Program Overview

Health and Human Biology

Health and Human Biology is an interdisciplinary concentration that provides a rigorous foundation in the biological sciences with substantive course work in humanities and social sciences within a subfield of Human Health and Disease.

Degree Type

The degree type for this program is A.B.

Department

The department responsible for this program is Biology Undergraduate Education.

CIP Code

The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code for this program is 30.2701.

Program Description

The program includes background courses, biology core courses, a set of theme courses, and a Senior Capstone activity. Background courses provide the essential foundations in chemistry, mathematics, methods, and basic biology. These support the Biology core, which is comprised of a flexible menu of intermediate and advanced courses. A required portion of the Biology core is Genetics, a cornerstone of human biology and its interface with other fields. The Biology core underscores the related coursework within the Health and Disease Theme. The Theme courses are social science and humanities courses that form a cohesive, thoughtful grouping. Theme groupings must be approved by the advisor. A required senior capstone course or activity builds on the program's focus.

Concentration Requirements

• List of requirements
  • Background courses
  • Biology core courses
  • Theme courses
  • Senior Capstone activity

Student Goals

Students in this concentration will:

• Pursue a multidisciplinary course of study that reveals the diversity of factors that influence human health from a combination of biological, behavioral, social, political, cultural, and/or environmental perspectives.
• Acquire foundational knowledge related to the integration of biology, mathematics, and chemistry that are essential to understanding fundamental life processes.
• Acquire core concepts of the pillars of biology: genetics and evolution, interactions between organisms, and structure-function relationships.
• Demonstrate how qualitative and quantitative methods are used and interpreted in scholarly work on topics of relevance to Health and Human Biology.
• Propose and pursue a self-directed cohesive course of study in one of four thematic areas where Brown has strong scholarship:
  • Social determinants of health
  • Mind, brain, behavior
  • Global health
  • Planetary health

Department Undergraduate Group (DUG)

Student Leaders:

• Zoe Carter-Konate
• Amrik Eadara
• Ejemen Idemudia
• Ava Sauer
• Eric Wang

Graduating Class

Alumni Pathways

Alumni have entered health careers including medicine, psychology, public health, academia, teaching, and industry.

What are Health and Human Biology concentrators doing in their first year after graduation and 5 and 10 years after graduation?