HUMBI-BS - Human Biology (BS)

The undergraduate program in Human Biology provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to understanding human beings from biological, behavioral, social, and cultural perspectives. Core courses train students to approach significant problems from a range of perspectives. As they progress through the major, each student pursues an individualized course of study that draws upon disciplines across the university and promotes a nuanced understanding of a substantive area. The program prepares majors to pursue advanced training in professional or graduate programs and to address issues that influence human welfare.

The BS degree allows students a scientific and technical focus for their studies. It requires completion of coursework and specialization in the biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and/or computer science and engineering. The degree suits various career trajectories, including attending graduate or professional school, such as medical school. Students who plan to pursue graduate work should familiarize themselves with the admission requirements of the schools to which they intend to apply. A total of 81 units of credit are required for graduation, so early planning is advisable to guarantee the completion of a Human Biology major.

BS Degree Option Requirement

For the BS degree, coursework must be predominantly in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, and/or engineering, with a minority in the social sciences. Courses designated as Ways for applied quantitative reasoning, formal reasoning, and courses in scientific methods and analysis qualify as BS-eligible. Other eligible courses have been designated as BS by the program.

More details about meeting this requirement can be found in the sections describing Breadth, Depth, & Upper Division degree requirements.

Area of Concentration

After completing the Human Biology Core, majors design their individualized course of study with a unique Area of Concentration topic. The Area of Concentration title should communicate the focus of the student’s Human Biology coursework. Students should select courses for their Breadth and Depth requirements that build expertise in their chosen Area of Concentration topic. The student selects courses for these two requirement categories in consultation with the advising staff, who approve the final course selections.

Additional information about the major may be obtained from the program’s offices or at the Program in Human Biology website.

How to Declare

The program allows students to start the declaration process by developing a course of study once they have passed at least two of the six courses in the HumBio Core Sequence with a letter grade. Throughout declaration, a prospective major must consult with the Human Biology advising team to develop a course of study with an individualized Area of Concentration.

Upon approval of their proposed coursework, students write a Cornerstone Essay explaining their chosen Area of Concentration. When the major is declared, the student submits the Cornerstone Essay (3-5 pages), which includes academic and long-term goals and the proposed list of courses satisfying the Breadth and Depth requirements for the major. The student advisors then review the proposal and can help identify an appropriate faculty advisor.

Students may officially declare in Axess once they have received program approval for their Area of Concentration and completed four of the six HumBio Core Sequence courses with a C- or better. The program recommends that students finish declaring by the time they finish the HumBio Core Sequence. Further details about How to Declare in the Human Biology Program are available here.