ST. LEO, FL – Saint Leo University (www.saintleo.edu) is introducing a new bachelor’s degree offering of special interest to college-bound young people interested in careers in medicine or in other health-oriented opportunities. Beginning in the fall of 2019, Saint Leo will begin offering courses leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in medical humanities through its College of Arts and Sciences.
The four-year degree in medical humanities is a good fit for students who are interested not just in studying specific medical conditions, but also the way individuals, families, and societies react and adapt to human development, illness, suffering, and the end of life. The demographic trends in American society indicate a growing need for professionals who graduate from college with this degree as a foundation, and who then pursue opportunities in a number of sectors.
Because the field of options is so broad, the degree program is structured along two tracks. Two foundation courses and a course in bio ethics are required of all students. From there, students choose between the pre-medical track and the health and humanities track.
The pre-medical track draws from biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses from the strong, existing Saint Leo biology degree programs. In addition, students select added credits from a psychology and sociology cluster; a philosophy, religion, and ethics grouping; selected offerings from art and humanities; and an array of courses drawn from anthropology, history, communications, and law that will give students historical perspective. Graduates will be fully prepared to apply to medical school (and complete the Medical College Admission Test) or other health-related professional schools. The eventual goal of this track is to help prepare physicians, dentists, physician assistants or nurses who are able to interact with patients holistically, in addition to being capable scientists.
Alternately, the medical humanities degree is also a valuable springboard into graduate study for those interested in careers in medical social work, psychology, occupational therapy, medical illustration, public health policy, nonprofit organizations devoted to patient advocacy, and more. Those students will be advised to follow the health and humanities track. This track does not require the heavy load of science courses and instead directs majors more deeply into 18 credit hours from courses in the other course areas mentioned above, according to their interests. This also leaves the health and humanities majors enough room in their academic schedule to add a minor—which could be biology, chemistry, or other options appealing to students according to their individual goals. All the majors will have opportunities to complete academic projects, to take part in service-learning opportunities, and to seek internships. This interdisciplinary degree will be offered only at University Campus in east Pasco County.
Additional new majors were also announced. To see the complete list, visit the university website.
About Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University (www.saintleo.edu) is a modern Catholic teaching university that is firmly grounded in the liberal arts tradition and the timeless Benedictine wisdom that seeks balanced growth of mind, body, and spirit. The Saint Leo University of today is a private, nonprofit institution that creates hospitable learning communities wherever students want to be or need to be, whether that is a campus classroom, a web-based environment, an employer’s worksite, a military base, or an office park. Saint Leo welcomes people of all faiths and of no religious affiliation, and encourages learners of all generations. The university is committed to providing educational opportunities to the nation’s armed forces, veterans, and their families. Saint Leo is regionally accredited to award degrees ranging from the associate to the doctorate, and the faculty and staff guide all students to develop their capacities for critical thinking, moral reflection, and lifelong learning and leadership.
The university remains the faithful steward of the beautiful lakeside University Campus in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, where its founding monks created the first Catholic college in the state in 1889. Serving nearly 12,000 students, Saint Leo has expanded to downtown Tampa, to other sites in Florida and beyond, and maintains a physical presence in seven states. The university provides highly respected online learning programs to students nationally and internationally. More than 93,000 alumni reside in all 50 states, in Washington, DC, in three U.S. territories, and in 76 countries.
Media Contact: To arrange interviews with key faculty members, contact Jo-Ann Johnston, Saint Leo academic communications manager, at jo-ann.johnston@saintleo.edu or by calling (352) 588-8237. Or, call Mary McCoy, media relations contact, at (352) 588-7118, or by email at mary.mccoy02@saintleo.edu.