Bachelor in Health Humanities

A health humanities major is an interdisciplinary program across the humanities (English, philosophy, history, theology), and the fine and performing arts. The program emphasizes a broad understanding of health, advocates for social justice, and cultivates expertise in liaison communication with the public — a highly valued skill urgently sought by patients, families, healthcare professionals, and communities.

In the health humanities program, you will learn patient-centered care by focusing on humanistic perspectives. The health humanities major at Saint Mary’s is uniquely focused on the humanities and the arts, relying less on the social sciences or natural sciences. It emphasizes intellectual and interpersonal habits crucial for medical and healthcare professionals to provide ethical care and communicate effectively with patients, families, and the public.

The major and minor in Health Humanities emphasize that health is a complex and interrelated set of concerns and that patients, caregivers, and health care practitioners are whole persons whose physiological, psychological, and spiritual needs require a holistic understanding. In keeping with a Lasallian emphasis on practically and humanely meeting the needs of all, and emphasizing the dignity of the human person, the Health Humanities program advocates for social justice, compassionate care, and professional practice directed toward the common good.

Program Highlights

Learn what it means to care for the whole person and advocate for compassionate healthcare. A health humanities major focuses on the arts and humanities, preparing you to explore health-related careers, as well as careers in social work, public policy, patient advocacy, and health education.

Program Features

What Makes it Special:

• Dedicated, supportive faculty with real-world experience
• Focus on ethical leadership and Lasallian Cathoilic values
• Health humanities minor offered