Program Overview
Human Physiology, Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science with a major in human physiology requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 63 s.h. of work for the major. Students must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They must also complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 16 s.h. in human physiology coursework at the University of Iowa, including HHP:3550 Human Physiology With Laboratory.
Learning Outcomes
The BS degree in human physiology:
- provides a broad understanding of the form (anatomy) and function (physiology) of the human body through evaluation of organ system function and integrative function across systems in health and disease;
- prepares students to employ their fundamental knowledge of human physiology together with the scientific method, disciplinary research, and evidence-based reasoning to solve problems in their chosen professional and/or graduate career fields;
- develops skills and interpersonal competencies relevant to a diverse range of career pathways; and
- instills an understanding and appreciation of the relevance of healthy behaviors to a fulfilling and productive life, and the importance of lifelong learning in the rapidly evolving fields of human physiology and the health sciences.
Requirements
The major in human physiology is designed primarily for individuals who intend to continue their education beyond the BS in the health professions, including medicine, physician assistant, physical therapy, dentistry, occupational therapy, chiropractic, and optometry, and for those who intend to pursue graduate degrees in basic life sciences.
Students may complete the BS with a major in human physiology without an emphasis area or with one of three optional emphasis areas: clinical physiology, neuromuscular physiology and metabolism, or research.
Students may earn a BS in human physiology, health promotion, or exercise science, but not more than one of these.
Students who earn a BS in human physiology may not earn the minor in human physiology.
Core Courses
- HHP:1050 Exploring Health and Human Physiology
- HHP:3115 Anatomy for Human Physiology With Lab
- HHP:3550 Human Physiology With Laboratory
- One of the following:
- HHP:2200 Physical Activity and Health
- HHP:2280 Cultural Competency and Health
- HHP:2310 Nutrition and Health
Elective Courses
At least 18 s.h. from the following, with at least 12 s.h. in health, sport, and human physiology courses (prefix HHP).
- At least 6 s.h. from the following organ system-based courses:
- HHP:3450 Immunology in Health and Disease
- HHP:4110 Advanced Human Anatomy Laboratory
- HHP:4130 Skeletal Muscle Physiology
- HHP:4260 Respiratory Pathophysiology
- HHP:4300 Neurophysiology
- HHP:4460 Cardiovascular Physiology
- At least 3 s.h. from the following integrative physiology courses:
- HHP:4150 Clinical Exercise Physiology
- HHP:4250 Human Pathophysiology
- HHP:4410 Integrative Physiology of Exercise
- HHP:4470/ASP:4470 Physiology of Aging
- HHP:4510 Energetics in Health and Disease
- May include up to 9 s.h. from the following:
- HHP:3300 Human Growth and Motor Development
- HHP:3700 Health Care Communications
- HHP:3900 Writing for Health and Human Physiology
- HHP:3994 Undergraduate Research (may be repeated; up to 3 s.h. may be applied toward the degree)
- HHP:4197 Therapeutic Recreation: Experiences in Adaptive and Inclusive Sports
- HHP:4200 Metabolic Exercise Testing and Prescription
- HHP:4210 Musculoskeletal Exercise Testing and Prescription
- HHP:4230 Motor Learning: Theory and Application
- HHP:4440 Physiology of Nutrition
- HHP:4450 Human Genetics and Disease
- HHP:4490 International Health: Experiential Learning (may be repeated; up to 3 s.h. may be applied toward the degree)
- HHP:4500 Undergraduate Independent Project (may be repeated; up to 3 s.h. may be applied toward the degree)
- HHP:4700 Health and Human Physiology Teaching Internship
- HHP:4800 Research Methods
- HHP:4900 Honors Research
- HHP:4910 Honors Research II
- HHP:4930 Health and Human Physiology Internship (may be repeated; up to 3 s.h. may be applied toward the degree)
- BIOL:2254 Endocrinology
- BIOL:2723 Cell Biology
- BMB:3110 Biochemistry
- MICR:2157 General Microbiology
- MICR:2158 General Microbiology Laboratory
- May include one of the following:
- PSY:2130 Advanced Psychology for Pre-Medical Track
- PSY:2930 Abnormal Psychology: Health Professions
- SOC:3510 Medical Sociology
Cognate Area Courses
Students must earn a minimum of 31 s.h. in cognate areas—subjects outside of human physiology—by completing courses from the following lists.
- Biology:
- BIOL:1411 Foundations of Biology
- BIOL:1412 Diversity of Form and Function
- Chemistry:
- CHEM:1110 Principles of Chemistry I
- CHEM:1120 Principles of Chemistry II
- Mathematics:
- One of the following:
- MATH:1460 Calculus for the Biological Sciences
- MATH:1550 Engineering Calculus I
- MATH:1850 Calculus I
- One of the following:
- Physics:
- PHYS:1511 College Physics I
- PHYS:1512 College Physics II
- Statistics:
- One of the following:
- STAT:2010 Statistical Methods and Computing
- STAT:3510/IGPI:3510 Biostatistics
- STAT:4143/PSQF:4143 Introduction to Statistical Methods
- One of the following:
Areas of Emphasis
Students majoring in human physiology may declare an emphasis area but are not required to do so to satisfy major requirements. Declaring an emphasis area does not require completion of elective coursework beyond that already required for the major. Major elective requirements can be met through emphasis area courses.
Clinical Physiology Area
- Four of the following:
- HHP:3450 Immunology in Health and Disease
- HHP:4150 Clinical Exercise Physiology
- HHP:4200 Metabolic Exercise Testing and Prescription
- HHP:4250 Human Pathophysiology
- HHP:4260 Respiratory Pathophysiology
- HHP:4460 Cardiovascular Physiology
Neuromuscular Physiology and Metabolism Area
- Four of the following:
- HHP:4110 Advanced Human Anatomy Laboratory
- HHP:4130 Skeletal Muscle Physiology
- HHP:4230 Motor Learning: Theory and Application
- HHP:4300 Neurophysiology
- HHP:4410 Integrative Physiology of Exercise
- HHP:4510 Energetics in Health and Disease
Research Area
- All of the following:
- HHP:3994 Undergraduate Research
- or HHP:4900 Honors Research and HHP:4910 Honors Research II
- HHP:4800 Research Methods
Honors in the Major
Students have the opportunity to graduate with honors in the major. Departmental honors students must maintain an overall grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.33 in work for their major and a cumulative University of Iowa GPA of at least 3.33.
In order to graduate with honors in the major, students must successfully complete the honors research course sequence HHP:4900 Honors Research and HHP:4910 Honors Research II; write an honors thesis that is judged to be of honors quality; and make an oral or poster presentation of the honors thesis in an approved venue, such as a department research seminar or professional conference.
University of Iowa Honors Program
In addition to honors in the major, students have opportunities for honors study and activities through membership in the University of Iowa Honors Program. Visit Honors at Iowa to learn about the university's honors program.
Membership in the UI Honors Program is not required to earn honors in the human physiology major.
GE CLAS Core
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core requirements provide students with a broad foundation of knowledge and a focused practice of transferable skills necessary for a lifetime of learning.
GE CLAS Core courses are particularly valuable for students making the transition into the University of Iowa. They help students understand the academic expectations of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences while providing the knowledge and skills needed for more advanced work in the major.
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who wish to earn an undergraduate degree—Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), or Bachelor of Music (BM)—must complete the requirements of the GE CLAS Core.
GE CLAS Core Areas and Requirements
The GE CLAS Core has 11 required areas, grouped into three categories. Students must fulfill the requirements in each GE CLAS Core area. The requirements that follow are for students who entered the University of Iowa during summer 2025 or after. Students who entered during a previous semester are held to different requirements as indicated on a student's degree audit.
Communication and Literacy
- Understanding Cultural Perspectives: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Interpretation of Literature: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Rhetoric: a minimum of 4 s.h.
- World Languages Pathways: required credit varies (see "World Languages Pathways" in this section of the catalog)
Sustainability
Students complete this requirement by choosing an approved GE CLAS Core course that integrates Sustainability (with no additional semester hours) with a course from the Natural, Quantitative, and Social Sciences category or the Culture, Society, and the Arts category.
Natural, Quantitative, and Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences: a minimum of 7 s.h.; must include one lab
- Quantitative or Formal Reasoning: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Social Sciences: a minimum of 3 s.h.
Culture, Society, and the Arts
- Historical Perspectives: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- International and Global Issues: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Values and Society: a minimum of 3 s.h.
Four-Year Graduation Plan
The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the university's Four-Year Graduation Plan. Courses in the major are those required to complete the major; they may be offered by departments other than the major department.
- Before the fifth semester begins: calculus and at least six more courses in the major.
- Before the seventh semester begins: at least six more courses in the major (total of 13) and at least 90 s.h. earned toward the degree.
- Before the eighth semester begins: at least two more courses in the major (total of 15).
- During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining coursework in the major, all remaining GE CLAS Core courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Human Physiology, BS
Plan of Study Grid (Manual) Academic Career
- Any Semester: Transfer students must complete a minimum of 16 s.h. in human physiology coursework at the University of Iowa, including HHP:3550 Human Physiology With Laboratory.
- GE CLAS Core: Sustainability
- First Year:
- Fall:
- MATH:1550 or MATH:1460 or MATH:1850
- RHET:1030 or ENGL:1200
- GE CLAS Core: Understanding Cultural Perspectives (may be satisfied by core course if opting to take HHP:2280 Cultural Competency and Health)
- GE CLAS Core: Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts
- CSI:1600
- Spring:
- HHP:1050
- CHEM:1110
- RHET:1030 or ENGL:1200
- GE CLAS Core: Social Sciences
- GE CLAS Core: Values and Society
- Elective course
- Fall:
- Second Year:
- Fall:
- BIOL:1411
- CHEM:1120
- HHP:2310 or HHP:2200 or HHP:2280
- GE CLAS Core: World Languages First Level Proficiency or elective course
- Spring:
- BIOL:1412
- GE CLAS Core: Historical Perspectives
- GE CLAS Core: International and Global Issues
- GE CLAS Core: World Languages Second Level Proficiency or elective course
- Elective course
- Fall:
- Third Year:
- Fall:
- HHP:3115
- PHYS:1511
- STAT:2010 or STAT:4143 or STAT:3510
- GE CLAS Core: World Languages Third Level Proficiency or elective course
- Spring:
- HHP:3550
- PHYS:1512
- GE CLAS Core: World Languages Fourth Level Proficiency or elective course
- Elective course
- Fall:
- Fourth Year:
- Fall:
- Major: elective or emphasis area course
- Major: elective or emphasis area course
- Major: elective or emphasis area course
- Elective course
- Elective course
- Spring:
- Major: elective or emphasis area course
- Major: elective or emphasis area course
- Major: elective or emphasis area course
- Elective course
- Elective course
- Degree Application: apply on MyUI before deadline (typically in February for spring, September for fall)
- Fall: