“I love for medical schools to see that I studied the subject of religion while in college, because I will personally be working with people from different religions and cultures. Religious Studies has better prepared me to interact with people from all walks of life as a physician.” – UA Religious Studies and Biomedical Sciences Double Major

“My Religious Studies courses were invaluable when I took the MCAT and interviewed for entrance into medical schools. The Verbal section of the MCAT exam has ‘mind/body’ essay topics that are very abstract, and a lot of people have trouble. But I was used to writing about these issues in my Religious Studies courses. Through Religious Studies, I had a lot of practice with that kind of language and topic. Thank you for preparing me for this!” – Stephanie Cardenas

 

The Religious Studies for Health Professionals (RSHP) major (B.S.) offers an exciting degree path for students planning to enter health professions. Students pairing a RSHP major with pre-health science coursework (such as the Pre-Health Thematic Minor) have reported that this dual training has made them more competitive when applying for graduate and professional schools and has better equipped them as health professionals to engage with their clients as whole people.  

Interested students should contact:

Dr. Alison Jameson, Undergraduate Advisor
Office: Learning Services Building 209    
Email: religion-advising@email.arizona.edu

Degree Requirements - B.S. in Religious Studies for Health Professionals (RSHP)

Students majoring in Religious Studies for Health Professionals must complete at least 24 units of Religious Studies coursework (8 courses) and a 6-unit internship sequence, for a total of 30 units (10 courses). At least 18 units (6 courses) must be at the 300 level or higher. 

Students pursuing the B.S. in RSHP must have a science or health related minor (or second major in a science or health field). The B.S. in RSHP requires a minimum of 30 units of science and/or health related coursework at any level (including coursework for the science/health minor or major). Students must also fulfill M-strand Math requirements to fulfill degree requirements for the B.S. in RSHP. 

REQUIRED COURSES:
RELI 200: Introduction to the Study of Religion (3 units)
RELI 406: Religious Diversity in Healthcare (3 units)
Internship Sequence: PAH 383 (3 units) & PAH 493 (3 units)

CHOOSE 2 IN RELIGION, SCIENCE, & HEALTH (6 Units Total):
RELI 303: Spirituality & Sickness: Religion & Health in the U.S.
RELI 326: God, Humanity, & Science
RELI 336: Spirituality, Psychology & the Mind
RELI 359: Buddhism & Healing
*Any taken beyond 6 units count toward the 9 health concentration units (see below).

3 ADDITIONAL COURSES IN HEALTH CONCENTRATION (9 Units Total):
Choose three courses:
RELI 203: Religion & Medicine in Western Healing Traditions
RELI 211: Life After Death in World Religions & Philosophies
RELI 212: Intro to American Indian Religious Traditions
RELI 313: Health & Medicine in Classical Antiquity
RELI 360: Religion, Nature, and Climate Change
RELI 363: Religion & Sex
RELI 367: Yoga
RELI 404: Religion, Gender, & the Body
RELI 482: Tantric Buddhism
EAS/RELI 333: Buddhist Meditation Traditions
MAS/AIS/RELI 405: Traditional Indian Medicine
CHS 309: Ethical Issues Common to the Helping Professions

ELECTIVE
Choose one elective course (3 units). For students who matriculated at the University of Arizona in 2022 or later, courses numbered 150 or 160 can count toward the Religious Studies for Health Professionals degree. 

For information on double-dipping General Education courses with majors and minors, see the Double Use of Courses (Double Dipping) webpage.

*Note: Students can also choose a B.A. in Religious Studies with a concentration in Religious Studies for Health Professionals. 

Questions? For more information on Religious Studies courses, look over our Course Descriptions or contact a Religious Studies advisor.

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RELIGIOUS STUDIES FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS MINOR

A minor in RSHP requires eighteen (18) units of coursework (6 courses) at the 100 level or higher, including at least 9 units (3 courses) of upper division work (300 level and higher), as follows:

Choose 2 in Religion, Science, & Health (6 units):

RELI 303: Spirituality & Sickness: Religion & Health in the U.S.

RELI 326: God, Humanity, & Science

RELI 336: Spirituality, Psychology & the Mind

RELI 359: Buddhism & Healing

RELI 406: Religious Diversity in Healthcare

*Any taken beyond 6 units count toward the 9 health concentration units (see below).

3 additional courses in the Health Concentration (9 units):

RELI 203: Religion & Medicine in Western Healing Traditions

RELI 211: Life After Death in World Religions & Philosophies

RELI 212: Intro to American Indian Religious Traditions

RELI 313: Health & Medicine in Classical Antiquity

RELI 360: Religion, Nature, and Climate Change

RELI 363: Religion & Sex

RELI 367: Yoga

REL 381: African/Indigenous Religions

RELI 404: Religion, Gender, & the Body

RELI 428A: Globalization, the Environment, & Indigenous Religions

RELI 482: Tantric Buddhism

EAS/RELI 333: Buddhist Meditation Traditions

MAS/AIS/RELI 405: Traditional Indian Medicine

 

Choose 1 additional RELI Elective (3 units). 

A maximum of 3 units of independent study (courses numbered 399/499) may apply to the Religious Studies minor.

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For information on double-dipping General Education courses with Religious Studies majors and minors, see the Double Use of Courses (Double Dipping) webpage.

Upcoming course offerings can be found on the Course Schedule or on UAccess Student. You can also view our comprehensive course list.