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Bachelor of Arts in Health, Medicine, and Society
The Bachelor of Arts in Health, Medicine, and Society explores the social, cultural, and ethical dimensions of healthcare. Through interdisciplinary courses, you will gain a broad understanding of health and its impact on society, with an emphasis on critical thinking, service, and the factors shaping healthcare practices and policies.
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Arts
Program Types
Undergraduate
Mode of Study
On Campus
Department
Health, Medicine, & SocietySchool / College
College of Arts and SciencesWhat is a health, medicine, and society degree?
The health, medicine, and society degree is an interdisciplinary program that analyzes health and medicine within social contexts. The program is built upon the conviction that questions about health and healthcare can only be meaningfully addressed by integrating different disciplinary perspectives. In the program, you will be prepared to discuss a range of fields and approaches within healthcare, applying a range of relevant theories, concepts, and approaches to examine questions related to health and healthcare-related problems facing individuals and communities.
Why should you major in health, medicine, and society at Redlands?
Majoring in health, medicine, and society at the University of Redlands provides a unique opportunity to explore the broader social and ethical contexts of healthcare, equipping you to make a meaningful impact across diverse career paths such as nursing or becoming a physician assistant. The program’s interdisciplinary approach, combined with a strong focus on service, prepares you to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare. Upon program completion, you will be well-positioned to pursue advanced degrees at prestigious institutions like USC, UCLA, UC Irvine, Tufts, Boston University, and NYU, further expanding your expertise and career potential.
Classes you'll take
Students declaring an HMS major will develop a course of study comprised of a minimum of 11 courses (a minimum of 38 credits). This will include an emphasis comprised of five courses ( a minimum of 19 credits) addressing one of the four core areas defined by the program, and at least two courses in one elective area (a minimum of 7 units). To ensure depth of study, a maximum of 3 100-level courses can count towards a student’s concentration and electives.
Given that the ability to communicate with diverse communities is essential to healthcare, all HMS majors are strongly encouraged to develop competency in a second language.
To view specific classes, program requirements, learning outcomes, and coursework information, visit the current university catalog.
Major Requirements: minimum 38 credits
- Foundation Course: 1 course/4 credits
HMS 100 Health, Medicine, and Society - Mathematical Methods: 1 course/4 credits
- Take one of the following courses:
- MATH 111 Elementary Statistics and Probability with Applications
- POLI 202 Statistical Analysis and Mapping of Social Science Data
- PSYCH 250 Statistical Methods
- Take one of the following courses:
- Concentration: 5 courses/19-20 credits
- Take five courses addressing one of the areas within the program (Natural Science, Policy and Management, Person and Society, or Health and Social Justice).
- Health and Social Justice or Electives (2 courses / 7-8 credits)
- All HMS majors must take at least two courses in the Health and Social Justice area. If your concentration is in that area, you can select two elective courses in any of the other areas as electives.
- Capstone: (2 courses/4 credits)
- Complete the capstone sequence:
- HMS 300 Integrative Seminar I: 2 credits
- HMS 400 Integrative Seminar II: 2 credits
- HMS 300 should be completed at the end of a student’s junior year, and HMS 400 should be completed at the end of a student’s senior year. Students will design a service/internship plan in HMS 300, then reflect upon and integrate their service experience with their course of study in HMS 400 after that project is completed. The completion of a service/internship project is required to complete the capstone sequence.
- Complete the capstone sequence:
For more information, please consult an advisor within the HMS program.
Department Honors
Students may apply for departmental honors in the fall of their senior year. To complete the honors requirements, students must successfully defend an Honors Project in HMS. The defense committee shall be composed of at least two faculty members, one of whom shall be an advisory board member in the HMS program. Students interested in pursuing honors will apply to seek honors in the fall of their senior year. For more information, contact the program director.
Undergraduate application deadlines
Fall 2025 - First Year
November 15, 2024 - Early Action
Fall 2025 - First Year
January 15, 2025 - Regular Decision*
Fall 2025 - Transfer
March 1, 2025 - Regular Decision*
Note
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis after the deadline based on capacity.
What you'll learn
You will cover the basics of biology and chemistry, disciplines that provide an important foundation for understanding health and developing possible interventions and public health programs.
You will learn to recognize the complex legal, political, and economic context that defines how we respond to health challenges. Courses in this area will provide you with important skills for developing and analyzing health policy, and for managing complex healthcare organizations.
You will gain an understanding of the complex social and personal forces that shape health and disease, and our responses to them. Through these courses, you will learn how person and society draw on the rich traditions of medical anthropology, sociology, and psychology.
From a range of disciplines, you will explore the legacies and current impacts of systems of power on health and healthcare, completing coursework addressing topics such as racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination.
What you'll learn
Graduates pursue careers in
As a public health analyst, you will examine health data to improve public health policies and community health outcomes.
As a healthcare administrator, you will manage healthcare facilities and ensure the efficient, effective delivery of medical services.
As a medical sociologist, you will study the social determinants of health and the impact of societal factors on health outcomes.
As a health policy advisor, you will develop and advocate for policies that improve health systems and patient care.
Graduates pursue careers in
Featured faculty
Every Redlands faculty member is an active practitioner in their field. The classes they teach emerge from their unique research and practices, and they’re passionate about what they’re sharing.
Ben Aronson
Professor, Department Co-Chair
Caryl Forristall
Professor, Department Co-Chair
Jessie Hewitt
Department Chair, Associate Professor
James Krueger
Professor, Director of Health Medicine and Society
Jennifer Nelson
Professor
Lisa Olson
Professor
Tim Seiber
Professor, Director
Celine Ko Roberson
Professor
Want to know more?
Get in touch with our admissions team.
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