College Schools, Departments & Programs

Human Biology

Areas of Concentration Requirements and Approved Courses
Human Health and Disease

This concentration examines the biological basis of health and disease as well as the social and cultural context that influences disease risk and healing.

  1. Life Sciences Perspectives Courses (Choose 1)
    • ANTH-B 260 Biocultural Medical Anthropology (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms (4 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 311 Genetics (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 318 Evolution (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-M 250 Microbiology (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-M 350 Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-M 380 Microbiology of Infectious Diseases (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-M 440 Medical Microbiology: Lecture (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-Z 466 Endocrinology (3 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures (3 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry (3 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry (3 cr.)
    • MSCI-M 216 Medical Science of Psychoactive Drugs (3 cr.)*
    • MSCI-M 470 Mechanisms of Human Disease (3 cr.)*
    • MSCI-M 485 Physiology of Human Disease (4 cr.)*
    • PSY-P 303 Health Psychology (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 346 Neuroscience (3 cr.)
    • SPHS-S 307 Cognitive and Communicative Aspects of Aging (3 cr.)
  2. Lecture/Laboratory Courses (Choose 1)
    • ANAT-A 215 Basic Human Anatomy (5 cr.) *
    • ANAT-A 464 Human Tissue Biology (4 cr.)*
    • ANAT-A 480 Human Anatomy for Medical Imaging Evaluation (4 cr.)*
    • ANTH-B 301 Laboratory in Bioanthropology (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 113 Biology Laboratory (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 319 Genetics Laboratory (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-M 445 Medical Microbiology: Laboratory (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-P 451 Integrative Human Physiology (4 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 117 and CHEM-C 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I (3 cr.) and Lab (2 cr.)
    • CHEM-N 330 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry (5 cr.)
    • PHSL-P 215 Basic Human Physiology (5 cr.)*
    • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.)
    • PHYS-P 221 Physics 1 (5 cr.)
  3. Historical, Social, Arts, and Humanities Perspectives Courses (Choose 2)
    • ANTH-E 260 Culture, Health, and Illness (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-E 338 Stigma: Culture, Identity and the Abject (3 cr.)
    • CJUS-P 415 Crime and Madness (3 cr.)
    • CLAS-C 209 Medical Terms from Greek and Latin (2 cr.)
    • CMLT-C 340 Women in World Literature (3 cr.)
    • ECON-E 344 Health Economics (3 cr.)
    • ENG-L 240 Literature and Public Life (3 cr.)
    • ENG-R 340 The Rhetoric of Social Movements (Topic: Illness, Violence, & Resistance) (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 225 Gender, Sexuality, and Popular Culture (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 235 Scientific Understandings of Sex and Gender (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 335 Explaining Sex/Gender Differences (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 435 Health, Sex, and Gender (3 cr.)
    • HIST-H 239 Blood and Guts! An Introduction to the History of Western Medicine from Antiquity to the Present (3 cr.)
    • HIST-H 333 Epidemics in History (3 cr.)
    • HPSC-X 205 Introduction to Medical History (3 cr.)
    • HPSC-X 305 History and Philosophy of Medicine (3 cr.)
    • INTL-I 202 Global Health and Environment (3 cr.)
    • PHIL-P 393 Biomedical Ethics (3 cr.)
    • POLS-Y 379 Ethics and Public Policy (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 315 Developmental Psychology (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 324 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.)
    • REL-C 402 Religion, Illness, and Healing (3 cr.)
    • REL-D 340 Religion and Bioethics (3 cr.)
    • SOC-S 101 Social Problems and Policies (3 cr.)  (Approved topic: Medicine in America: Physicians, Patients, and Their Problems)
    • SOC-S 324 Mental Illness (3 cr.)
Human Reproduction and Sexuality

This concentration focuses on human reproduction and sexuality both from a biological standpoint and from a psychological and social perspective.

  1. Life Sciences Perspectives Courses (Choose 1)
    • ANTH-B 340 Hormones and Human Behavior (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms (4 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 311 Genetics (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 318 Evolution (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 331 Introduction to Human Genetics (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 340 Biological Basis of Sex Differences (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 417 Developmental Biology (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-M 416 Biology of AIDS (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-Z 466 Endocrinology (3 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 204 Psychological and Biological Bases of Human Sexuality (3 cr.) 
  2. Lecture/Laboratory Courses (Choose 1)
    • ANAT-A 215 Basic Human Anatomy (5 cr.)*
    • ANAT-A 464 Human Tissue Biology (4 cr.)*
    • ANAT-A 480 Human Anatomy for Medical Imaging Evaluation (4 cr.)*
    • BIOL-L 319 Genetics Laboratory (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-P 451 Integrative Human Physiology (4 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 117 and CHEM-C 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I (3 cr.) and Lab (2 cr.)
    • CHEM-N 330 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry (5 cr.)
    • PHSL-P 215 Basic Human Physiology (4–5 cr.)*
    • PHYS-P 201 General Physics (5 cr.)
    • PHYS-P 221 Physics 1 (5 cr.)
  3. Historical, Social, Arts, and Humanities Perspectives Courses (Choose 2)
    • CJUS-P 412 Sex, Drugs, AIDS, and Criminal Law (3 cr.)
    • CJUS-P 423 Sexuality and the Law (3 cr.)
    • ENG-L 249 Representations of Gender and Sexuality (3 cr.)
    • ENG-L 389 Feminist Literary and Cultural Criticism (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 105 Sex, Gender, and the Body (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 235 Scientific Understandings of Sex and Gender (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 303 Knowledge and Sex (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 335 Explaining Sex/Gender Differences (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 399 Regulating Gender (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 430 Kinsey's Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 435 Health, Sex, and Gender (3 cr.)
    • HIST-A 300 Issues in United States History (Approved topic: American Sexual Histories) (3 cr.)
    • HIST-H 231 Women, Men and Family in History (3 cr.)
    • MSCH-F 375 Race, Gender, and Representation (3 cr.)
    • SOC-S 321 Sexual Diversity (3 cr.)
    • SOC-S 338 Gender Roles (3 cr.)
    • SOC-S 413 Gender and Society (3 cr.)
    • SOC-S 422 Constructing Sexuality (3 cr.)
Human Environment and Ecology

This concentration addresses humans as organisms interfacing with their environment and the resulting effects of this interaction on the human condition.

  1. Life Sciences Perspectives Courses (Choose 1)
    • BIOL-B 368 Ethnobotany (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 318 Evolution (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 473 Ecology (3 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures (3 cr.)
    • GEOG-G 208 Environment and Society (3 cr.)
    • GEOG-G 305 Environmental Change—Nature and Impact (3 cr.)
    • GEOG-G 307 Biogeography: The Distribution of Life (3 cr.)
    • GEOG-G 421 Environments of Tropical Lands (3 cr.)
    • PHYS-P 310 Environmental Physics (3 cr.)
  2. Lecture/Laboratory Courses (Choose 1)
    • BIOL-B 300 Vascular Plants (4 cr.)
    • BIOL-B 364 Summer Flowering Plants (4–5 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 376 Biology of Birds (4 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 433 Tropical Biology (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 465 Advanced Field Biology (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-P 451 Integrative Human Physiology (4 cr.)
    • BIOL-Z 406 Vertebrate Zoology (5 cr.)
    • BIOL-Z 476 Biology of Fishes (3 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 117 and CHEM-C 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I (3 cr.) and Lab (2 cr.)
    • CHEM-N 330 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry (5 cr.)
    • GEOL-G 104 Evolution of the Earth (3 cr.)
    • GEOL-G 105 Earth: Our Habitable Planet (3 cr.)
    • GEOL-G 131 Oceans and Our Global Environment (3 cr.)
    • GEOL-G 171 Environmental Geology in the Twenty-first Century (3 cr.)
    • GEOL-G 188 Volcanoes of the Eastern Sierra Nevada (3 cr.)
    • GEOL-X 329 Introductory Field Experience in Environmental Science (5-6 cr.)
    • GEOL-G 424 Geographic Information Systems Applications in Geology (3 cr.)
    • PHSL-P 215 Basic Human Physiology (5 cr.)*
    • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.)
    • PHYS-P 221 Physics 1 (5 cr.)
  3. Historical, Social, Arts, and Humanities Perspectives Courses (Choose 2)
    • ANTH-A 150 Freshman Seminar in Anthropology: Topics (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-E 101 Ecology and Society (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-E 220 Performing Human/Nature: Defining Relationships with the Environment (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-E 327 Native Amazonians and the Environment (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-E 328 Ecological Anthropology (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-E 444 People and Protected Areas: Theories of Conservation (3 cr.)
    • CEUS-R 394 Environmental Problems and Social Constraints in Northern and Central Eurasia (3 cr.)
    • ENG-L 240 Literature and Public Life (3 cr.)
    • ENG-R 228 Argumentation and Public Advocacy (3 cr.)
    • ENG-R 396 The Study of Public Advocacy (Approved topics only) (3 cr.)
    • FOLK-F 440 Folklife and Material Culture Studies (3 cr.)
    • GEOG-G 315 Environmental Conservation (3 cr.)
    • GEOG-G 320 Population Geography (3 cr.)
    • GEOG-G 411 Sustainable Development Systems (3 cr.)
    • GEOG-G 415 Advanced Urban Geography (3 cr.)
    • INTL-I 202 Health, Environment, and Development (3 cr.)
    • POLS-Y 313 Environmental Policy (3 cr.)
    • POLS-Y 379 Ethics and Public Policy (3 cr.)
    • REL-D 250 Religion, Ecology, and the Self (3 cr.)
    • REL-D 350 Religion, Ethics, and the Environment (3 cr.)
    • SOC-S 101 Social Problems and Policies (3 cr.) (Approved topic: Envisioning the City) (3 cr.)
    • SOC-S 370 Research Methods in Sociology (3 cr.)
Human Origins and Survival

This concentration emphasizes human origins, variation, and physiological adaptations through the study of genetics and evolutionary processes. Cultural and biological adaptations related to health and disease are considered.

  1. Life Sciences Perspectives Courses (Choose 1)
    • ANTH-B 260 Biocultural Medical Anthropology (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-B 350 Issues in Human Origins: Creation and Evolution (3 cr.) 
    • ANTH-B 370 Human Variation (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-B 464 Human Paleontology (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-B 470 Human Adaptation: Biological Approaches (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-P 302 Invention and Technology (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-P 380 Prehistoric Diet and Nutrition (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 111 Foundations of Biology: Diversity, Evolution, and Ecology (4 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 311 Genetics (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 318 Evolution (3 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures (3 cr.)
    • COGS-Q 240 Philosophical Foundations of the Cognitive and Information Sciences (4 cr.)
    • COGS-Q 301 Brain and Cognition (3 cr.)
    • GEOG-G 208 Environment and Society (3 cr.)
    • GEOL-G 334 Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (4 cr.)
    • GEOL-G 404 Geobiology (3 cr.)
    • INFO-I 400 Topics in informatics (3 cr.)* (Approved topic: Seek and Find: Search Strategies in Space and Time)
    • MSCI-M 470 Mechanisms of Human Disease (3 cr.)*
    • PSY-P 201 An Introduction to Neuroscience (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 325 Psychology of Learning (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 335 Cognitive Psychology (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 346 Neuroscience (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 410 Development of the Brain and Behavior (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 416 Evolution and Ecology of Learning (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 423 Human Neuropsychology (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 438 Language and Cognition (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 444 Developmental Psychobiology (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 466 Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology (3 cr.)
    • SPHS-S 201 Speech and Hearing Physiology (3 cr.)
    • SPHS-S 333 Childhood Language (3 cr.)
  2. Lecture/Laboratory Courses (Choose 1)
    • ANAT-A 215 Basic Human Anatomy (5 cr.)*
    • ANAT-A 480 Human Anatomy for Medical Imaging Evaluation (4 cr.)*
    • ANTH-B 301 Laboratory in Bioanthropology (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-P 385 Paleolithic Technology Laboratory (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 319 Genetics Laboratory (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-P 451 Integrative Human Physiology (4 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 117 and CHEM-C 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I (3 cr.) and Lab (2 cr.)
    • CHEM-N 330 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry (5 cr.)
    • PHSL-P 215 Basic Human Physiology (5 cr.)*
    • PHYS-P 201 General Physics (5 cr.) 
    • PHYS-P 221 Physics 1 (5 cr.)
  3. Historical, Social, Arts, and Humanities Perspectives Courses (Choose 2)
    • ANTH-E 210 Rethinking Race Globally (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-E 260 Culture, Health, and Illness (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-L 200 Language and Culture (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-L 407 Language and Prehistory (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-P 200 Introduction to Archaeology (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-P 210 Life in the Stone Age (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-P 220 The Rise and Fall of Ancient Civilizations (3 cr.)
    • FOLK-F 215 Health and Morbidity in Traditional Cultures (3 cr.)
    • HIST-B 300 Issues in Western European History (3 cr.) (Approved topic: The Industrial Revolution)
    • HIST-H 205 Ancient Civilization (3 cr.)
    • HIST-H 333 Epidemics in History (3 cr.)
    • LING-L 210 Topics in Language and Society (3 cr.)
    • LING-L 430 Language Change and Variation (3 cr.)
    • PHIL-P 320 Philosophy and Language (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 315 Developmental Psychology (3 cr.)
Human Growth and Development

This concentration explores the development of the human body and mind, including the mechanisms and processes of change across the human lifespan, from a biological as well as a social and cultural perspective.

  1. Life Sciences Perspectives Courses (Choose 1)
    • ANTH-B 370 Human Variation (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-B 480 Human Growth and Development (3 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 315 Developmental Psychology (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 346 Neuroscience (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 410 Development of the Brain and Behavior (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 425 Behavior Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 442 Infant Development (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 443 Cognitive Development (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 444 Developmental Psychobiology (3 cr.)
    • SPHS-S 333 Childhood Language (3 cr.)
    • SPHS-S 436 Language Disorders in Children (3 cr.)
  2. Lecture/Laboratory Courses (Choose 1)
    • ANAT-A 215 Basic Human Anatomy (5 cr.)*
    • ANAT-A 480 Human Anatomy for Medical Imaging Evaluation (4 cr.)*
    • ANTH-B 301 Laboratory in Bioanthropology (3 cr.)
    • ANTH-B 405 Fieldwork in Bioanthropology (cr. arr.)
    • BIOL-L 113 Biology Laboratory (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 319 Genetics Laboratory (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-L 324 Human Molecular Biology Laboratory (3 cr.)
    • BIOL-P 451 Integrative Human Physiology (4 cr.)
    • CHEM-C 117 and CHEM-C 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I (3 cr.) and Lab (2 cr.)
    • CHEM-N 330 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry (5 cr.)
    • PHSL-P 215 Basic Human Physiology (5 cr.)*
    • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.)
    • PHYS-P 221 Physics 1 (5 cr.)
    • PSY-P 426 Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 429 Laboratory in Developmental Psychology (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 433 Laboratory in Neuroimaging Methods (3 cr.)
    • PSY-P 435 Laboratory in Human Learning and Cognition (3 cr.)
  3. Historical, Social, Arts, and Humanities Perspectives Courses (Choose 2)
    • CJUS-P 414 Adolescents and the Law (3 cr.)
    • CJUS-P 462 Child Abuse and Neglect (3 cr.)
    • ENG-L 390 Children's Literature (3 cr.)
    • ENG-L 391 Literature for Young Adults (3 cr.)
    • FOLK-F 364 Children's Folklore/Folklife/Folk Music (3 cr.)
    • GNDR-G 335 Explaining Sex/Gender Differences (3 cr.)
    • HIST-H 231 Women, Men and Family in History (3 cr.)
    • HPSC-X 305 History and Philosophy of Medicine (3 cr.)
    • HPSC-X 308 History of Biology (3 cr.)
    • MSCH-S 317 Children and Media (3 cr.)
    • POLS-Y 315 Political Psychology and Socialization (3 cr.)
    • SOC-S 316 The Family (3 cr.)
    • SOC-S 344 Sociology of Childhood (3 cr.)

*The College limits the number of credit hours outside the College that may count toward a degree. For more information, see the section "Courses Outside the College" under "Degree Requirements" in this Bulletin.