Student assessing blood pressure in a research lab.

Human Biology Bachelor's Degree

Discover Yourself—From Your Molecules to Your Global Impact

Gain a deep understanding of humans through a biological perspective—from the chemical through organismal level, and how humans impact and interact with their environment.

Our broad-based curriculum allows you to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to study, understand, and apply concepts in the real world. You will benefit from hands-on interdisciplinary opportunities in human health-related fields across our campus and beyond. Graduates will be ready for what tomorrow needs in human health in educational, industry, research, or healthcare settings.

Discover Human Biology

Human biology encompasses a variety of sub-disciplines such as anatomy, physiology, genetics, nutrition, ecology, evolution, and anthropology to understand human beings and human populations. Understanding each of these fields and their interrelationships is the key to advance human health.

Facilities Found Only at a Technological University

Learn in up-to-date labs and research facilities, with access to some of the most advanced technology in the industry, like our new $53 million H-STEM Complex. The H-STEM Complex provides a state-of-the-art teaching facility in industry-relevant, STEM-based educational and research programs in health and human-centered engineering, as well as research labs for health-related STEM studies.

You can work on advanced DNA analysis, confocal microscopy, cell sorting, chromatography, and more.
You’ll utilize our Anatomage Tables- think life-sized human cadaver meets iPad- in your human anatomy labs in the new $53 million H-STEM Complex.
Become a Certified EMT! Michigan Tech offers you EMT training, with almost the entire cost of training covered in exchange for one year of service to our Emergency Medical Services team on campus. Find out if you're a good fit for our team. Find out if you're a good fit for our team.

70%

placement rate for graduates into medical school
#5
best colleges for biology in Michigan

Choose your Career Path

The Bachelor of Science in Human Biology gives you the chance to chart your own unique career path.

Pre-Health Professions Pathway

Incorporate a pre-health minor and prepare for admission into health professional programs. Human Biology majors with a pre-health minor can take advantage of many professional program partnerships. For instance, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine provides early assurance of admission (February as opposed to June) for select Michigan Tech pre-health minors. Pick from these pathways:

Pre-Law Pathway

You may choose to allocate your free electives towards a minor in Law and Society and take additional classes in Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology, Biological Sciences, or Chemistry.

Science and Technical Writing Pathway

If you have an interest in science and technical writing, you may choose to allocate your free electives towards a minor in Writing along with other courses in Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology, Biological Sciences, or Chemistry.

Business and Entrepreneurship Pathway

If you are interested in pursuing a career in Business you may choose to allocate your free electives towards a minor or certificate in Business or Economics along with other courses in Business, Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology, Biological Sciences, or Chemistry.

Other Possible Pathways

Have something else in mind? Pursue your passion by combining your human biology degree with any of 80 other minors or certificates such as Microbiology, Psychology, Biochemistry and Public Health. With a BS in Human Biology you design your own educational pathway to meet your future career goals.

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Michigan Tech Human Biology Majors Have Gone On To Graduate Studies

The growing list of colleges and universities that have recently admitted Michigan Tech graduates includes:

Ferris State University
Marquette University
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Palmer College of Chiropractic
University of Pittsburgh
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Be Career Ready

Career Opportunities for Human Biology Majors

Your future career options are unlimited with a degree in human biology. Career opportunities can be found in:

Academia
Biotechnology
Business and Industry
Communications
Education
Forensics
Genetics
Government
Health care
Non-profit
Pharmaceuticals
Public Policy
Quality assurance
Research

Additional Career Opportunities

Michigan Tech Human Biology Majors Have Been Hired By

The growing list of companies that have hired Michigan Tech human biology graduates includes:

ICU Medical
Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
Munson Medical Center

Ready to take the next step?

Learn more about studying human biology at Michigan's flagship technological university.

"I chose human biology as it complements my plans to become a PA. The courses and experiences that I have been lucky enough to be a part of prepare me everyday to become a Physician’s Assistant. "

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Kate Meister '23

BS Human Biology

Study Human Biology at a Technological University

At Michigan Tech, you will build knowledge and research foundations required to succeed in graduate school, research, or the job market. You’ll learn and experience first-hand how biology is central to solving real-world problems in sustainability, human health, environment and industry. With biology faculty that also serve as your research advisors and mentors, you’ll use biology in the lab and present results in classrooms, research symposia, and scientific journals.

Get personalized attention: Our smaller department (labs average about 18 students) ensures you’ll build valuable relationships with world-class professors. They can better help pair you with research opportunities that meet your needs and provide valuable experience.
Customize your biology education: At Michigan Tech, our programs span biological sciences, biochemistry and molecular biology (biology focus), computational biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, human biology, medical laboratory science, and nursing. That interdisciplinary approach gives you exposure to different areas of biology. Take classes across different specialties to tailor your degree to fit your individual pathway. Add a minor.
Engage in biological science research: Become involved in a research project under the direction of a faculty member. Whether you are planning to go to graduate school or pursue a career upon graduation, one of the factors that often gives our students an edge is the opportunity to engage in research as an undergraduate student and gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art research instrumentation. A majority of our students conduct undergraduate research with faculty members.
Get involved: Utilize your interest in biology by getting involved with the Enterprise Program—teams of undergraduate students working on real-world products and research for industry. Become a certified EMT. Or get involved with any number of professional organizations—Pre-Health Association; Association of Students for People, Environments, and Nature; and more.

Undergraduate Majors in Biological Sciences

Not sure which major is the right fit? No problem.
Just declare the General Sciences and Arts major, give yourself time, and decide when you arrive on campus. To learn more speak to an academic advisor.

Undergraduate Minors

Specialize in a secondary discipline outside of or complementary to your major, expand your knowledge base, and boost your potential career options with these nine biology-centric minors. A minor in a pre-professional program such as Pre-Law or Pre-Health prepares you for graduate school and future careers in law and medicine. You can declare a major anytime, but it is recommended you begin your minor studies as early as possible in your academic career. To learn more, speak to an academic advisor.

Biochemistry
Biological Sciences
Bioprocess Engineering
Ecology
Fish Biology
Microbiology
Nanoscale Science and Engineering
Plant Biotechnology
Plant Sciences

Student Learning Goals

In the human biology degree program you will:

Develop knowledge of biology principles, including evolution, structure and function, information flow, exchange, and storage, pathways and transformations of energy and matter, and systems.
Investigate the biological processes of the human body at the chemical, molecular, and cellular levels.
Explore advanced concepts in human physiology at the cellular, tissue, systems, and organismal levels.
Examine the impacts and implications of human activity at the ecosystem and societal levels.
Apply knowledge during applied experiences in research, industry, or education.
Employ the scientific method to address questions, formulate hypotheses, design basic studies, and synthesize and report results.
Communicate effectively (orally and in writing) about issues related to ecology and science, in general.

Tomorrow Needs You

Supercharge your biology skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow's high-tech business landscape.

"Human Biology makes me feel like I am getting the knowledge I need to succeed every step of the way. Whether that might be in research or in graduate school, I feel like I have the tools and knowledge necessary for success."Enioluwa Wright ‘24, BS Human Biology, minor pre-health professions