Master of Arts in Arts in Medicine (MA)
Overview
2 Years (35 Credits)
The online Master of Arts in Arts in Medicine (MA) provides comprehensive training in the advanced theory and practical skills needed to safely and effectively engage individuals and communities in arts in health experiences in clinical and public health settings. Students learn from leaders in the field while building competencies in program development, research, evaluation, ethics, administration, and creative facilitation.
Through a hands-on community practicum and a research or evaluation-based capstone project, students apply evidence-based approaches in real world settings. Designed for students and professionals from diverse backgrounds, the program prepares graduates to lead, manage, and advance arts in health initiatives across healthcare, public health, and community contexts.
Curriculum (35 credit hours)
The MA in Arts in Medicine requires 35 credit hours of coursework to complete. Students complete a practicum and capstone to gain crucial hands-on experience in practice, research, and evaluation in their own community. You can request more information or start an application.
If you are a current UF undergrad majoring in Pre-health, Music, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology & Cell Science, and Psychology, you could get a head start on your MA by applying to our Combined Degree Program.
Curriculum Overview & Learning Goals
The program’s curriculum is designed to help students:
- Develop an understanding of the theoretical foundations that inform the field and practice of arts in health
- Understand the roles of the arts in promoting health education, health literacy, and disease prevention in community settings
- Develop an understanding of the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate care environments and to ensure patient safety
- Develop professional-level practical skills in using the arts in healthcare and community settings
- Develop an understanding of the administrative structures that support arts in health programs
- Identify core issues, contemporary trends and critical debates central to arts in health
- Identify core competencies including ethical frameworks, program development and assessment, and grant writing
Core Curriculum
- Creativity and Health: Foundations of Arts in Medicine (HUM5357, 8 weeks) – 3 credits
- This online graduate course explores the deepest questions at the heart of arts in health. From historical perspectives to theoretical foundations, the course engages at the intersection of the arts, creativity and health promotion to facilitate an understanding of these complex and interwoven disciplines. Lively discussions and all course materials help inform the field and practice of arts in health in a variety of settings. This is the initial core course for the Master of Arts (MA) in Arts in Medicine and the Graduate Certificate in Arts in Medicine. (This course can be taken as an elective by nonmajors.)
- Arts in Medicine in Practice (HUM5595, 8 weeks) – 3 credits
- This second core course for the Master of Arts (MA) in Arts in Medicine and the Graduate Certificate in Arts in Medicine explores the practice of arts in health in the fields of health and human services. The course provides a dynamic, interdisciplinary overview of the diverse practices and methodologies in the contemporary field of arts in health in healthcare and community settings. Students learn what they need to know to navigate these settings safely and professionally as they prepare for their practicum. (This course can be taken as an elective by nonmajors.)
*Prerequisite: HUM5357 Creativity and Health: Foundations of the Arts in Medicine.
- This second core course for the Master of Arts (MA) in Arts in Medicine and the Graduate Certificate in Arts in Medicine explores the practice of arts in health in the fields of health and human services. The course provides a dynamic, interdisciplinary overview of the diverse practices and methodologies in the contemporary field of arts in health in healthcare and community settings. Students learn what they need to know to navigate these settings safely and professionally as they prepare for their practicum. (This course can be taken as an elective by nonmajors.)
- Arts in Medicine Professional Seminar (HUM6353, 8 weeks) – 3 credits
- This course provides a practical orientation to professional competencies, practice, and ethics for the field of arts in health. Pro Sem is the culminating course in the graduate certificate, or of the first year of the MA in Arts in Medicine. This course focuses on applications of course materials to date in the program and specifically engages in core issues, trends, and critical debates central to practice in arts in health.
*Prerequisite: HUM6942 Arts in Medicine Practicum.
- This course provides a practical orientation to professional competencies, practice, and ethics for the field of arts in health. Pro Sem is the culminating course in the graduate certificate, or of the first year of the MA in Arts in Medicine. This course focuses on applications of course materials to date in the program and specifically engages in core issues, trends, and critical debates central to practice in arts in health.
- Arts in Medicine Advanced Professional Seminar* (HUM6354, 8 weeks) – 3 credits
- This course provides advanced consideration of skills, competencies, applications, and ethical frameworks central to professional practice in field of arts in health. Advanced Pro Sem focuses on preparation for research and evaluation in Capstone Proposal and Capstone in addition to considering the contexts of historical and contemporary applications of arts in health. The course is designed to synthesize and integrate student learning in preparation for practice in the field of arts in health.
*Prerequisite: HUM6358 Arts in Medicine Capstone Proposal.
- This course provides advanced consideration of skills, competencies, applications, and ethical frameworks central to professional practice in field of arts in health. Advanced Pro Sem focuses on preparation for research and evaluation in Capstone Proposal and Capstone in addition to considering the contexts of historical and contemporary applications of arts in health. The course is designed to synthesize and integrate student learning in preparation for practice in the field of arts in health.
- Research and Evaluation for Arts in Medicine Professionals* (HUM6597, 8 weeks) – 3 credits
- This online course explores research and evaluation in arts in health. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods will be discussed, with an emphasis on arts informed approaches for use in the healthcare settings, be it the hospital or in the community. Through video lectures, readings, writing assignments, and weekly online discussion, students will learn the basics of developing a research proposal and evaluation plan. The course is designed to provide basic knowledge in evaluation and research to enable the student to effectively evaluate programs and to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the field arts in health.
*This course must be taken prior to HUM6358 Capstone Proposal.
- This online course explores research and evaluation in arts in health. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods will be discussed, with an emphasis on arts informed approaches for use in the healthcare settings, be it the hospital or in the community. Through video lectures, readings, writing assignments, and weekly online discussion, students will learn the basics of developing a research proposal and evaluation plan. The course is designed to provide basic knowledge in evaluation and research to enable the student to effectively evaluate programs and to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the field arts in health.
Practicum (9 credit hours)
- Graduate Practicum in Arts in Medicine (HUM6942, 16 weeks) – 3 credits
- This is the third core course for Master of Arts (MA) in Arts in Medicine and the Graduate Certificate in Arts in Medicine. The course supports students as they engage in focused, professional level practice in an arts in health programming at a healthcare or community health setting in their home communities. Students undertake 96 hours of contact, experiential, and administrative activities over 16 weeks. The goal of this course is to prepare students for professional arts in health practice.
*Prerequisites: HUM5357 Creativity and Health: Foundations of the Arts in Medicine and HUM5595 Arts in Medicine Practice.
- This is the third core course for Master of Arts (MA) in Arts in Medicine and the Graduate Certificate in Arts in Medicine. The course supports students as they engage in focused, professional level practice in an arts in health programming at a healthcare or community health setting in their home communities. Students undertake 96 hours of contact, experiential, and administrative activities over 16 weeks. The goal of this course is to prepare students for professional arts in health practice.
- Arts in Medicine Capstone Proposal (HUM6358, 8 weeks) – 2 credits
- This keystone course prepares students for development of their Capstone projects by focusing on review of the literature, honing writing skills, and engaging with fellow students about best practices for creating and organizing a major research or evaluation project that addresses arts in health in a healthcare or community setting. The course instructor guides and makes suggestions, but by this time in the curriculum students are expected to be proactive and to engage each other with academic rigor. The course covers research, planning, submission, and approval of a Capstone project to be completed in the final semester, which is the culmination of the Master of Arts (MA) in Arts in Medicine.
*Prerequisite: HUM6353 Arts in Medicine Professional Seminar.
- This keystone course prepares students for development of their Capstone projects by focusing on review of the literature, honing writing skills, and engaging with fellow students about best practices for creating and organizing a major research or evaluation project that addresses arts in health in a healthcare or community setting. The course instructor guides and makes suggestions, but by this time in the curriculum students are expected to be proactive and to engage each other with academic rigor. The course covers research, planning, submission, and approval of a Capstone project to be completed in the final semester, which is the culmination of the Master of Arts (MA) in Arts in Medicine.
- Arts in Medicine Capstone (HUM6596, weeks) – 4 credits
- This course engages students in advanced practice and assessment in arts in health in a healthcare or community environment. Students design their own ultimate challenge and hands-on learning experience as the culmination of the Master of Arts (MA) in Arts in Medicine degree by implementing and conducting an assessment (evaluation or research) of an arts program or practice with the goal of developing professional-level practice and/or management and assessment skills. The course requirements include a literature review, meetings with an approved on-site supervisor and the course instructor, discussion board posts and comments, program evaluation or research, a presentation to MA in Arts in Medicine program peers, and a culminating paper. The coursework is intended to deepen and integrate the student’s understanding of professional arts in health practice. Note: This course requires a one-time 20-minute synchronous Capstone Qualifier video call with 2-3 faculty members.
*Prerequisite: HUM6354 Arts in Medicine Advanced Professional Seminar.
- This course engages students in advanced practice and assessment in arts in health in a healthcare or community environment. Students design their own ultimate challenge and hands-on learning experience as the culmination of the Master of Arts (MA) in Arts in Medicine degree by implementing and conducting an assessment (evaluation or research) of an arts program or practice with the goal of developing professional-level practice and/or management and assessment skills. The course requirements include a literature review, meetings with an approved on-site supervisor and the course instructor, discussion board posts and comments, program evaluation or research, a presentation to MA in Arts in Medicine program peers, and a culminating paper. The coursework is intended to deepen and integrate the student’s understanding of professional arts in health practice. Note: This course requires a one-time 20-minute synchronous Capstone Qualifier video call with 2-3 faculty members.
Elective Courses (Choose 4 Electives)
- Art and Compassion (HUM6308) – 3 credits
- Art and Compassion examines the historical and theoretical roots of compassion in philosophy, spirituality, religion, psychology, medicine, and science, including recent scientific research pertaining to the biology of compassion. The course explores the practical ways artists use their work to represent, embody, and enact compassion by considering this character trait in a variety of expressive media including literature, visual art, and movement.
- Arts and the Military (HUM6930) – 3 credits
- Arts and the Military leads students through an exploration of how the arts have emerged as an important tool in the military. Students will learn the complexities of military service, the unique stressors, and challenges impacting service members, and how the arts are being used to support well-being in service members, veterans, and military-connected communities.
- Arts, Public Health, and Community Impact HUM6930) – 3 credits
- This course explores the intersection of the arts and public health, examining how creative expression influences health outcomes, serves as a counter-narrative to dominant discourses, and fosters community-driven solutions. The course will explore arts-based research methods, participatory approaches, and case studies from different culturalcontexts, highlighting how various art forms support health advocacy, improve accessibility, and strengthen community resilience. By engaging with these themes, students will gain a deeper understanding of the power of the arts in shaping public health policy, practice, and communication globally.
- Independent Study (HUM6930) – 3 credits
- This is a self-directed, elective course for graduate arts in medicine students who wish to investigate a specific topic of interest under the advisement of an instructor who will monitor and critique the student’s progress.