2025-2026 Academic Catalog

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Health Humanities

Programs

Faculty

Associated Faculty:

Peter Anthamatten, Geography and Environmental Sciences
Yvette Bueno-Olson, Communication
Kari Campeau, English
Colleen Donnelly, English
Gabriel Finkelstein, History
Joseph Gal, School of Medicine
Daniel Goldberg, Center for Bioethics and Humanities
Rachel Harding, Ethnic Studies
Sarah Horton, Anthropology
Philip Joseph, English
Lisa Keranen, Communication
Marjorie Levine-Clark, History
Hyeyoung Oh Nelson, Health and Behavioral Sciences
Tamara Powell, Communication
Tony Robinson, Political Science
Ronica Rooks, Health and Behavioral Sciences
Christine Sargent, Anthropology
Candice Shelby, Philosophy
Karen Spencer, Health and Behavioral Sciences
David Tracer, Public Health and Health and Behavioral Sciences
Greg Whitesides, History
Margaret Woodhull, Interdisciplinary Studies
Sara Yeatman, Health and Behavioral Sciences

Health Humanities (HEHM)

HEHM 3100 -  Foundations of Health Humanities  (3 Credits)  
This course introduces students to the rich field of the health humanities. It examines the ways a variety of disciplines analyze the relationships among health, medicine, and society, and what the health humanities can teach us about biomedical theory and health care training and practice. It explores how a variety of media represent health, illness, suffering, disability and death. Focusing on people, clients, health-care professionals, and communities, students will develop historical, literary, philosophical, and rhetorical understandings of medicine and health, paying particular attention to power relationships and categories of difference. Restriction: Restricted to undergraduate students with sophomore standing or higher. Term offered: fall. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to undergraduate students with sophomore standing or higher.
Typically Offered: Fall.
HEHM 3570 -  Death & Dying: Social & Medical Perspectives  (3 Credits)  
Focusing on death, dying and bereavement using medical and social perspectives, this course explores how illness, prolonged dying and sudden death impact care providers, families and communities. Discussion, film, readings and music address the connection of social and medical issues. Cross-listed with SOCY 3570. Term offered: fall. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
HEHM 3840 -  Independent Study  (1-6 Credits)  
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Repeatable. Max hours: 6 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
HEHM 4840 -  Independent Study  (1-6 Credits)  
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Repeatable. Max Hours: 12 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.
HEHM 4880 -  Directed Research  (1-6 Credits)  
Students will engage in original research projects supervised and mentored by faculty. Students must work with faculty prior to registration to develop a proposal for their project and receive permission to take this course. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable. Max Hours: 6 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.