Human Biology Major

Human Biology

The Human Biology major studies the relevance of social conditions to the biological sciences. Biology courses in such areas as genetics, evolution, animal behavior, anatomy, and physiology complement courses in sociology, psychology, anthropology and public health to create a major that explores humans and humanity from a variety of perspectives. Human Biology majors complete the biology portion of the major and choose one of two options for the social science portion of the major.  Option 1 exposes students to Anthropology, Sociology and Psychology and asks the student to choose one of those three fields as a focus. Option 2 is focused on cross-cultural health and healing from a wide range of viewpoints. Please note that this major does not include all of the courses required by medical schools or other pre-health programs. Students interested in pre-health programs should consult their advisor and the Department of Natural Sciences pre-health advisor early in their college career to formulate a coherent four-year plan that meets their needs. This is a Pitzer major; Scripps students may choose this as an off-campus major. 

Learning Outcomes

A Human Biology major should be able to:

• Understand foundational principles and findings in biology and the social sciences.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills by developing specific hypotheses, designing controlled experiments to test those hypotheses, collecting and/or evaluating data, and interpreting those data.
• Read, understand and critique original research articles in the biological and social sciences.
• A student following Option 2 of the major should also be able to: 
  • Understand variation in human social organizations and cultures.
  • Identify and understand health and medicine in different cultural, economic and political contexts
  • Critically identify micro- and macro-level issues affecting medical practices in local and global settings.

Pitzer and Department of Natural Science Advisors: Profs. Armstrong, Bonaparte, Budischak, Chandrangsu, Coleman, Finseth, E. Ferree, P. Ferree, Heers, Preest, Thomson, Solomon-Lane, and Guillermo.

Major Requirements

The major in Human Biology requires the successful completion of at least 15 courses and a senior thesis.

Required Courses

• Introductory Courses: Students are required to take introductory courses in biology and chemistry according to the combinations below (or the appropriate combinations)
  • BIOL 043L KS Introductory Biology , BIOL 044L KS Introductory Biology ; or BIOL 042L KS -Integrated Biology & Chemistry   and BIOL 044L KS -Introductory Biology ;
  • CHEM 014L KS  , CHEM 015L KS Basic Principles of Chemistry ; or CHEM 029L KS Accelerated General Chemistry ; or  CHEM 042L KS -Integrated Biology & Chemistry ;
• Four upper-division courses in Biology (courses numbered over 100), at least 2 with laboratory. 
  • Appropriate courses include, but are not limited to: Genetics, Evolution, Biostatistics, Animal Behavior, Neuroscience 2: Systems, Cell Cycle Diseases and Aging, Drugs and Molecular Medicine, Biology of Cancer, Sensory Evolution, Genomics and Bioinformatics, Vertebrate Physiology, Vertebrate Anatomy, Dynamical Diseases: Introduction to Mathematical Physiology, Functional Human Anatomy and Biomechanics, Disease Ecology and Evolution

Option 1 Social Science

Introductory Courses 

Students are required to take introductory courses in Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology

• ANTH 001 PZ Intro Archaeology & Bio Anthro    
• PSYC 010 PZ Introduction to Psychology , or equivalent
• SOC 001 PZ Introduction to Sociology  or equivalent
• Four upper division courses in one of the three areas: Psychology (courses numbered over 90 including NEUR095L), Sociology (courses numbered over 100) or Anthropology (courses numbered over 100).  It is recommended that one of these four courses is an appropriate methods course. 
• A course in statistics is strongly recommended and may count towards the relevant part of the major.  For example, Applied Biostatistics as an upper division Biology course, Psychological Statistics as an upper division Psychology course, and Quantitative Research Methods in Sociology as an upper division Sociology course (students cannot count more than one statistics course towards the major).
• A one or two semester Human Biology Thesis:  BIOL 188L KS -Sr Thesis Rsrch Project in Biol  or BIOL 190L KS Sr Thes Rsrch Proj Biol-2nd Sem  (fall plus spring); or BIOL 189L KS -Sr Thes Summer Rsrch Proj in Bio  or BIOL 190L KS -Sr Thes Rsrch Proj Biol-2nd Sem .  Topic selected in consultation with the Biology faculty: Profs. Armstrong, Budischak, Chandrangsu, Coleman, Finseth, E. Ferree, P. Ferree, Heers, Preest, Thomson, Solomon-Lane, and/or Profs. Bonaparte, Guillermo, and Miller, and/or Profs Miller, Martins, Bonaparte.  Some theses may require you to audit a thesis course in the appropriate discipline.

Option 2: Cross-Cultural Health and Healing

• Seven courses with an emphasis on health and/or healing.

These may be drawn from Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Political Studies, and International and Intercultural Studies, among others disciplines that may be relevant. Necessary pre-requisite introductory courses can count among the seven courses, but four courses must be upper division.  One of the courses must be an appropriate practicum or internship course. Students are encouraged to do independent fieldwork projects while studying abroad or through the Ontario Program. 

• A course in statistics is strongly recommended and may count towards the relevant part of the major.  For example, Applied Biostatistics as a Biology course, Psychological Statistics as an upper division Psychology course, and Quantitative Research Methods in Sociology as an upper division Sociology course (students cannot count more than one statistics course towards the major).
• A one or two semester Human Biology Thesis:  BIOL 188L KS -Sr Thesis Rsrch Project in Biol  or BIOL 190L KS Sr Thes Rsrch Proj Biol-2nd Sem  (fall plus spring); or BIOL 189L KS -Sr Thes Summer Rsrch Proj in Bio  or BIOL 190L KS -Sr Thes Rsrch Proj Biol-2nd Sem  (summer plush fall or spring). Topic selected in consultation with the Biology faculty: Profs. Armstrong, Budischak, Chandrangsu, Coleman, Finseth, E. Ferree, P. Ferree, Heers, Preest, Thomson, and Solomon-Lane, and/or Profs. Bonaparte, Guillermo, Miller, and Snowiss and/or Profs. Miller, Martins, Bonaparte, Guillermo.  Some theses may require you to audit a thesis course in the appropriate discipline.

Learning Outcomes for Cross-Cultural Health and Healing Option:

1. Identify, describe, understand and evaluate traditional, cultural and/or indigenous (non-allopathic) healing modalities.
2. Critically identify, discuss, and evaluate micro- and macro-level issues affecting medical practice in local, global, and community health settings.
3. Demonstrate their understanding of course material and its linkages to their participation in an internship or practicum experience.
4. Create and develop a comprehensive senior thesis research project that integrates their study and experience.