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Medical Humanities and Social Sciences
Medical Humanities and Social Sciences
Navigate the ethical, cultural, legal, and social dimensions of health and wellbeing. Learn to respond ethically, compassionately, and thoughtfully to your patients and their communities.
Offering an interdisciplinary focus on cultural and social aspects of human health and wellbeing, SFU's Medical Humanities and Social Sciences (MHSS) program equips students with the holistic perspective required to thrive in healthcare professions. A perfect complement to health-related career training, the deep understanding of socio-cultural health factors students gain in this minor gives them a competitive edge in applications to job opportunities or postgraduate education.
Learn the relationship between the body, self, and health. Understand the social, cultural, and political contexts impacting wellbeing, health, and healthcare. Acquire the critical thinking skills to respond to existing and emerging challenges in medical structures and practices in Canada, which require knowledge in the social sciences and humanities to provide interdisciplinary and innovative solutions.
Be part of the only undergraduate medical humanities credentials in British Columbia!*
In this program, you will learn:
- The social, political, economic, and policy contexts of health and healing in historical and contemporary societies
- How health and wellbeing have been practiced in British Columbia
- How patients and health practitioners have been trained and mobilized at local and global levels either to eradicate diseases or to address crises
- The relationship between health and culture to develop clinical and critical thinking skills of observation, analysis, communication, and self-reflection
- How to examine the ethical and bioethical frameworks in health policy and health care
- How to problem solve and present ideas within a collaborative and teamwork approach
- The legal framework applying to and structuring the delivery of health care in Canada, and the various laws applying to several aspects of health and health care in the Canadian context
Applications Open Soon
The first cohort starts Fall 2026. Admission applications to join will open October 1, 2025. Please check back for more information.
Questions?
Contact an advisor at Arts Central.
Professional training
The MHSS minor prepares students planning on applying to medical school or intending to pursue further training in health-related fields such as nursing, counselling, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, optometry, and psychology, among others. Students who complete the MHSS minor will earn a credential in a recognized field that is of value to potential employers or other educational institutions in the medical field. The minor is a natural pairing with a major in Health Sciences, Biological Sciences, Psychology, or Kinesiology.
Moreover, the MHSS minor is valuable for students pursuing careers in health-related fields beyond clinical practice. For instance, pairing the MHSS minor with a major in Business could open up career opportunities in health administration, where an understanding of the interplay between health, policy, and socio-economic factors is crucial.
Career possibilities
The MHSS minor provides foundational knowledge for careers in health policy, public health, and health communication.
- Health Administration: Managing healthcare facilities, programs, or systems with an informed perspective on the social determinants of health
- Health Policy and Advocacy: Developing and advocating for policies that address health disparities and promote equitable access to care
- Public Health: Working on initiatives that improve community health, prevent disease, and promote healthy lifestyles, with a focus on the socio-cultural aspects of health
- Medical and Health Communication: Engaging in roles that involve communicating complex health information to diverse audiences, including patients, healthcare providers, and the public
- Patient Care Navigation: Assisting patients in understanding and navigating the healthcare system, with an emphasis on cultural competence and empathy
- Education and Training: Teaching or training future healthcare professionals to approach health from an interdisciplinary and socially informed perspective
*According to the Canadian Association for Health Humanities