HUMBI-BA - Human Biology (BA)

The program expects its undergraduate majors to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes.

Communication 

Because Human Biology is an interdisciplinary program emphasizing empirical inquiry and applied knowledge, excellent communication skills are critical to majors. Successful students must be able to engage with literature from multiple disciplines. Students must also be able to communicate with audiences from numerous disciplines and with various levels of subject expertise and communicate information and ideas clearly, precisely, concisely, and purposefully in any setting. Toward this end, a graduate of Human Biology is expected to be able to: 

• Adopt an appropriate style for written communication in the biological and social sciences

• Accurately summarize a scientific article

• Synthesize and criticize multiple sources of scientific literature

• Revise effectively in response to feedback

• Write collaboratively

• Present information visually in a variety of forms (charts, graphs, figures, and posters) for different audiences, purposes, and occasions

• Communicate in a variety of major scientific genres (such as abstracts, literature reviews, posters, research proposals, research presentations, and policy proposals) and popular genres (such as op-eds, PSA, podcasts, and science blogs)

• Use citations to provide context and to credit others for their intellectual contributions

• Communicate scientific knowledge to both specialist and non-specialist audiences

• Construct a well-supported, logical argument based on relevant evidence and established conceptual frameworks

• Frame a research question in relation to the current state of knowledge in a field

• Articulate a well-reasoned hypothesis

• Listen to any speaker and pose questions

• Deliver an oral presentation and respond to audience questions 

Data Analysis

Data are used in the social and biological sciences to make observations and inferences regarding human behavior and function patterns. These data are sometimes imperfect or incomplete but must be used to make decisions and policies regarding humans individually and in groups within their worlds. Thus, students should cultivate a capacity within the Human Biology major to examine and analyze data critically. A graduate of Human Biology is expected to be able to:

• Recognize that different scientific disciplines draw on various sources and types of evidence 

• Translate a research topic into a hypothesis that can be tested using quantitative or qualitative data

• Identify variables that are relevant to a study and describe their nature (e.g., categorical, continuous) and interrelationships (independent, dependent, covariates)

• Use statistical software to summarize, describe, and analyze data of various types

• Choose an appropriate analytical framework or statistical model for testing a given hypothesis, considering the structure of the data (e.g., sample size, distribution, qualitative or quantitative nature)

• Employ quantitative or qualitative data to support a conclusion

• Understand and interpret the results of hypothesis tests

• Detect mistakes commonly made in empirical reasoning and data analysis

• Assess the limits of available data and identify potential sources of uncertainty

• Present data accurately, clearly, and effectively in the forms of tables, graphs, and figures

• Explore specialized modes of data analysis such as meta-analysis, bioinformatics, modeling, and epidemiological approaches

Scientific Literacy

The Program in Human Biology prepares students to join a broad scientific community with a culture of building and sharing knowledge. A goal of the major is to cultivate informed consumers of research in the natural and social sciences, irrespective of their career paths. A graduate of Human Biology is expected to be able to:

• Appreciate the distinct roles of common genres of scientific writing, including peer-reviewed research papers, review articles, commentaries, and popular science writing

• Acknowledge and apply the normative and ethical standards of conducting and publishing research, including accuracy, transparency, and responsibility to colleagues and subjects

• Consider the credibility and importance of a published article and its relevance within a field

• Engage with peer-reviewed scientific literature actively and critically

• Identify research questions and understand their theoretical or practical importance

•  Assess research methodologies, including experimental and observational study designs

•  Evaluate evidence and statistical analyses presented in support of claims

• Interpret data presented in a table, graph, or figure

• Use a hypothesis or conceptual framework to make predictions or pose questions about a novel setting