Faculty

Patrick W. Berry, Colleen Cameron, Michael Gill, Anne Leone, Robin McCrary, Hille Paakkunainen

Program Description

The Health Humanities integrated learning major (ILM) enhances Arts and Science/Maxwell students’ preparation for the health professions through a curriculum that situates health and medicine within complex sociocultural ecologies. Students can supplement any major with the Health Humanities ILM. The curriculum engages with social and ethical questions that are central to all medical fields, as well as broadening students’ appreciation of the different directions they might take in pursuing their interest in health. 

This ILM may be combined with any other undergraduate major with approval by the program director. While certain majors typically serve as the base major for this ILM, students are encouraged to meet with the program director to determine their best choice of a base major. Dually enrolled students must have a base major within Arts and Sciences|Maxwell.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Compare and apply some theories and methods in the humanities and social sciences, as they relate to claims about health, illness, disability or health care.
2. Apply knowledge specific to the health humanities to communicate and critically evaluate one’s own experiences in health-related settings
3. Demonstrate adequate knowledge of different cultural and historical understandings of health, illness, and/or disability, as well as an understanding of social determinants of health and health inequalities
4. Engage in moral reflection about questions related to health, illness, disability and/or health care, in a way that is well-informed and culturally sensitive
5. Demonstrate a situational recognition of when and how to apply health humanities competencies, such as empathetically considering diverse perspectives, and communicating from a place of empathy as a health professional or patient
6. Complete a capstone research project that demonstrates cumulative learning in the health humanities, and present the project to peers

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements 

For all Arts and Sciences|Maxwell students, successful completion of a bachelor’s degree in this major requires a minimum of 120 credits, 96 of which must be Arts and Sciences|Maxwell credits, completion of the Liberal Arts Core requirements, and the requirements for this major (24 credits) that are listed above.

Dual Enrollments:

Students dually enrolled in Newhouse* and Arts and Sciences|Maxwell will complete a minimum of 122 credits, with at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences|Maxwell coursework and an Arts and Sciences|Maxwell major.

*Students dually enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences|Maxwell as first year students must complete the Liberal Arts Core. Students who transfer to the dual program after their first year as singly enrolled students in the Newhouse School will satisfy general requirements for the dual degree program by completing the Newhouse Core Requirements.

Undergraduate University Requirements

The following requirements and experiences apply to all Syracuse University Undergraduate matriculated degree programs.

• ​IDEA Course Requirement 
• First Year Seminar