PhD in Philosophy - Medical Humanities in Irvine United States | University of California Irvine

Our graduate program offers two specialized pathways—the Philosophy track and the LPS track—both built on a shared foundation of coursework in philosophy's history, logic, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. Since admissions are handled separately by each department, applicants should select the track aligning closest with their academic goals. Below you'll find details about the Philosophy track specifically. The UCI Philosophy Department prioritizes delivering comprehensive graduate training, covering both modern philosophical disciplines and historical perspectives. Students with backgrounds in mathematics, natural sciences, or social sciences are particularly welcome to engage with Logic and Philosophy of Science coursework and consider LPS faculty for their dissertation committees. This collaborative dual-track structure enables students to access diverse faculty specializations.

This class examines healthcare practices in late medieval and early modern Europe, tracing how medical knowledge, practitioners, and diseases moved through an expanding interconnected world. Historical approaches to bodily functions and treatments differed significantly from modern medicine, yet fundamental human experiences remain relatable—healers needed to demonstrate competence, patients navigated various treatment options, and both sought to understand illness in ways that still resonate today. Our study concentrates on healthcare settings (institutions, homes, marketplaces), evolving theories of wellness and disease, knowledge dissemination, and first-hand accounts from both caregivers and patients. The course particularly highlights how gender influenced bodily concepts and shaped medical roles and experiences.