Human Bio Curriculum

Degree Requirements

A bachelor’s degree traditionally represents a minimum of four years of undergraduate study with a core education of cultural and communication proficiency, a suitable depth of coursework in the major area, plus a breadth of general educational experience. This tradition is incorporated into the UWS bachelor’s degree in human biology. Students obtain the general education and life and physical sciences credits prior to matriculation to UWS. The human biology major requirements are obtained while enrolled at UWS. All credit hours listed below are quarter credits. For purposes of conversion, 1.5 quarter credits equal 1 semester credit.

The bachelor’s degree requires a total of at least 180 quarter credits distributed in the following areas:

  • General Education Requirements
  • Life and Physical Sciences – 36 quarter credits
  • Human Biology Major Requirements – at least 45 quarter credits
  • Electives

General Education Requirements

Students must have at least 45 quarter credits of general education coursework for the degree. Areas of study that satisfy general education requirements include humanities, social studies/social sciences, computer orientation, mathematics, writing, speaking, etc.

In addition, students need at least 36 quarter credits of life and physical sciences coursework for the BS degree. Courses that satisfy this requirement include biology, physics, chemistry, exercise physiology, anatomy, physiology, etc. At least half of these courses must include a laboratory experience. UWS has science courses available online to satisfy this requirement. These courses include: biology, chemistry, physics, and biochemistry.

Electives

Electives include courses in areas such as business, public administration, physical education, and relevant career/technical coursework (12 quarter credits maximum).

Major Requirements

Major requirements for the human biology bachelor’s degree are obtained through successful completion of basic science courses and of the first two courses in the evidence-informed practice course series in the DC program. These courses are dually-attributed to both the BS and DC degrees and must be passed with a C or better. The dually-attributed courses are upper division courses (senior year) for the bachelor’s degree and students are not eligible to enroll in these courses until they have accomplished at least 135 quarter credits toward the BS degree. 

Learning Outcomes

BS Human Biology students completing the BS in human biology will demonstrate:

  1. Language, reading, communication, computation, and social skills necessary to engage the expectations of a first professional doctorate program.
  2. Thorough knowledge of gross and microscopic human anatomy.
  3. Thorough knowledge of human physiology.
  4. Thorough knowledge of human genetics and cellular function.
  5. Thorough knowledge of human pathology.
  6. The ability to locate and critically appraise health-related scientific literature.

Courses

HBI4301 Biostatistics
Biostatistics is an online course designed to introduce the student to methods in statistical analysis of experimental data and their appropriate application in health care research. Topics include simple probability, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and experimental design. Biostatistics is normally taken before the writing sequence, but this schedule is not mandatory. If you have already successfully completed a statistics course, check with the dean of the college of undergraduate studies to see if it fulfills this requirement. (2 qtr. credits, pass/no pass)

HBI4302 Baccalaureate Project Writing Preparation
Baccalaureate Project Writing Preparation is an online course designed to provide students the basic library research and writing tools necessary to undertake the baccalaureate writing project, which occurs during the subsequent three terms. Attention is given to style, format, and manuscript preparation. This course is a prerequisite for the BS Project Preparation Seminar. Credit for this course is not possible through exemption or transfer credit; it must be taken through UWS. (1 qtr. credit, pass/no pass)

HBI4303-4305 Baccalaureate Project Preparation Seminars
Baccalaureate Project Preparation Seminars is a three-quarter sequence during which students work independently on their research projects under the guidance of the dean of the college of undergraduate studies. A broad range of topics is acceptable. The project may draw upon knowledge in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences to address some question in human biology, health care in general, or chiropractic in particular. The project should, in most cases, be 15 to 20 pages in length. This course sequence must be taken through UWS; transfer credit is not available for this series of classes.

HBI4303 is worth one credit and HBI4304 and 4305 are each worth 2 credits. (5 credits, pass/no pass)