Minor in Religion, Spirituality, and Healthcare
An undergraduate minor in Religion, Spirituality, and Healthcare, offered by the Department of Religious Studies, will equip students with a critical understanding of how religious and spiritual beliefs shape health-related decisions and outcomes. By providing a strong foundation in the world’s diverse religious cultures, the minor will explore how spiritual and religious perspectives influence patient views on health, healing, the body, illness, medical treatment, life, and death. Through the study of specific religious traditions, cultural contexts, and ethical frameworks, students will examine how belief systems impact values, behaviors, and decision-making in healthcare settings. This cultural and religious literacy will prepare students to communicate more effectively with patients as whole persons—mind, body, and spirit—which is increasingly recognized as essential to improving health outcomes. The minor will give future healthcare professionals the skills and understanding they need to deliver more compassionate, culturally competent, and patient-centered care.