Program in Human Biology

Faculty

Professors Emeritus/a
Helen T. Ghiradella, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara
Timothy B. Gage, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

Professor
Lawrence M. Schell, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Associate Professors
Adam D. Gordon, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Julia Jennings, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
John Polk, Ph.D., Stony Brook University (Program Director)

Assistant Professor
John Rowan, Ph.D., Arizona State University

Clinical Assistant Professor
Amanda N. Spriggs, Ph.D., University at Albany

Visiting Assistant Professor
Tabitha Dorshorst, M.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst

Lecturer and Lab Director
Mercedes Fabian, Ph.D., University at Buffalo

The Human Biology program is a combined major/minor designed for students interested in a liberal arts education with particular focus on the human organism. It provides a strong background in human evolution, structure, function and behavior. This program is especially suitable for those seeking careers that deal directly or indirectly with human health and welfare (e.g., medicine, allied health [physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, etc.], public health), forensics, administration, business, journalism, and teaching.

Students interested in research and/or teaching careers in biological anthropology are especially encouraged to major in Human Biology. Most graduate programs in Anthropology require undergraduate coursework in at least three of the four traditional subfields of anthropology (archaeology, cultural anthropology, biological anthropology), and some also require linguistics as the fourth subfield. It is advisable, therefore, for those intending to do graduate work in an anthropology department to take at least one course in each of these subfields. Students who plan on graduate work and professional careers in Biology are advised to major in Biological Sciences.

Degree Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology

Combined major and minor sequence consisting of a minimum of 55 credits to be taken from:

(a) Required courses (42 credits minimum):

Basic Sciences:

  • ABIO 131 General Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Physiology (3)
  • ABIO 130 General Biology; Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics (3)
  • ABIO 201 Introduction to Biological Investigations Laboratory I (1)
  • ABIO 202Z Introduction to Biological Investigations Laboratory II (1)
  • ABIO 212Y Introductory Genetics (4)
  • Choose one of the following options:
    • ACHM 115 General Chemistry I with Lab (4)
    • ACHM 120 General Chemistry I (3) and ACHM 124 General Chemistry I Lab (1)
    • ACHM 130 General Chemistry I Honors (3) and ACHM 124General Chemistry Lab I (1)
    • ACHM 135 Advanced General Chemistry I and Lab (4)
  • Choose one of the following options:
    • ACHM 116 General Chemistry II and Lab (4)
    • ACHM 121 General Chemistry II (3) and ACHM 125 General Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
    • ACHM 131 General Chemistry I Honors (3) and ACHM 124 General Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
    •  ACHM 136 Advance General Chemistry II and Lab (4)
  • Choose one of the following options:
    • AMAT 108 Elementary Statistics (3)  
    • APSY 210 Statistical Methods in Psychology (3)
    • ASOC 221 Statistics for Sociologists (3)
    • One semester of college mathematics exclusive of AMAT 100, 102, 104, or 105;
  • APHY 105 General Physics (3)

Fundamentals of Human Biology:

  • AANT 110 Introduction to Human Evolution (3)
  • AANT 211 Human Population Biology (3)
  • AANT 316 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
  • AANT 318 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
  • Select one of the following options:
    • AANT 302 Human Paleobiology (3)
    • AANT 304 Human Biomechanics (3)
    • AANT 311 Human Osteology (3)
    • AANT 312/ABIO 318 Human Population Genetics (3)
    • AANT 314 Forensic Physiology (3)
    • AANT 317 Exercise Physiology (3)
    • AANT 319 Physical Growth and Development (3)
    • AANT 408 Evolutionary Medicine (3)
    • AANT 409 Primate Evolutionary Biology (3)
    • AANT 414 Demographic Anthropology (3)
    • AANT 415 Nutritional Anthropology (3)
    • AANT 416 Topics in Human Biology (3)
    • AANT 418 Culture, Environment, and Health (3)
    • AANT 420 The Evolutionary Synthesis and Bio Anthropology (3)
    • AANT 426 Clinical Perspectives in health and Disease (3)

(b) Major electives if not used above (13 credits minimum, 300 level and above):

  • AANT 302 Human Paleobiology (3)
  • AANT 304 Human Biomechanics (3)
  • AANT 309 Human Population History (3)
  • AANT 311 Human Osteology (3)
  • AANT 312/ABIO 318 Human Population Genetics (3)
  • AANT 314 Forensic Anthropology (3)
  • AANT 317 Exercise Physiology (3)
  • AANT 319 Physical Growth and Development (3)
  • AANT 364 Introduction to Cultural Medical Anthropology (3)
  • AANT 408 Evolutionary Medicine (3)
  • AANT 409 Primate Evolutionary Biology (3)
  • AANT 414 Demographic Anthropology (3)
  • AANT 415 Nutritional Anthropology (3)
  • AANT 416 Topics in Human Biology (3)
  • AANT 418 Culture, Environment, and Health (3)
  • AANT 420 The Evolutionary Synthesis and Bio Anthropology (3)
  • AANT 450 Special Topics in Anthropology (3)
  • ABIO 301 Molecular Cell Biology (3)
  • ABIO 308 Parasitic Diseases and Human Welfare (3)
  • ABIO 311 World Food Crisis (3)
  • ABIO 314 Microbiology (3)
  • ABIO 329 Genetics of Human Diseases (3)
  • ABIO 330 Principles of Ecology and Evolution (3)
  • ABIO 401 Evolution (3)
  • ABIO 402 Evolution (3)
  • ABIO 410 Human Physiology (3)
  • ABIO 411 Human Physiology Lab (2)
  • ACHM 220 Organic Chemistry I (3)
  • ACHM 221 Organic Chemistry II (3)
  • ACHM 222 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
  • ACHM 223 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (1)
  • APSY 203 Psychology of Child Development (3)
  • APSY 314 Advanced Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience (3)
  • APSY 329 Health Psychology (3)
  • APSY 340 The Psychology of Human Sexuality (3)
  • APSY 385 Evolutionary Psychology (3)
  • APSY 387 Behavior Genetics (3)
  • ASOC 359 Medical Sociology (3)
  • ASOC 370 Social Demography (3)
  • HSPH 201 Introduction to Public Health (3)
  • HSPH 231 Concepts in Epidemiology (3)
  • HSPH 341 Promoting Healthy People and Communities (3)

A maximum of 3 credits may be selected from RSSW 290/390, ABIO 399/499 and/or AANT 498, with prior approval for appropriate activities from the Director(s) of the Human Biology major. The one-credit writing intensive course, ABIO 389Z, taken in conjunction with a required or elective course in the major, may also yield credit toward the major.