UAlbany alum Cynthia Bernal, MD standing in a hospital hallway wearing physician's scrubs and lab coat.

Bachelor of Science in
Degree in Human Biology

Prepare for a Career in Health Sciences

Explore the human being from biological, behavioral, social and cultural perspectives in the bachelor’s in human biology program at the University at Albany. You will discover the intricacies of human organisms, evolution, structure and behavior through this interdisciplinary major that combines anthropology and biology.

Prepare for careers in the areas of human health and welfare, including medical, dental and public health with a combined major/minor that provides a strong background in human biology and population studies.

Additional Program Information

Undergraduate Bulletin   |   Four-Year Plan   | Department Contact: John Polk

Program of Study

programofstudy

Establish an in-depth understanding of the human organism as an individual and as part of large populations. In addition, you will study comparative context to understand why human beings have the particular set of biological features that we do. Next, focus on health, illness and the events that have shaped our species over time including genetics, nutrition, disease, ecology, adaption and environment.


Required Courses (42 credits minimum)

Basic Sciences

  • General Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Physiology
  • Introduction to Biological Investigations I, II
  • General Biology: Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics
  • Human Genetics or Introductory Genetics
  • General Chemistry I or Advanced General Chemistry
  • General Chemistry II or Advanced General Chemistry II
  • General Chemistry Laboratory I, II
  • Elementary Statistics or Statistical Methods in Psychology or Statistics for Sociologists
  • General Physics I

Fundamentals of Human Biology

  • Introduction to Human Evolution
  • Human Population Biology
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I, II
  • Human Population Genetics or Physical Growth and Development or Topics in Human Biology


Electives (13 credits minimum)


Applied learning

You will have the opportunity to work with active faculty researchers in areas including prehistoric human demography, influence of environmental factors on the evolution of the human organism, biological responses to contemporary urban environments such as noise and human development, and the impact of lead on child development.

Electives
Anthropology Courses
  • Introduction to the Primates
  • The City and Human Health
  • Human Biomechanics
  • Human Population History
  • Human Osteology
  • Human Population Genetics
  • Physical Growth and Development
  • Introduction to Cultural Medical Anthropology
  • Topics in Human Biology
  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Exercise Physiology
  • The Anthropology of New Reproductive Technologies
  • Demographic Anthropology
  • Nutritional Anthropology
  • Culture, Environment, and Health
  • Human Evolutionary and Environmental Physiology
  • Special Topics in Medical Anthropology
Biology Courses
  • Nutrition
  • Human Genetics or Introductory Genetics
  • Cell Biology
  • Parasitic Diseases and Human Welfare
  • World Food Crisis
  • Microbiology
  • Genetics of Human Disease
  • Principles of Ecology and Evolution
  • Ecology
  • Evolution
  • Human Physiology
  • Human Physiology Laboratory
Chemistry Courses
  • Organic Chemistry I
  • Organic Chemistry II
  • Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
  • Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
Psychology Courses
  • Psychology of Child Development
  • Advanced Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Health Psychology
  • The Psychology of Human Sexuality
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Behavior Genetics
Sociology Courses
  • Medical Sociology
  • Social Demography
Public Health Courses
  • Introduction to Public Health
  • Concepts in Epidemiology
  • Promoting Healthy People and Communities
Career Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science in Human Biology degree will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of biological anthropology and concepts in public health. You will be prepared to pursue advanced training or professional school in teaching, medical and other health fields.

Potential job titles for a Human Biology degree include:

  • Doctor (MD)
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • Physician Assistant
  • Nurse
  • Pharmacist
  • Dentist
  • Agricultural Scientist
  • Health Care Marketer
Pre-Health, Early Assurance and Accelerated Programs

If you’re interested in attending a health professional school, our Pre-Health advisors specialize in helping you to prepare and apply. Learn about opportunities at UAlbany for early assurance to medical school and other joint degree pre-professional programs in areas including medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physician assistant and nursing.

careers
Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Science
  • Develops a knowledge of the principles of human evolution , adaptation, and population biology.
  • Gains knowledge of biological and social aspects of health and disease.
  • Develops an awareness of the variation in human experience in such areas as nutrition, disease, biological adaptation, and biological structure.
  • Develops knowledge of the interaction of human biology and culture, through time and across space.
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What Makes The University at Albany Great

Student move-in day.

Living-Learning Communities

Live and take classes with other incoming freshmen who share your personal interests, passions or intended academic major.

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Study Abroad

Become a global citizen: international experience is crucial to success in business, education, research, and public policy.

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Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship, and creative activities at the University at Albany is an option for all students, across all academic disciplines. You will be able to learn more about a specific academic field or career path all while building a long-lasting mentoring relationship with a faculty member or principal investigator.

Explore Minors

Build competency in a passion or strengthen your resume.

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. Most undergraduate degrees require completing a minor and it has to have a different title from your major.

Full List of Minors
  • Acting
  • Africana Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Bioethics
  • Biology
  • Broadcast Meteorology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Studies
  • Cognitive Science
  • Communication (Fully Online Option)
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice Studies (Fully Online Option)
  • Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • Documentary Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics
  • Educational Studies
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Film Studies
  • Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • English
  • Forensic Science
  • French
  • Game Design and Development
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geography
  • Globalization Studies
  • Hebrew
  • History (Fully Online Option)
  • Informatics (Fully Online Option)
  • Instrumental Performance
  • International Studies
  • Italian
  • Japanese Studies
  • Journalism (Fully Online Option)
  • Judaic Studies
  • Korean Studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Law and Philosophy
  • Leadership
  • Legal Studies
  • LGBTQ Studies
  • Library and Information Science
  • Linguistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Music
  • Musical Performance
  • Musical Theatre
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Pre-Education
  • Psychology (Fully Online Option)
  • Public Health
  • Public Policy
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Russian and Eastern European Studies
  • Social Welfare Studies
  • Sociology (Fully Online Option)
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Sustainability
  • Theatre
  • Theatrical Design/Technology
  • Urban Studies and Planning
  • U.S. Latino Studies
  • Vocal Performance
  • Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

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