Requirements for the Medical Humanities Certificate

Years 1 – 2

• By the end of the second year of medical school, students should have attended three blue book courses that are offered by the McGovern Center. Students must sign in at each class session and meet all other individual course requirements in order to receive course credit.
• Attendance at a minimum of eight of twelve bi-monthly seminars over the course of the first two years of medical school. These seminars will feature reading assignments along with faculty and guest speakers covering a broad spectrum of topics in the medical humanities. Students will document attendance in a journal which records their impressions, reflections on and reactions to each event. Journal entries (approximately one page in length) must specify the date, speaker, and topic of presentation.
• Participation in a significant volunteer activity, preferably in a community setting that serves underrepresented populations. The Director of the Medical Humanities Certificate Program will review and approve the program of choice.
• Attendance each year at two of the three annual dinner programs featuring outside speakers.
• Completion of two papers on a topic covered in seminars and/or evening programs.
• Students may petition the Director of the Program for consideration of activities that go beyond the scope of those listed and may substitute for these requirements

Year 3

• Successful completion of a journal writing workshop designed to enhance observational skills and self-knowledge in the clinical setting.
• Students will demonstrate their ability to reflect upon their clinic experiences through regular journal entries shared electronically.
• Attendance at two of the three dinner programs offered during the year.
• Students may petition the Director of the Certificate Program for consideration of activities that go beyond the scope of those listed and may substitute for these requirements

Year 4

• Successful completion of a 4th year medical humanities elective that requires a written research project. Students must obtain approval of the topic for the independent study project through the Director of the Certificate Program. Suggested areas of inquiry include ethics, literature, history, philosophy, art, cultural studies, law, religion, and spirituality as they relate to medicine. Film and art projects are considered important areas of independent study and will be considered for fulfillment of this requirement. Students will work with a faculty advisor who has expertise in the chosen area of inquiry and must complete a research paper of at least twenty pages in length with references.
• Attendance at two of the three annual dinner programs and lectures.
• After successful completion of all requirements in the fourth year, the McGovern Medical Humanities Certificate will be awarded, added to the formal student record, and included in the Dean’s letter. All graduates of the program will receive membership in the UT Medical School at Houston’s Humanism Society and will receive ongoing communications from the Medical School as part of a network of McGovern scholars.