2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

HIST 374 History of Medicine

This course will be a survey of the history of medicine from the ancient period to the 20th century. Although there will be some discussion of medical practices within the cultures of India and China, the main thrust of the course will focus on the contributions of "Western Civilization" to medical practices. The dual objectives of the course are to track the development of medicine as a science, and second, to understand the how the practice of medicine began to benefit the average person.

Credits

3

Offered

As needed

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. To improve communication skills: helping students write clearly, read intelligently, and analyze critically.
  2. To learn and practice student abilities to analyze primary and secondary sources.
  3. To develop an understanding and sensitivity to gender and class.
  4. To develop an understanding of the roles of science and technology in history, especially as it relates to everyday lives.
  5. To create an atmosphere of active learning and student responsibility for learning
  6. To create a historiographical paper, drawing on at least three peer-reviewed scholarly works.