Graduate study in medicine, health, and society at Vanderbilt offers an interdisciplinary Master of Arts and a graduate certificate for students interested in studying health-related beliefs and practices in their social and cultural contexts. It is available to graduate and professional students from the six participating Vanderbilt schools (Arts and Science, Divinity, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Peabody). External candidates are considered for admission, as are Vanderbilt undergraduates applying through the 4+1 program in the College of Arts and Science.
MHS draws on a variety of fields in the social sciences and humanities–anthropology, economics, history, literature, psychology, sociology, philosophy/ethics, and religious studies. It should be of particular interest to students preparing for careers in a health-related profession, but also has much to offer any graduate or professional student interested in examining an important part of human experience from multiple perspectives and developing a critical understanding of contemporary society.
It is expected that students who can devote themselves to the MHS program full time will complete their studies in three terms (i.e., two semesters and one summer or three semesters). However, the length of the program will be flexible to accommodate the needs of different constituencies.