students.
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.
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Important dates
See our academic calendar for our full quarter term schedule.
Degree quick facts
* 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.
† Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.
‡ You can complete all or nearly all requirements of this program online. View the curriculum.
Find application deadline
View required or recommended deadlines for your student type on our application deadlines page.
Ready to apply?
Once you've gathered the information you need to know before you apply to Oregon State University, take the next steps.
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