Tufts Blogs

So one thing that I always hear from pre-health (med, dent, vet, community health, etc.) prospective students is whether or not they would have to follow a strict schedule at Tufts. Absolutely not! Of course, there are certain classes that you have to take but you are encouraged to take advantage of your academic freedom and explore all kinds of different departments. So in this post, I’m introducing you to some majors that you might not have thought of studying and showing you how they tie into the overarching theme of health. Basically, you shouldn’t feel confined to a certain major because you are pre-health. Study whatever really interests you. Chances are, you will probably find a way for it to relate to health!

Africana Studies, American Studies, Asian Studies, Judaic Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Russian and Eastern European Studies: In a health related career, you are likely to work with people from very diverse backgrounds. Learning about a culture different from our own can help you become more culturally sensitive and, eventually, be able to provide treatments that best fit that person’s specific needs.

Anthropology, Sociology: When working with individuals, it is important to understand the greater societal influences in place that are affecting your interactions with them.

Biopsychology, Child Development, Clinical Psychology, Psychology, Cognitive and Brain Science: Along with being able to understand society’s influence on individuals, it can be helpful to learn how brain chemistry affects emotion, why children at a certain age might have a hard time adhering to medical regimes, or some of the mental illnesses that can occur alongside physiological illnesses.

Community Health, Environmental Health: Barriers to healthcare or environmental factors may be a cause of poor health in certain demographics.

Drama, Music: In some situations treatment of illness may actually come in the form of art therapy. This allows patients to express themselves through the arts, which may help the patient open up to the healthcare provider.

Economics: The economy and healthcare seem to be entwined quite a bit. Understanding how the state of the economy affects patients’ access to care and a healthcare provider’s ability to give care is helpful.

French, German, Chinese, Italian, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, Spanish: You have to be able to communicate with the people you are working with. It’s as simple as that.  

International Relations, Political Science: Politicians always seem to be talking about healthcare. Of course, healthcare is a global issue that can be addressed with a good understanding of what is happening in the world around us and how politicians are trying to better it.

Religion: Religion can be a huge factor in a patient’s treatment. Some religious groups view prayer as part of the treatment process and do not allow certain procedures like surgery. Understanding different religions and being able to work with them could prove to be very helpful, especially when looking a serious illness and injury.