M.A. in the Social Foundations of Health

The Vanderbilt University Department of Medicine, Health, and Society (MHS) invites applicants to an innovative interdisciplinary 1-year master's program that transcends the traditional biomedical approach to understanding health and illness. Faculty and students in MHS investigate the cultural, economic, demographic, and biological factors that impact health.

The curriculum is designed to train students to meet emerging challenges in our healthcare systems. The field of contemporary health care is increasingly shaped by the realization that social, environmental, personal, and structural factors are as essential as basic biological processes to understanding patient’s illness and suffering.

Drawing on courses in the medical sciences, humanities, and social sciences, MHS students learn to think critically about complex social issues that impact health, healthcare, and health policy. MHS is dedicated to training the next generation of national and international health leaders—from doctors and nurses to economists and policy makers.

Who should apply?

Individuals who

• Are passionate about health disparities, health justice, and the connections between the biological and social foundations of health
• Are interested in science communication, bioethics, and health policy
• Are interested in broadening their knowledge and skill base before pursuing medical school or other advanced degree programs
• Want to approach contemporary healthcare from an interdisciplinary perspective
• Are driven to understand the social and cultural aspects of illness and health

The MHS Department’s 1-year M.A. in the Social Foundations of Health draws on a variety of fields in the social sciences and humanities—anthropology, economics, history, literature, psychology, sociology, philosophy/ethics, political science, 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.

Our broad curriculum allows students the unique opportunity to take classes in the Vanderbilt Graduate School as well as the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Law, and the Master of Public Health Program. Students also learn valuable skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Through interdisciplinary course work, faculty mentorship, and research collaborations, students learn skills now emphasized on the MCAT and essential to success in health care. Many of our students go on to professional degree programs in medicine, law, and public health.

Other recent graduates have accepted positions in research, the healthcare technology sector, healthcare consulting, and nonprofit work.