LEWIS KATZ SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

About the Certificate

The graduate certificate in Narrative Medicine is designed to enhance medical and healthcare education by giving students the competence to identify, acknowledge and interpret stories of sickness and of health through close observation of the human experience as they represent and serve our diverse society. Strong focus is placed on analysis of fiction and non-fiction writing. Reflective and creative writing assignments are designed to improve students’ ability to recognize, interpret and tell patient stories. Students interested in film, visual arts, dance and other creative mediums have opportunities to explore these outlets.

Using small-seminar courses and a capstone project, students explore the role of narrative in medicine and the vast expanse of human stories to improve their ability to care for patients and to deepen their satisfaction as a healthcare provider. The certificate is unique in its provision of a theoretical and academic foundation in narrative medicine bolstered immediately and rigorously by experiential work in the hospital setting.

The certificate program is open to students at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) who are working toward their MD degree. They may complete the Narrative Medicine certificate along with their LKSOM MD curriculum. Courses and assignments have been formulated to align with and complement medical school coursework.

The certificate program is also open to students who are not pursuing the MD. They may take advantage of the vast knowledge and experience of our medical school and humanities faculties and teaching physicians at Temple University Hospital.

Time Limit for Certificate Completion: 4 years

Campus Location: Health Sciences Center

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The graduate certificate can be completed on a part-time basis. NOTE: International students may not be eligible to apply for a student visa based on admission to the certificate program. Please contact the certificate's director for more information.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students may take up to 9 credits of coursework before applying to the graduate certificate program.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:
Applications are reviewed year-round for the graduate certificate program.

Students in the MD program apply to the Narrative Medicine certificate program before or during their first year of study in order to coordinate their schedule and complete the certificate by the time they finish the MD degree.

APPLY ONLINE to this certificate program.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University. Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited institutions attended are required.

Certificate Requirements

Number of Credits Required to Complete the Certificate: 12

Required Courses:

LKSOM MD Student Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Courses
NMED 8101	Introduction to Narrative Medicine (Professional Students)	3
NMED 8102	Literature and Medicine (Professional Students)	2
NMED 8103	Narrative Medicine and Clinical Practice (Professional Students)	2
Electives
Select two from the following: 1		2
MEDS M130	Reflections on Gross Anatomy
MEDS M143	Medical Humanities
MEDS M226	Arts Workshop
MEDS M227	Fundamentals of Improv Theater
MEDS M234	Yoga and Writing
MEDS M240	An Exploration of Narrative Medicine
MEDS M241	An Exploration of Meaning through Stories, Poems, and Plays
MEDS M243	Humans of North Philly: Portraits from the Streets
MEDS M270	Artful Thinking
PSYM M266	Psychiatry: A Narrative Pursuit
Capstone Course
NMED 9182	Narrative Medicine Capstone Project (Professional Students)	3
Total Credit Hours		12

¹

For a list of specific courses offered each academic term, students should contact the LKSOM Dean of Students.

Curriculum for Students Not Enrolled in LKSOM's MD Program

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
NMED 8200	Special Topic in Narrative Medicine (Graduate Students) (2 terms)	2
NMED 8201	Introduction to Narrative Medicine (Graduate Students)	3
NMED 8202	Literature and Medicine (Graduate Students)	2
NMED 8204	Narrative Medicine and Clinical Practice (Graduate Students)	2
NMED 9282	Narrative Medicine Capstone Project (Graduate Students)	3
Total Credit Hours		12

GPA Required to be Awarded the Certificate: 3.0 minimum

Contacts

Department Contacts: