Human Biology (B.S.)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program Coordinator/Contact

Radhey Kaushik, Department Head
Department of Biology and Microbiology
Alfred Dairy Science Hall 228
605-688-6141

Program Information

The curriculum in the Human Biology major is designed for students planning to apply to health-related professional programs (e.g. chiropractic, dentistry, medicine, optometry, occupational therapy, physical therapy and physician assistant.)

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Human Biology major, students will:

Demonstrate understanding and application of evolution; biological structure and function; biological and biochemical pathways and transformations of energy and matter; biological systems; and biology, biochemical, physiological and structural aspects of the human body.
Apply the process of science.
Demonstrate understanding of and application of quantitative reasoning; information flow, exchange, and storage; relationship between science and society.
Tap into the interdisciplinary nature of science.
Communicate and collaborate with other disciplines.

Academic Requirements

A grade of C or higher is required for all major requirements including BIOL, MICR, CHEM 112, CHEM 114, CHEM 326, CHEM 328, CHEM 464, PHYS, MATH, and STAT 281.

Course Delivery Format

Program coursework is on-campus, in classroom and laboratories, as well as field-based settings. Additional coursework is available at off-campus attendance centers. Limited coursework is available online.

Requirements for Human Biology Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101 - Composition I (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3
and
ENGL 201 - Composition II (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
CMST 101 - Fundamentals of Speech (COM) [SGR #2] Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity: SGR #3 Electives Credits: 6 (PSYC 101 - General Psychology (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3 suggested and SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3 suggested)
Goal #4 Humanities and Arts/Diversity: SGR #4 Electives Credits: 6 (PHIL 220 - Introduction to Ethics (COM) [SGR #4] Credits: 3 suggested)
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 115 - Precalculus (COM) [SGR #5] Credits: 5
or higher SGR #5 MATH course Credits 3-5 (Consult advisor as some professional schools require calculus.)
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
BIOL 151-151L - General Biology I and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 4
and
BIOL 153-153L - General Biology II and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 4

Department of Biology and Microbiology Requirements

25 semester credits must be upper division (300 and above), with the exception that MATH 125 and 225, Calculus II and III, may be counted as five credits toward the total.
Students must complete a minimum of 33 credits from the natural sciences. Refer to departments offering the degree for specific course listings.

Major Requirements

BIOL 119 - First Year Seminar Credits: 2
BIOL 202-202L - Genetics and Molecular Biology and Lab Credits: 3, 1
BIOL 204-204L - Introduction to Cell Biology and Lab (COM) Credits: 3, 1
BIOL 221-221L - Human Anatomy and Lab (COM) Credits: 4
BIOL 290 - Seminar (COM) Credits: 1
BIOL 326-326L - Biomedical Physiology and Lab (COM) Credits: 3, 1
BIOL 383 - Bioethics (COM) Credits: 4
BIOL 490 - Seminar (COM) Credits: 1-3 (2 credits required)
MICR 233-233L - Introductory Microbiology and Lab Credits: 4
MICR 439-539 - Medical and Veterinary Immunology Credits: 3

Select from the following

Select four courses from the following list. Credits: 12-16

BIOL 470-570 - Cancer Biology (COM) Credits: 3
BIOL 476-576 - Advanced Mammalian Physiology Credits: 4
BIOL 483-583 - Developmental Biology (COM) Credits: 3
BIOL 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-12 (3 credits required)
BIOL 498 - Undergraduate Research/Scholarship (COM) Credits: 1-12 (3 credits required)
CHEM 464 - Biochemistry I (COM) Credits: 3
EXS 454-454L - Biomechanics and Lab (COM) Credits: 3
MICR 424-524 - Medical and Veterinary Virology Credits: 3
MICR 433-533 - Medical Microbiology (COM) Credits: 3
MICR 440L - Infectious Disease Lab Credits: 3
MICR 448-548 - Molecular and Microbial Genetics Credits: 4

Supporting Coursework

CHEM 112-112L - General Chemistry I and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 3, 1
CHEM 114-114L - General Chemistry II and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 3, 1
CHEM 326-326L - Organic Chemistry I and Lab (COM) Credits: 3, 1
CHEM 328-328L - Organic Chemistry II and Lab (COM) Credits: 3, 1
ENGL 379 - Technical Communication (COM) Credits: 3 (Section: Biology and Microbiology)
PHYS Elective (Consult adviser as many professional schools require PHYS 111-111L - Introduction to Physics I and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 4 and PHYS 113-113L - Introduction to Physics II and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 4 ) Credits: 4
STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM) [SGR #5] Credits: 3

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science
System General Education Requirements	32-34 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	44-48 Credit Hours
Supporting Coursework	26 Credit Hours
Electives**	12-18 Credit Hours

**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.