Student assessing blood pressure in a research lab.

Human Biology Bachelor's Degree

Advance Human Health

Gain a deep understanding of humans through a biological perspective—from chemical processes to whole organisms, and how humans impact and interact with their environment.

Our broad-based curriculum holistically prepares resilient critical thinkers for hands-on contributions in educational, industry, research, and healthcare settings. You will benefit from hands-on interdisciplinary opportunities in human health-related fields across our campus and beyond. Get involved in undergraduate research through paid work experience. Earn research credits toward your degree, or apply for a summer undergraduate research fellowship or undergraduate research internship. Create the future of human health while considering proactive preventative approaches, clinical treatments, environmental interactions, and social factors.

Discover Human Biology

Human biology includes a variety of subdisciplines, such as anatomy, physiology, genetics, nutrition, ecology, evolution, and anthropology. Understanding each of these fields and their interrelationships is the key to advance human health. Investigate biological and physiological processes of the human body at all levels—chemical, molecular, cellular, tissue, system, and organism.

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. Our new H-STEM Engineering and Health Technologies Complex is a $53 million facility that provides a state-of-the-art teaching environment including industry-relevant, STEM-based educational and research programs in health and human-centered engineering, as well as research labs for health-related STEM studies.

Work on advanced DNA analysis, confocal microscopy, cell sorting, chromatography, and more.
Learn human anatomy hands-on in lab courses using the H-STEM Complex's Anatomage Tables (think life-sized human cadaver meets iPad).
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 on our Emergency Medical Services team on campus. Find out if you're a good fit for our team.

70%

placement rate for graduates into medical school
No. 5
best colleges for biology in Michigan

Choose Your Career Path

Pre-Health Professions Pathway

Incorporate a Pre-Health minor and prepare for admission into health professional programs. Human biology students with a Pre-Health minor can take advantage of many professional program partnerships. For instance, Michigan State University's 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 toward 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 toward 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 toward 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 Go On to Graduate Studies

The growing list of colleges and universities that 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 bachelor's degree in human biology. Career opportunities can be found in:

Academia
Biotechnology
Business and Industry
Communications
Education
Forensics
Genetics
Government
Healthcare
Nonprofit sectors
Pharmaceuticals
Public policy
Quality assurance
Research

Additional Career Opportunities

Michigan Tech Human Biology Majors Get Hired

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 Assistant."

Read Full Article

Kate Meister '23

BS Human Biology

Study Biological Sciences at a Technological University

At Michigan Tech, you will build the foundational knowledge and research skills required to succeed in graduate school, research, or the job market. You'll learn and experience firsthand how biology is central to solving real-world problems in sustainability, human health, the environment, and industry. With biology faculty who 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. Our interdisciplinary approach gives you access 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 after graduation, our students often gain an edge by engaging in research as an undergraduate student, acquiring hands-on experience with state-of-the-art research instrumentation. A majority of our students conduct undergraduate research with faculty members.
Get involved. Your interest in biology is valued in Michigan Tech's Enterprise Program—where teams of undergraduate students work on real-world products and research for industry. Or get involved with any number of professional organizations—Biochemistry Club; Plant and Gardening Club; Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Club;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 Bachelor of Science in 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, Pre-Health Professions minor