Human Biology

What you'll learn

Pitzer's Human Biology major is split into two tracks. Each track has different educational objectives, which are outlined below:

Track One: Social Science

1. How to understand foundational principles and findings in biology and the social sciences
2. How to develop hypotheses, design experiments to test those hypotheses, and collect and evaluate data.
3. How to think critically and analytically in interpreting data.
4. How to read, understand, and critique original research articles in the biological and social sciences.

Track Two: Cross-Cultural Health and Healing

In addition to the requirements in Track One, you’ll also learn:

1. How to understand variation in human social organizations and culture.
2. How to identify and understand health and healing in different cultural, economic, and political contexts.
3. How to identify issues affecting medical practices in local and global settings.

The major in Human Biology requires the successful completion of at least 15 courses and a senior thesis.

Required Courses

• Introductory Courses: Students are required to take introductory courses in biology and chemistry according to the combinations below (or the appropriate combinations)
  • BIOL 043L KS Introductory Biology, BIOL 044L KS Introductory Biology; or BIOL 042L KS -Integrated Biology & Chemistry  and BIOL 044L KS -Introductory Biology;
  • CHEM 014L KS , CHEM 015L KS Basic Principles of Chemistry; or CHEM 029L KS Accelerated General Chemistry; or  CHEM 042L KS -Integrated Biology & Chemistry;
• Four upper-division courses in Biology (courses numbered over 100), at least 2 with laboratory.
  • Appropriate courses include, but are not limited to: Genetics, Evolution, Biostatistics, Animal Behavior, Neuroscience 2: Systems, Cell Cycle Diseases and Aging, Drugs and Molecular Medicine, Biology of Cancer, Sensory Evolution, Genomics and Bioinformatics, Vertebrate Physiology, Vertebrate Anatomy, Dynamical Diseases: Introduction to Mathematical Physiology, Functional Human Anatomy and Biomechanics, Disease Ecology and Evolution

Option 1 Social Science

Introductory Courses

Students are required to take introductory courses in Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology

• ANTH 001 PZ Intro Archaeology & Bio Anthro   
• PSYC 010 PZ Introduction to Psychology, or equivalent
• SOC 001 PZ Introduction to Sociology or equivalent
• Four upper division courses in one of the three areas: Psychology (courses numbered over 90 including NEUR095L), Sociology (courses numbered over 100) or Anthropology (courses numbered over 100).  It is recommended that one of these four courses is an appropriate methods course.
• A course in statistics is strongly recommended and may count towards the relevant part of the major.  For example, Applied Biostatistics as an upper division Biology course, Psychological Statistics as an upper division Psychology course, and Quantitative Research Methods in Sociology as an upper division Sociology course (students cannot count more than one statistics course towards the major).
• A one or two semester Human Biology Thesis:  BIOL 188L KS -Sr Thesis Rsrch Project in Biol or BIOL 190L KS Sr Thes Rsrch Proj Biol-2nd Sem (fall plus spring); or BIOL 189L KS -Sr Thes Summer Rsrch Proj in Bio or BIOL 190L KS -Sr Thes Rsrch Proj Biol-2nd Sem.  Topic selected in consultation with the Biology faculty: Profs. Armstrong, Budischak, Chandrangsu, Coleman, Finseth, E. Ferree, P. Ferree, Heers, Preest, Thomson, Solomon-Lane, and/or Profs. Bonaparte, Guillermo, and Miller, and/or Profs Miller, Martins, Bonaparte.  Some theses may require you to audit a thesis course in the appropriate discipline.

Option 2: Cross-Cultural Health and Healing

• Seven courses with an emphasis on health and/or healing.
  These may be drawn from Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Political Studies, and International and Intercultural Studies, among others disciplines that may be relevant. Necessary pre-requisite introductory courses can count among the seven courses, but four courses must be upper division.  One of the courses must be an appropriate practicum or internship course. Students are encouraged to do independent fieldwork projects while studying abroad or through the Ontario Program.
• A course in statistics is strongly recommended and may count towards the relevant part of the major.  For example, Applied Biostatistics as a Biology course, Psychological Statistics as an upper division Psychology course, and Quantitative Research Methods in Sociology as an upper division Sociology course (students cannot count more than one statistics course towards the major).
• A one or two semester Human Biology Thesis:  BIOL 188L KS -Sr Thesis Rsrch Project in Biol or BIOL 190L KS Sr Thes Rsrch Proj Biol-2nd Sem (fall plus spring); or BIOL 189L KS -Sr Thes Summer Rsrch Proj in Bio or BIOL 190L KS -Sr Thes Rsrch Proj Biol-2nd Sem (summer plush fall or spring). Topic selected in consultation with the Biology faculty: Profs. Armstrong, Budischak, Chandrangsu, Coleman, Finseth, E. Ferree, P. Ferree, Heers, Preest, Thomson, and Solomon-Lane, and/or Profs. Bonaparte, Guillermo, Miller, and Snowiss and/or Profs. Miller, Martins, Bonaparte, Guillermo.  Some theses may require you to audit a thesis course in the appropriate discipline.