History of Medicine, Master of Arts (Online)
The online History of Medicine Program offers an MA Degree for students who want to deepen their knowledge in the history of medicine and develop research skills in the field. Prior to application, please be sure to first review the information below.
The MA Degree provides a wide-ranging and in-depth overview of the history of medicine and offers the opportunity to focus on specific areas of interest. Students work closely with Department faculty to sharpen skills in historical research and writing over a series of twelve courses, culminating in the submission of an original thesis. All courses (except Directed Reading and Directed Research) are 3 credits each for a total of 36 required, plus a thesis. Directed Reading and Directed Research are 1 credit courses; each is taken 3 times. By completion of the degree, students will acquire and be able to demonstrate the following core competencies.
Core Competencies
- Demonstrate breadth of knowledge of key scholarship in the history of medicine from antiquity to the present, with special proficiency in a chosen field of study.
- Recognize the ongoing and provisional nature of knowledge and engage the past on its own terms.
- Identify and critically assess primary and secondary sources, and deploy evidence from those sources to build an historical argument.
- Choose among multiple tools, methods, and perspectives to investigate and interpret materials from the past.
- Deploy evidence from primary and secondary sources to build an historical argument.
- Practice the ethics and standards of historical research and writing that require peer critique, citation, and attribution.
- Develop, plan and complete an independent research project that makes a significant, original contribution to existing literature in the history of medicine.
- Apply historical knowledge and perspectives to contribute to public dialogue and professional life.
History of Medicine MA (online)
Applications for the online part-time Certificate or MA in the History of Medicine are accepted for much of the year, but applications are reviewed at three times. See here for details, and to apply.
The application process will ask you to confirm that you have completed our online course 150.722 Introduction to the History of Medicine.
In order to apply you will need PDF files of the following:
- Curriculum Vitae (4 page limit)
- A personal statement of interest (1 page limit)
- Writing sample (optional)
The application form will also direct you to submit official transcripts that document your undergraduate degree electronically. Review of applications cannot begin until all required documents and application fees have been received. International students will need to submit translated and validated transcripts via a service such as WES.
If you are applying for the MA, a member of faculty will contact you to arrange an interview by phone or Zoom.
The application fee is US $115, payable online.
Click on these links for more details about the Certificate and the MA Degree. If you are unsure about which to apply for, or need any assistance with the application process, please email us on ihmonline@jhmi.edu. Should you experience technical difficulties with the application portal, check that your browser is updated.
Degree Requirements
- Introduction to the History of Medicine
- All four Survey courses
- Methods in the History of Medicine
- Research seminar (two terms)
- Research Practicum on-site
- Directed Reading
- Directed Research
- One Elective
- Submission and approval of an original thesis
Online MA students who have taken a course before February 1, 2020 count time to completion from acceptance into the MA program. MA students have 5 years from acceptance to complete. Should a student switch from Certificate to Master's, or vice versa, they will complete according to the timeline of their new program.
Students who have taken their first course after February 1, 2020 will count time to completion from the very first course they do in the program, before acceptance to the MA program. These MA students have 8 years to complete their degree. Should a student switch from one program to the other, they will complete according to the timeline of the new program.
All MA Degree students must complete a free, no credit, online course on Academic and Research Ethics, as well as a Responsible Conduct of Research Module as part of the Research Practicum.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ME.150.722 | Introduction to the History of Medicine | 3 |
| ME.150.723 | Survey of the History of Medicine 1: Classical Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages | 3 |
| ME.150.724 | Survey of the History of Medicine 2: Medicine From the Black Death to the Scientific Revolution | 3 |
| ME.150.726 | History of Medicine Survey 3: Science and the Practice of Medicine | 3 |
| ME.150.727 | Survey of the History of Medicine 4: Biomedicine and its Consequences | 3 |
| ME.150.730 | Methods in the History of Medicine | 3 |
| ME.150.729 | Social and Cultural Histories of Disease | 3 |
| ME.150.728 | Healing Spaces: Historical Geographies of Medical Practice | 3 |
| ME.150.732 | Research Seminar B: The History of Medicine in Place | 3 |
| ME.150.733 | Research Practicum | 3 |
| ME.150.817 | Directed Reading | 1 |
| ME.150.818 | Directed Research | 1 |
| PH.221.605 | History of International Health and Development | 2 |
| PH.550.605 | History of Public Health | 3 |