FAQ
Two Application Cycles Each Year
We accept applications for the minor twice per year—the fall deadline is October 11 and the spring deadline is March 15.
- In the fall, we admit sophomores and juniors.
- In the spring, we admit freshmen and sophomores.
6 Courses — Minimum 18 Credits
We try to keep things as flexible as possible because BC has many requirements through the Core.
Minor Requirements
- Introduction Course: ENGL2212
- Four regular elective courses
- One advanced elective (taken in your Junior or Senior year)
- Courses from three different departments (This is a BC requirement for interdisciplinary programs. ENGL2212 does not count towards this, but your advanced elective can.)
- At least 15 credits used for the minor cannot be used to fulfill requirements in another major or minor. With the approval of the program, students may share one course between the interdisciplinary minor and their major or another minor.
Concentrations, or “Thematic Clusters”
- Global/Public Health
- Health Care Delivery
- Mind and Body
- Medical Narrative, Writing, and Representation
- Values and Ethics
You are not required to pick one of these (or declare any concentration at all!), but it can be very helpful in advising sessions and in shaping your minor to best meet your academic and/or professional goals.
Advanced Electives
We categorize an “advanced elective” as a 3 credit course that includes graduate-level course materials and/or a research paper of 15 pages or more. Most grad/undergrad courses fall into this category. Please note that you must take a course during your Junior or Senior year of study in order for that course to count as an advanced elective.
If you think that a course meets these requirements, but is not already counted as an advanced elective, let us know at medical.humanities@bc.edu.
Course Offerings
Our Course Master List is a live document where you can find all MHHC courses, including those offered in the past and in the current semester. This list will also be updated as soon as courses for the next semester are made available.
We also keep a list of current courses on our website, which you can find here.
View our planning worksheet to help you keep on track to fulfill your minor requirements.
You can also find requirements for the minor on our website.
Do you have questions or want to set up an advising session? Email Grace at medical.humanities@bc.edu.
Because MHHC does not have a designated label in Eagle Apps (like ENGL, APSY, etc.), the registrar may occasionally count your MHHC requirements incorrectly. If you notice this is the case, please submit a request via the Degree Audit Course Substitution form.
Yes! This includes the Intro to Medical Humanities course.
Yes! While you shouldn’t feel pressured to take more than one, you’re welcome to substitute an additional advanced elective for one of your “regular” electives if there is a course you are excited to take.
For a New Course to Count as an Elective
Feel free to contact us with suggestions about courses that you think should count! Our criteria for electives is that at least 30% of the syllabus must be directly related to human health.
For advanced electives, courses must have a significant writing component (15 or more pages) and include graduate level readings. Most 3 credit grad/undergrad courses (that meet the human health requirement) count as advanced electives.
Yes! We encourage all of our students to study abroad if they are able, especially since many programs offer courses in international health policy and country-specific health issues.
You may count ONE course taken abroad as a regular MHHC elective, given that at least 30% of the syllabus is directly related to human health. To submit a course for review, please fill out the Study Abroad Course Evaluation form, or, if you have questions, email Martin Summers at summermb@bc.edu.
If you are in your Freshman through Junior year, email the grad assistant at medical.humanities@bc.edu to let us know. If you are in your Senior year, you must email the Dean directly at mcas.dean@bc.edu.
Consider Joining The Medical Humanities Journal of Boston College
Check out the Park Street Corporation Speaker Series
This series of lectures focuses on health and healthcare related speakers.
Learn more about how some of our graduates are using their minors in Medical Humanities.