Arts & Humanities Health and Wellbeing
Arts & Humanities Health and Wellbeing integrates the arts, humanities, and health sciences to prepare students for the future of healthcare and related professions. The program emphasizes empathy, ethical judgment, cultural awareness, and critical thinking—skills increasingly essential in today’s healthcare environments and reflective of growing demand for more human-centered approaches to care.
Housed in the College of Arts & Letters, the program is developed in collaboration with MSU Health Sciences and Henry Ford Health.
Students intending to pursue medical, veterinary, nursing, or graduate programs receive dedicated advising and course planning to complete admission requirements, including biochemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and physics.
Why study Arts & Humanities Health and Wellbeing at MSU?
The Arts & Humanities Health and Wellbeing major combines arts and humanities coursework, health education, experiential learning, and community engagement. The major offers two concentrations: Engaged Arts and Wellbeing and Critical Health Humanities.
There are also two tracks in the major. One track is for students interested in advanced study in fields like medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and other professional training in clinical settings. The other track is for students interested in broader, non-clinical healthcare settings.
This major is ideal for students who:
- Are interested in healthcare but also passionate about arts and humanities.
- Want to improve healthcare systems and patient experiences.
- Value empathy, ethical reflection, and cultural understanding.
- Are interested in careers that combine science, care, and human connection.
- Want rigorous preparation for professional schools while maintaining a strong liberal arts education.
What will you learn in the Arts & Humanities Health and Wellbeing program?
Students in the Arts & Humanities Health and Wellbeing program will learn:
- Deep listening and empathy skills.
- Cultural understanding and the ability to work across differences.
- Ethical reasoning and contextual decision-making skills.
- Adaptability and confidence navigating complex health situations.
- Creative and critical thinking through storytelling, observation, and reflection.
What types of careers are available?
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Arts & Humanities Health and Wellbeing are well prepared for a wide range of careers that combine healthcare knowledge with leadership, ethical reasoning, and cultural awareness. Employers increasingly seek professionals who can integrate technical expertise with human-centered skills, positioning health humanities graduates for diverse, in-demand roles across healthcare and related fields.