Program in the History of Science and Medicine
History of Science and Medicine is a semi-autonomous, interdisciplinary Program under the broader umbrella of the History Department. It provides a framework in which students at all levels can examine the impact of science and medicine on society. Students examine a wide range of issues from the past and make use of them to understand the present. These topics include the relationships between science, medicine and society, the role of public health in western and non-western societies; the emergence of epidemics and chronic diseases; the history of drugs and pharmaceutical industry, the place of race and gender in medicine; the rise of intellectual property in biotechnology; the development of evolutionary biology and its social applications; the cultural history of the body; the relationships of science and travel; the history of the mind; the development of Chinese science and medicine, the emergence of colonial medicine and global health. An important feature of the Program is its strong link to the History of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, where a number of its faculty members have their primary appointment.
As a field, HSHM prepares students for a better understanding of the world in which we live as well as for a wide variety of careers, including medicine, public health, academic life, museum work, journalism, law, industry, and public service. Students study under the guidance of a diverse and expanding faculty with expertise in many disciplines, periods, and societies. The links here invite you to explore the curriculum at the graduate and undergraduate levels; to examine the requirements for the BA, M.A, and Ph.D degrees; to view the research and teaching interests of the faculty; to get information about the conferences and colloquia sponsored by the Program; and to find the contact information of our faculty and staff.
