Biomedical Humanities

Major Requirements

All Biomedical Humanities (BIMD) majors must choose an advisor in the program.

The Science Core will provide a strong background for those students interested in pursuing careers in medical ethics, genetic counseling, medical journalism, health care law, and administration and will prepare students for entrance to medical school.

The required courses are:

* Biology 141, 142, 230, 365

* Chemistry 120, 121, 220, 320

* Math 108

Students intent on going to medical school also will need to take Physics 113/114 or Physics 213/214 and are
strongly encouraged to take Biology 336. Some schools will require an additional course in college math.

Experiential Learning Core:

* Service Seminars (must register for BIMD 610, and may register for 611, 1hr. each).

* Academic Seminars (must register for two, 1hr. seminars)

* Clinical Internship (may register for 3 or 4hrs.)

* Senior Seminar (must register for 1hr. BIMD 480)

** Students are required to keep a journal including entries from all of the experiential learning activities. See description of Senior Seminar below.

Service Seminars: All students are required to participate in two service seminars, in which students are engaged
in volunteer work in a clinic, social service program, hospice, nursing home, hospital, or other approved setting. the goal of the seminars is to expose students to clinical settings and diverse human demographics. Students are
required to engage in academic assessment of their activity through readings and discussions with faculty and/or medical care providers, as well as journaling of their experiences. Each service seminar requires 30 hours of
volunteer experience. Students may elect to do a single intensive service project rather than two placements, but
only with approval of the BIMD faculty. For example students could become involved in teaching basic medicine
(family planning, hygiene, and nutrition) in under-served areas abroad or at home. Students must enroll in BIMD 610. Service in a Health Care setting, a course designed to help students become more reflective of experience obtained
in externships. the other service seminar can be fulfilled through BIMD 611 or through a non-credit option.

Academic Seminars: Each student must enroll in two academic seminars, which focus on special topics relevant to the study or practice of medicine. These are offered each semester as BIMD 280.

Clinical Internship: Students are required to 'shadow' in a clinical setting for a minimum of 120 hours. the intention is for students to interact significantly with practitioners in their field of interest in health care, in order to solidify career goals during a critical time in their academic careers. Students may opt to divide this experience into opportunities with more than one type of practitioner. All students should consult with their Biomedical Humanities advisor concerning internship placements and provide their advisor with certification letters from their clinical mentors.

Research Internship: The purpose of this internship is to provide students with 'hand on' experience in research settings that might impact the future of health care. Students benefit from experiencing the methodologies involved
in a basic science, in addition to its application in a clinical setting. Students are required to participate in research for a minimum of 120 hours in a setting approved by their Biomedical Humanities advisor, and provide the advisor with certification letters from their research mentors.

Senior Seminar: Students are required to turn in the journal 'portfolio' of their experiential learning. Students will also give a public presentation covering key experiences in the clinical, research, and service settings.

The remaining four areas are ethics, communication skills, relationships and cultural sensitivity, and an area of specialization. There is a great deal of flexibility in how students can meet these requirements.

Ethics (One discipline based ethics course, two medical humanities courses)

The practice of modern medicine is laden with ethical challenges. Balancing patient needs and rising medical costs, patients right-to-die issues, genetic screening, fetal tissue experimentation, and animal use in research are just a
few examples. This component to the major is designed to introduce the students to the often-difficult distinction between right and wrong and to help them develop the tools necessary to make informed decisions, and to help
their patients do the same. Students must take one discipline-based course and two interdisciplinary courses in this area. (Example: RELG 280: Christian Social Ethics, INTD 360: Topics in Lit. & Med.: Literature and Aging, INTD 389: Alternative Health Care Systems).

Communication Skills (Two courses)

It is imperative that physicians learn how to effectively communicate with patients and colleagues. Both verbal and non-verbal communications occur between a physician and patient. Proper diagnosis and treatment depend upon strong perception and these communication skills. Students must take two courses in this area. (Example: COMM 220: Interpersonal Communications, THEA 120: Fundamental Principles of Acting).

Relationships and Cultural Sensitivity (One human relationships course, one human diversity course)

Health care professionals need to develop a sense of empathy for the communities they serve. Such communities include a wide diversity of individuals differing with respect to age, ethnicity, religious belief, and socioeconomic standing. Courses included in this portion of the major will allow students to examine how humans develop socially and/or psychologically, and to experience and appreciate diversity. Students must select one course that deals with human relationships and a second course that deals with human diversity. (Example: PSYCH 101: Intro to Psychology, ENGL 448: Major American Writers: Black Male Writers).

Area of Specialization (Three upper level courses in any College discipline).
In appreciation of the liberal arts tradition that will provide students with an education in the "depth, breadth and inter-relatedness of knowledge" we require students to choose an area of specialization consisting of three upper-level courses in traditional liberal arts major. The area of specialization and the appropriate courses must be chosen in consultation with a member of the Health Sciences Board.

Last updated 13 May 2008