Arts in Health Minor
Minor Overview
Arts in health practitioners use creative arts including visual arts, music, arts humanities, theatre and dance to improve well-being. The field encompasses positions in settings like hospitals, community programs and wellness centers, including direct therapeutic roles and support positions within health-care and community-based organizations.
As awareness of the connections between creativity and health grows, there is a rising demand for professionals who can integrate artistic practice with evidence-based approaches to care, whether by facilitating patient-centered arts experiences, designing community wellness initiatives or collaborating with medical teams to enhance quality of life and health outcomes.
National organizations, hospitals and public health agencies increasingly recognize the measurable benefits of arts engagement — such as reduced stress, improved cognitive function and stronger social bonds — yet undergraduate opportunities to prepare students for these interdisciplinary careers remain scarce. A minor in Arts in Health meets this need by equipping students with the knowledge, skills and critical frameworks necessary to enter a rapidly expanding field that values both creative expertise and a commitment to human well-being.
Curriculum
Three Required Courses, 9 Credit Hours
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PVFA 202 | Introduction to Arts in Health | 3 |
| PVFA 370 | Designing Arts in Health Programs | 3 |
| PVFA 402 | Arts in Health Practicum | 3 |
Select one of the following:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HHUM 107 | Introduction to the Health Humanities | 3 |
| KINE 223 | Introduction to the Science of Health and Fitness | 3 |
| KINE 282 | Culture of Wellness | 3 |
| PHLT 336 | Health Disparities and Diversity in Society | 3 |
Select two of the following:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DCED 240 | Improvisation and Partnering | 3 |
| DCED 242 | Contact Improvisation | 3 |
| DCED 304 | Creative Dance for Children | 3 |
| DCED 315 | Special Populations in Dance | 3 |
| ENGL 107 | Introduction to the Health Humanities | 3 |
| ENGL 342 | The Rhetoric of Gender and Health | 3 |
| PERF 322 | Collaborative Performing | 3 |
| PERF 333 | Movement in Performance Studies | 3 |
| PERF 338 | Performing Communities | 3 |
| PERF 407 | Performing Literature | 3 |
| PVFA 111 | Creating with Care | 3 |
| PVFA 302 | Interactive Design for Health | 3 |
Total Semester Credit Hours: 18