The B.S. major in human biology is interdisciplinary, combining anatomy, physiology, cell biology, and other adjacent science areas. It's designed for those interested in healthcare, research, sport and exercise science, forensics, and more. Students gain in-depth knowledge of human biological systems and develop the ability to evaluate and apply this knowledge in support of their career goals. The degree program requires 120 credit hours.
Human biology B.S. graduates of the University of Portland will be able to:
UP Core Requirements — 40 credit hours
All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.
See UP Core Requirements
The core requirement for the Commitment to Diversity & the Common Good Habit is satisfied by CST 225 within the major. Two of the three core requirements in the Science & Problem Solving Habit are satisfied by the mathematics and science requirements within the major.
At least 18 credit hours of electives and/or Exploration Level courses in the University Core Curriculum must be upper-division courses.
BIO 277/278 and the Capstone courses are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.S. in Human Biology.
College of Arts and Sciences B.S. Requirements — 6 credit hours
See College Requirements, B.S.
Major Requirements — 52-53 credit hours
Required Courses — 30-31 credit hours
| BIO 207 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIO 277 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology Lab | 1 |
| BIO 208 | Introduction to Evolution and Ecology | 3 |
| BIO 278 | Introduction to Evolution and Ecology Lab | 1 |
| BIO 305 | Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 | 3 |
| BIO 365 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 1 | 1 |
| BIO 306 | Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 | 3 |
| BIO 366 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 2 | 1 |
| CHM 207 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 277 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| CHM 208 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 278 | General Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| CST 225 | Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others | 3 |
| MTH 160 | Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| | Or | |
| MTH 161 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| | Or | |
| MTH 201 | Calculus I | 4 |
Upper-Division Cell and Molecular Biology Lecture and Lab - 4 credit hours
Select one lab with corresponding 3-credit hour lecture course from the following:
Human Biology Electives - 6 credit hours
Select at least six credits from the following:
One-time course offerings, designated
BIO 391/491, may fulfill the human biology elective requirements. Please confirm eligible yearly course offerings with the department chair.
Complimentary/Cross-Disciplinary Elective - 3 credit hours
Select at least one course from the following:
| CST 302 | Communicating Science | 3 |
| HST 358 | Disease and Medicine in World History | 3 |
| IHW 310 | Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion | 3 |
| IHW 317 | Restorative Nutrition | 3 |
| IHW 411 | Technology in Health | 3 |
| PHL 325 | Bioethics | 3 |
| PHL 340 | Metaphysics and the Scientific Revolution | 3 |
| PHL 422 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| PSY 301 | Behavioral Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSY 341 | Evolutionary Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 342 | Evolution, Health, and Disease | 3 |
| PSY 351 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 381 | Psychological Perspectives on Mental Health | 3 |
| PSY 410 | Drugs and Behavior | 3 |
| SOC 437 | The Social Construction of Health & Illness | 3 |
| SW 343 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| THE 329/THE 429 | Theological Bioethics: Liberationist, Feminist, and Global | 3 |
| THE 353/THE 453 | Religion and Science | 3 |
One-time course offerings, designated IHW 391/491, may fulfill the complimentary/cross-disciplinary elective requirements. Please confirm eligible yearly course offerings with the department chair.
Capstone - 3 credit hours
BIO 491, BIO 497, BIO 499, or 497 internships from outside Biology may fulfill the capstone requirement with pre-approval of the department chair.
Upper-division biology electives - 6 credit hours
A maximum of six non-classroom credit hours (from
BIO 397/493/497/499) may be used for completion of the major. A maximum of three upper-division electives in
BIO 397 or 497 may be Pass/No Pass for completion of the major.
Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours