Human Biology
Human biology is an interdisciplinary concentration whose goals are to provide a rigorous foundation in the biological sciences with substantive course work in humanities and social sciences. This approach is based on the understanding that biology and human impacts are inextricably related within the fields represented in each of the four program tracks: Health and Disease, Brain and Behavior, Race and Gender; and Ecosystems, Evolution, Environment.
The program includes: background courses, a 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 comprised of a flexible menu of intermediate and advanced courses. A required portion of the Biology core is Genetics, which is considered a cornerstone of human biology and its interface with other fields.
The Biology core underscores the related coursework within the chosen Track. The Tracks are built of predominantly social science and humanities courses and must form a cohesive, thoughtful grouping. Suggested track subfoci must be discussed and approved by an advisor. It is expected that these course selections will evolve over the course of the student’s college career, as each semester’s experience builds on the previous ones.
Finally, the human biology program requires a Senior year CAPSTONE course or experience, which should build on the program’s theme. The capstone may be a research project, an advanced seminar, or an academic internship.
Students who complete the Human Biology program are prepared for a variety of professional paths and graduate programs. Examples include health careers, clinical psychology, environmental law, conservation, academic science, epidemiology, health education, and teaching.
A.B. Program:
Required Courses:
1. MATH 0090; CHEM 0330; BIOL 0200 (or equivalents).
2. Statistics or Methods course (chosen with advisor's approval); eg, PSYC 0090; COGS 0090; SOC 1100; APMA 0650, 1650; EDUC 1110; PHP 2120 and others; MATH 1600, ECON 1620.
3. Biology: Five courses, including:
a. Genetics, which can be fulfilled in the following ways:
•BIOL 0470 (Genetics).
BIOL 0470 (Genetics)
or
•BIOL 0480 (Evolutionary Biology) PLUS 0500 (Cell & Molecular Biology).
or
•BIOL 0480 (Evolutionary Biology) PLUS 0510 (Microbiology).
NOTE: These latter two options involve TWO courses, both of which would therefore count as part of the biology course portion of the program. Also, BIOL 0480 serves as the organismal/population biology course that is required.
b. One course in structure, development and physiology such as BIOL 0300, BIOL 0310, 0320, 0400, 0440, 0800, 1310, 1880; NEUR 0010.
c. One course in organismal/population biology such as BIOL 0380, 0390, 0400, 0410, 0420, 0430, 0450, 0460, 0480, 0490; 1410, 1430, 1480, 1880; ENVS 0490, 1460.
d. Two biology (BIOL or NEUR) courses that relate to and support the chosen theme (see below); at least one of these at the advanced level.
4. Theme: Choose ONE of the following four Themes, and take four additional courses, usually chosen from outside BIOL offerings. These MUST form an approved, cohesive grouping.
Human Health and Disease:
Courses, are usually chosen from these departments: ANTH, PHP, PSYC, COGS, EDUC, SOC, HIST.
Examples of subthemes for Health and Disease:
•Health Behavior
•Health Education
•Health Systems Structure and Policy
•Culture and Health
•International Health
•Women’s/Children’s Health
Race and Gender:
Courses focusing on culture, gender, history, and race: AFRI, AMCV, ANTH, PHP, BIOL, COGS, EDUC, HIST, POBS, PSYC, SOC
Examples of subthemes for Race and Gender:
•Individual development of racial, ethnic identity in the U.S. or elsewhere.
•Race and gender in comparative cultures.
•Gender expression in specific racial or ethnic populations in the US or elsewhere.
Brain and Behavior:
COGS, PSYC, ENVS, EDUC and SOC dealing with behavioral science.
Ecosystems, Evolution and Environment:
COGS, PSYC, ENVS, GEOL, ANTH courses dealing with evolution, behavior, communication, the environment.
STIPULATIONS for Theme courses:
1. All courses to be included must be approved by the advisor and represent a coherent grouping.
2. Theme courses should be taken mainly outside of the biological sciences, in keeping with the interdisciplinary intent of the program.
5. Senior Capstone Activity:
May be fulfilled by an independent activity such as Directed Research (BIOL 1950/1960), a suitable advanced course or seminar; or an appropriate internship. The Capstone activity must be approved by the concentration advisor. Honors in Human Biology is based on research, thesis and presentation, see: <http://bms.brown.edu/bug/ugres.html>.
NOTE: The inclusion of independent study courses (such as BIOL 1950/1960) within this program, and their fulfillment of the advanced level course requirements is subject to approval by the advisor.
Sc.B. Program:
Same as AB with the following additions:
1. CHEM 0350
2. A sixth advanced biology elective
3. A fifth advanced Theme course
4. Capstone must be approved, for--credit, research project, expected for at least two semesters.
Capstones in Human Biology
Sample Capstones in Human Biology may be found at: <http://bms.brown.edu/bug/hb_capstones.html>
ADVISORS:
Overseeing all Programs and initial consults: Marjorie_Thompson@brown.edu.
Human Health and Disease: Lundy_Braun; Sharon_Swartz; Marjorie_Thompson; Peter_Heywood; Peter_Shank; Andrew_Campbell; Mary_Hixon (except class of 2011).
Race and Gender: Marjorie_Thompson.
Brain and Behavior: Robert_Patrick; Marjorie_Thompson.
Ecosystems, Evolution and Environment: Marjorie_Thompson.
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