It deals with the influence of disease on human populations, with the effects of the historically recent control of epidemic diseases, and thus, with medicine, biology, and public health as factors in the history of civilization. The M.A. is offered under Plan A only. The final exam is oral. A master's minor requires 12 credits in the history of medicine and biological sciences. The Ph.D. requires approximately 24 course credits, including survey courses in the history of medicine and biological sciences and in the history of science and technology.
Students choose other courses in consultation with the director of graduate studies.
Students are required to take their minor or supporting program in history, unless they already possess extensive training in history. Students must also complete 24 thesis credits. Ph.D. students must demonstrate competence in two foreign languages, preferably French and German, and pass an exam in one language before the end of their first academic year and in the second language before the end of their second academic year. Students interested in a historical period before 1800 are required to demonstrate competence in Latin as a third required foreign language. A Ph.D. minor requires a minimum of 12 credits in the history of medicine and biological sciences.