Major in Human Biology – B.S.

Purpose

The human biology B.S. provides students with a holistic understanding of our species with a focus on our biology, including consideration of how that biology is altered by our evolutionary history and a contemporary environment that includes natural, social, and technological components. Students explore these diverse aspects of humanity while gaining a solid knowledge of our biological foundations. Core coursework extends the investigation of human biology to the sub-cellular and molecular level and places the details of human biology within the larger context of biological and biochemical mechanisms common to life forms. The B.S. degree in Human Biology is designed to provide students with a strong scientific knowledge base in human biology, interdisciplinary perspectives on the human condition, and an opportunity to focus their coursework in an area of concentration most suited to their interests. Many human biology B.S. degree students are preparing for graduate education or professional school in the health sciences, business, or law. Students can also prepare for careers in the life science industries or pursue original research with their specialization in the sciences.

View the 2011-2012 Bulletin

View the 2008-2010 Bulletin (for students currently in the program under the old curriculum)

Requirements

Students must complete the following fundamental skills and distribution requirements:

Writing (English Composition and Intensive Writing): same as the general requirements for the B.A. degree.
Foreign Language: three semesters in the same language, or equivalent proficiency.
Mathematics: one of MATH M118, M119, or M211.
Arts and Humanities: two courses.
Social and Historical Studies: two courses.
Natural and Mathematical Sciences: fulfilled by major.
Topics: one course.
Culture Studies: one course from List A.

Major Requirements

Human Biology Core Courses (all required): B200, B300, and B400 (N&M)
Additional core coursework: Physiology (P215) (N&M) and Anatomy (A215) (N&M) or Anatomy for imaging (A480); Introduction to Bioanthropology (ANTH B200) (N&M); Scientific Reasoning (HPS X200)(N&M) or Plato to Nato (HPS X102) (H&S); Introduction to Psychological and Brain Sciences (PSY P101 or PSY P155) (N&M) or Environmental Biology (BIOL L350)(N&M) or City as Ecosystem (BIOL L222).
A course in Statistics (STAT S300 or 310, PSY K300 or 310, CJUS K300, ECON E370 or S370, ANTH A306, SOC S371, POLS Y395, LAMP L316, SPEA K300)
BIOL L112; CHEM C117; BIOL L211;
Two of the following courses: Neuroscience (PSYC P346), Genetics (BIOL L311), Human Variation (ANTH B370) or Human Nutrition (HPER N231)
An Ethics course (BIOL T312, PHIL P140, PHIL P242, PHIL P393, POLS Y379, REL R373, or ENG L240).
Area of Concentration Courses: 12 additional credit hours in one area of concentration, at least 6 of which must be at the 300 level or above. Within the area of concentration, courses must be selected in accordance with the following criteria: a. At least two courses must be selected from the life science perspective list, one of which must be a 300�400 level laboratory (or lecture/lab) course. Up to 3 credit hours of life sciences research (HUBI B490, BIOL L490, CHEM C409, or PHYS S406) may count toward this requirement. At least two courses must be selected from the historical, social, arts, and humanities perspectives list.

*Students who are pursuing the B.S. in Human Biology and the Medical Sciences minor can count up to 10 credits from the minor to the HUBI major (usually ANAT A215 or A480 and PHSL P215).

Recommendations

Students majoring in Human Biology Program are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities available at IU Bloomington to complement their area of concentration by seeking internships, working in research laboratories, attending seminars, or becoming human biology peer instructors.

Students are encouraged to take a course in information literacy (e.g. BIOL L301).