Program Contact: Nita Prasad 203-582-3729
Health, Medicine, and Society is an interdisciplinary major that draws from courses in the sciences, humanities and social sciences to provide a sociocultural understanding of health and illness. Students will be exposed to a range of topics, including healthcare policy and politics, medical and bioethics, health disparities, global health, and the social and cultural foundations and determinants of health in the United States and around the world. Students will also learn to develop or deepen skills such as empathy, socio-cultural understanding, self-awareness, and an appreciation for diversity that are essential to effective medical care and sound healthcare policies and laws. The major is dedicated to training the next generation of national and international leaders who are informed, thoughtful, ethically motivated, and rigorously prepared for a variety of careers that traverse health policy, the pharmaceutical industry, health management, law, agency work, public health and a multitude of other professions requiring a complex understanding of what is sometimes referred to as medical humanities and medical sociology.
The flexibility of the Health, Medicine, and Society major allows it to complement other programs and minors such as Global Public Health, Anthropology, Health Care Management, and Women’s and Gender Studies, as well as the pre-medical and pre-dental designations.
The BA in Health, Medicine, and Society requires a minimum of 120 credits for degree completion.
Please see footnotes for additional information.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum | 46 | |
| Modern Language Requirement 1 | 3-6 | |
| 4 Credits from Interdisciplinary Studies Core: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Interdisciplinarity | ||
| Transdisciplinary Project | ||
| 3 Credits from Methods Courses: | 3 | |
| Ethnography: Learning from Others | ||
| Historical Writing | ||
| Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Research Methods | ||
| Studying Social Issues with Statistics | ||
| 3-4 Credits from Science Courses: 2 | 3-4 | |
| Bones, Genes and Everything In Between | ||
| Bones, Genes and Everything Lab In Between Lab | ||
| Forensic Anthropology | ||
| The Science of Human Diversity | ||
| Sh t Happens: a Natural History of Human Waste | ||
| General Biology I | ||
| General Biology I Lab | ||
| General Biology II | ||
| General Biology Lab II | ||
| Science and Society: Concepts and Current Issues | ||
| Science and Society: Concepts and Current Issues Lab | ||
| Everyday Biology | ||
| Everyday Biology Lab | ||
| The Biology of Beer | ||
| Cross My Heart: An Introduction to the Human Cardiovascular System | ||
| Global Health Challenges: a Human Perspective | ||
| Global Health Challenges Lab | ||
| General Biology for Majors | ||
| General Biology for Majors Laboratory | ||
| Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics | ||
| Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Lab | ||
| Introduction to the Biological Aspects of Science and Society | ||
| Inside Out: An Introduction to Human Form and Function | ||
| Bioethics | ||
| Introduction to Forensic Science | ||
| Introduction to Forensic Science Lab Science Laboratory | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Genetics Lab | ||
| Evolution | ||
| The Human Organism | ||
| The Human Organism Lab | ||
| Human Health and Disease | ||
| Biomedical Basis and Experience of Human Aging | ||
| Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I | ||
| Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I Lab | ||
| Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry II | ||
| Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry II Lab | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| General Chemistry I Lab | ||
| General Chemistry II | ||
| General Chemistry II Lab | ||
| Exploring Your Environment | ||
| Exploring Your Environment Lab,Foundations of Biology and Chemistry Lab | ||
| Elements of Physics | ||
| Elements of Physics Lab | ||
| Physics of Music | ||
| Physics of Music Lab | ||
| Introduction to Astronomy | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| General Physics I Lab | ||
| General Physics II | ||
| General Physics II Lab | ||
| University Physics | ||
| University Physics II | ||
| Biological Psychology | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Drugs, Brain and Behavior | ||
| Earth Sciences | ||
| Earth Sciences Lab | ||
| Chemistry and Nutrition | ||
| Chemistry and Nutrition Lab | ||
| Nutrition: an Investigative Experience | ||
| Natural Disasters | ||
| The Science of Human Diversity | ||
| 15 Credits from at Least 3 Content Areas: 3 | 15 | |
| Health Policies, Health Management, and Health Law Content Area: | ||
| HSC 220 | Health Care Essentials: Structure, Policy and Professionalism | 3 |
| HSC 404 | Healthcare Law and Ethics | 3 |
| HM 201 | Introduction to Healthcare Management | 3 |
| HM 320 | Introduction to Health Insurance | 3 |
| HM 365 | Health Care Analysis | 3 |
| HM 404 | Legal Aspects of Health Care Delivery | 3 |
| SW 504 | Social Welfare and Social Policy 4 | 3 |
| WGS 219 | Feminist Political Thought | 3 |
| WGS 250 | Gender and the Law | 3 |
| LE 250 | Gender and the Law | 3 |
| LE 322 | Health Care Law | 3 |
| PL 337 | Human Rights: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| PO 219 | Feminist Political Thought | 3 |
| PO 313 | Development, Globalization and Colonialism | 3 |
| PO 335 | Politics of Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| PO 337 | Human Rights: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| Social Issues and Health Content Area: | ||
| CJ 333 | Drugs, Alcohol and Society | 3 |
| GT 263 | Aging in Society | 3 |
| HSC 210 | Introduction to Evidence-Based Health Care | 3 |
| HSC 262 | Nutrition in Health and Illness | 3 |
| HSC 270 | Pillars of Public Health: Saving the World on a Population Level | 3 |
| HSC 317 | Nutrition Across the Life Cycle | 3 |
| HSC 318 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
| HSC 320 | The Environment and Human Health | 3 |
| PS 272 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| PS 320 | Psychology of Sport and Exercise | 3 |
| SO 263 | Aging in Society | 3 |
| SO 266 | Population and Society | 3 |
| SO 305 | Sociology of Death and Dying | 3 |
| SO 333 | Drugs, Alcohol and Society | 3 |
| SO 360 | Sociology of Mental Health | 3 |
| SW 511 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I: Theories for Practice for Individuals and Families 4 | 3 |
| SW 512 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II: Theories for Groups, Organizations and Communities 4 | 3 |
| Health Disparities and Intersectionality Content Area: | ||
| AN 210 | Gender/Sex/Sexuality | 3 |
| AN 230 | Sustainable Development | 3 |
| AN 242 | Cannabis Culture | 3 |
| ENV 230 | Sustainable Development | 3 |
| GT 365 | Aging and Social Problems | 3 |
| SO 241 | Sociology of Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| SO 244 | Race, Gender and Class: Social Inequalities | 3 |
| SO 280 | Sociology of Health and Illness | 3 |
| SO 365 | Aging and Social Problems | 3 |
| SW 507 | Issues of Diversity and Oppression 5 | 3 |
| History, Ethics, and Medicine Content Area: | ||
| HSC 215 | Complementary and Alternative Medicine - a Health Science Perspective | 3 |
| HSC 315 | Bioethical Issues in the 21st Century | 3 |
| HS 230 | The Rise of Modern Science | 3 |
| HS 330 | History of Western Medicine | 3 |
| HS 391 | Colonizing the Body | 4 |
| HS 394 | Doctors, Disease and Death in the Western World | 4 |
| PL 222 | Bioethics | 3 |
| PL 368 | Philosophy of Death and Dying | 3 |
| Global Health and Communications Content Area: | ||
| ADPR 346 | Health Communication | 3 |
| AN 227 | Rites of Passage | 3 |
| AN 237 | Health and Medicine Around the World | 3 |
| AN 243 | Ancient Food For Thought | 3 |
| BMS 474 | Power of Plagues | 3 |
| GPH 201 | Introduction to Global Public Health | 3 |
| SP 105 | Introductory Spanish for Health Professions | 3 |
| SP 310 | Spanish for Health Professions I | 3 |
| SP 311 | Spanish for Health Professions II | 3 |
| Health, Gender, and Sexuality Content Area: | ||
| HS 328 | Beyond the Veil: Issues in Gender History | 3 |
| PS 210 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PS 262 | Psychology of Women and Gender | 3 |
| PS 284 | LGBTQ Identities and Communities | 3 |
| SO 302 | Sociology of Sexualities | 3 |
| SO 304 | Sociology of Gender | 3 |
| SO 306 | Masculinities | 3 |
| WGS 101 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| WGS 302 | Sociology of Sexualities | 3 |
| WGS 304 | Sociology of Gender | 3 |
| WGS 306 | Masculinities | 3 |
| WGS 395 | Feminist Theory and the Body | 4 |
| 3 Credits from Social and Cultural Electives: | 3 | |
| Chinese Culture and Civilization | ||
| Lit by Women | ||
| Black Writers in and Beyond the US | ||
| American Liturature by Women Of Color | ||
| The Rise and Fall of the British Empire | ||
| Borders & Battles: Conflict and the Legacy of Empire | ||
| African-American Experiences to Reconstruction | ||
| African-American Experience Since Reconstruction | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Modern India | ||
| Bollywood and History: Constructing India's Past | ||
| Native American History | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| The Immigrant Experience | ||
| Religion and Society | ||
| 3 Credits from Internship/Experiential Learning: | 3 | |
| Thought and Work of Albert Schweitzer (SL: Service Learning) | ||
| Internship in the Community | ||
| Internship in the Community | ||
| Internship in the Community | ||
| Internship in the Community | ||
| Free Electives | 34-38 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
All CAS students must complete one modern language through the 102 level. Students who have taken a language in high school should take the modern language placement test for that language. Placement scores at the 201 level or higher demonstrate language competency and will place out of the language requirement.
- 2
Courses in this area cannot also count in UC Disciplinary Areas.
- 3
Courses in this area cannot also count in the UC Disciplinary Areas or in Personal Inquiry.
- 4
Open to anyone in 3+2 MSW in third year or with special permission; SO 211 encouraged as prerequisite.
- 5
Open to seniors only or with special permission; not recommended for MSW 3+2 students unless with special permission.
Ease-In Pre-Medicine Track
Shown below is one of many possible paths through the curriculum. Each student’s individual academic plan is crafted in consultation with their academic adviser.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 30 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher, and meet with your adviser at least once a semester. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing (UC First Year Writing) | 3 |
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar (UC Foundations Inquiry) | 3 |
| MA course- UC Foundations Inquiry | 3 | |
| BIO 150 & 150L | General Biology for Majors and General Biology for Majors Laboratory | 4 |
| SO 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research (UC First Year Writing) | 3 |
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| MA 141 | Calculus of a Single Variable (UC Math ) | 3 |
| BIO 151 & 151L | Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics and Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Lab | 4 |
| IDS 101 | Introduction to Interdisciplinarity | 1 |
| Second Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 60 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Meet with your adviser at least once per semester to discuss academic, experiential learning, career and co-curricular opportunities. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CHE 110 & 110L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| HMS: Content Area | 3 | |
| PL 101 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| Language at the 101 level | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHE 111 & 111L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| HSM: Content Area | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Language at the 102 level (satisfies CAS language requirement) | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 90 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Meet with your adviser at least once per semester. Participate in study abroad, complete internship or research opportunities. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PHY 110 & 110L | General Physics I and General Physics I Lab | 4 |
| CHE 210 & 210L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| WGS 101 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| MCI Course | 1 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PHY 111 & 111L | General Physics II and General Physics II Lab | 4 |
| CHE 211 & 211L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| MA 275 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| HMS: Content Area | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 120 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Complete possible minor or double major and prepare for graduation. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CHE 315 & 315L | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Lab | 4 |
| HMS internship/experiential learning | 3 | |
| HMS: Content Area | 3 | |
| HMS Social & Cultural elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 1 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| IDS 400 | Transdisciplinary Project | 3 |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Traditional Pre-Medicine Track
Shown below is one of many possible paths through the curriculum. Each student’s individual academic plan is crafted in consultation with their academic adviser.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 30 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher, and meet with your adviser at least once a semester. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| BIO 150 & 150L | General Biology for Majors and General Biology for Majors Laboratory | 4 |
| CHE 110 & 110L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| MCI Course | 1 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| MA 141 | Calculus of a Single Variable | 3 |
| BIO 151 & 151L | Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics and Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Lab | 4 |
| CHE 111 & 111L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| IDS 101 | Introduction to Interdisciplinarity | 1 |
| Second Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 60 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Meet with your adviser at least once per semester to discuss academic, experiential learning, career and co-curricular opportunities. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CHE 210 & 210L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| SO 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PL 101 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| Language at the 101 level | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHE 211 & 211L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| HMS: Content Area | 3 | |
| WGS 101 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| Language at the 102 level (satisfies CAS language requirement) | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 90 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Meet with your adviser at least once per semester. Participate in study abroad, complete internship or research opportunities. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PHY 110 & 110L | General Physics I and General Physics I Lab | 4 |
| CHE 315 & 315L | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Lab | 4 |
| IDS 200 | Rise of Disciplinarity | 3 |
| HMS: Content Area | 3 | |
| MCI Course | 1 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PHY 111 & 111L | General Physics II and General Physics II Lab | 4 |
| MA 275 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| HMS: Content Area | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 120 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Complete possible minor or double major and prepare for graduation. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| HMS internship/experiential learning | 3 | |
| HMS: Content Area | 3 | |
| HMS Social & Cultural elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| IDS 400 | Transdisciplinary Project | 3 |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Global Public Health Minor Track
Shown below is one of many possible paths through the curriculum. Each student’s individual academic plan is crafted in consultation with their academic adviser.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 30 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher, and meet with your adviser at least once a semester. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| MA 110 | Contemporary Mathematics | 3 |
| WGS 101 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| BIO 101 & 101L | General Biology I and General Biology I Lab | 4 |
| SO 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| PL 101 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| IDS 101 | Introduction to Interdisciplinarity | 1 |
| Second Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 60 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Meet with your adviser at least once per semester to discuss academic, experiential learning, career and co-curricular opportunities. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| HMS Science requirement | 3 | |
| HMS Content Area | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3-4 | |
| Language at the 101 level | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GPH 201 | Introduction to Global Public Health | 3 |
| HMS methods course | 3 | |
| HMS Social and Cultural elective | 3 | |
| Language at the 102 level (satisfies CAS language requirement) | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 90 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Meet with your adviser at least once per semester. Participate in study abroad, complete internship or research opportunities. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| IDS 200 | Rise of Disciplinarity | 3 |
| HMS: Content Area | 3 | |
| HMS: Content Area | 3 | |
| GPH minor elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Study Abroad | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 120 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Complete possible minor or double major and prepare for graduation. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| HMS internship/experiential learning | 3 | |
| GPH minor elective | 3 | |
| GPH minor elective | 3 | |
| GPH minor elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| IDS 400 | Transdisciplinary Project | 3 |
| GPH 301 | Seminar in Global Public Health | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 1 | |
| Total Credits | 117-118 | |
Upon completing this program, students will demonstrate the following competencies:
- Disciplinary (Specialized Domain) Knowledge is the development of field-specific content knowledge in health and medicine through a social science and humanities framework and through additional experiential learning requirements as part of their studies.
- Recognition of Differences and Equity through acquiring knowledge of how social, cultural and institutional systems are interconnected to shape and upload inequality and how they can utilize intellectual and emotional skills to lessen inequality as informed and responsible members of their communities. Students will also learn to further their appreciation of all forms of human difference.
- Higher-Order Thinking through the disciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge they will obtain in this program, including the ability to understand and apply concepts across multiple disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. Students will be engaging in critical thinking by identifying several underlying structural issues that contribute to differences in health outcomes across local, national and global populations. Students will also develop the capacity to engage in ethical reasoning through their studies in this program to analyze how to address social problems.
- Inquiry and Analysis to develop a social and intellectual curiosity to both question and analyze complex social, structural, historical, political, economic and cultural issues and to challenge previously held assumptions and beliefs.
- Competency in inquiry will occur through an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary lens; students will be able to synthesize vast amounts of written and visual information across multiple sources, times and locations.
- Competency in analysis and data skills will be gleaned through rigorous theoretical and methodological training offered through the humanities and social sciences.
Students will also develop the following knowledge areas:
- Think critically about the reciprocal relationship between health and social, structural, cultural, ideological, political, economic and historical factors.
- Analyze the social and cultural foundations of health and medicine.
- Understand the interpersonal, cross-cultural and institutional contexts of class, status, power and other aspects of identity in the creation and maintenance of health and healthcare disparities.
- Demonstrate empirical mastery of fundamental concepts and theories from the medical humanities through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives.
- Utilize quantitative and qualitative research methods to explore, describe, analyze and explain complex 21st-century health-related policy issues.
- Examine and analyze historical and contemporary health research findings through writing, evaluation and practice.
- Confront and engage with complexities of health care policy and health care reform.
Admission Requirements: College of Arts & Sciences
The requirements for admission into the undergraduate College of Arts & Sciences programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.
Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.
For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.