School of Health, Human, and Biological Systems

Undergraduate Health, Human, and Biological System Majors

The future of health and discovery demands bold thinkers who understand life from cells to systems, from individuals to communities. The School of Health, Human, and Biological Systems at Michigan Technological University unites expertise across biology, human performance, and psychology to prepare you for careers that improve lives and sustain our world.

Conduct hands-on research in cutting-edge labs. Work alongside faculty mentors. Gain real-world experience through internships, clinical placements, and fieldwork. And live where innovation meets the outdoors, surrounded by the natural beauty of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Whether your path leads to medical school, industry, research, public health, or graduate study, you’ll build the scientific foundation and professional skills to lead what tomorrow needs.

Biological Systems

Biological Sciences

Biological scientists hold the keys to understanding life—improving healthcare, conserving biodiversity, advancing agriculture, and unlocking the mysteries of genetics and evolution. Undergraduates in our Biological Sciences program explore everything from molecular biology and biochemistry to freshwater ecosystems and human health. Use modern laboratory techniques to grow and analyze organisms. Study terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the field. Present your findings in classrooms, research symposia, and scientific publications.

With programs spanning biological sciences, biochemistry and molecular biology, computational biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, and human biology, you can shape your education around your goals. Here, you’ll create solutions that help sustain life—today and into the future.

Biological Sciences Bachelor's Degrees

Human Systems

Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology

In Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, you’ll examine fitness, health, and human performance through a STEM-focused lens. Our Exercise Science and Sports and Fitness Management programs combine rigorous coursework with high-impact clinical experiences and internships in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, collegiate athletics, and the fitness industry.

Prepare for medical school, physical therapy, physician assistant programs, cardiac rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, or sports administration. Along the way, you’ll benefit from one-on-one advising, close faculty mentorship, and hands-on learning in labs designed to explore human movement and physiology. Whether your goal is advanced health-professional education or launching directly into industry, you’ll graduate ready to lead in the science of human performance and wellness.

Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology Bachelor's Degrees

Psychology and Human Factors

Understanding people is essential to improving the systems they live and work within. Psychology and Human Factors empowers you to explore how individuals think, behave, interact with technology, and function in teams and organizations. Choose from a BS in Psychology or a BS in Human Factors and gain skills that employers value: critical thinking, effective communication, teamwork, and the ability to apply research to real-world challenges.

Through interdisciplinary coursework and research opportunities, you’ll study human reasoning, decision-making, behavior, and design. Graduates pursue careers in human and social services, business, government, user experience, and beyond—or continue into graduate study in counseling, behavioral science, human-centered design, and related fields. If you want to advance minds—and create a future designed for people—this is where you begin.

Psychology and Human Factors Bachelor's Degrees

Health Systems

Health-Centered Studies and Pre-Health Professions

Whether you're looking to enter the direct-care medical field or are aiming for a laboratory position diving into in-depth research, a health systems degree gives you the tools you need.

Prepare for advanced degrees with a tailored Pre-Health Professions program geared towards medical school, dental school, pharmacy school, and many other healthcare professional programs. Pursue a degree in Nursing to enter the healthcare workforce on the front lines or aim for world-changing research positions with a BS in Medical Laboratory Science or Human Biology. Our rigorous, research-driven coursework builds critical thinking, analytical expertise, and applied problem-solving skills.

Learn from experts in your chosen field through a combination of classroom learning and practical demonstration. Enter the next stage of your schooling with the knowledge, skills, and practice to excel. Start your journey strong and become a part of the new future of health and healthcare.

Health System Bachelor's Degrees

Pre-Health Pathways

  • Pre-Cardiovascular
  • Pre-Chiropractic
  • Pre-Dental
  • Pre-Medical
  • Pre-Occupational Therapy
  • Pre-Optometry
  • Pre-Pharmacy
  • Pre-Physical Therapy
  • Pre-Physician Assistant
  • Pre-Podiatry
  • Pre-Prosthetics/Orthotics
  • Pre-Veterinary

Ready to take the next step?

Learn more about studying health, human, and biological systems at Michigan's flagship technological university.

No. 15out of 20 universities with the greatest salary impact (Wall Street Journal, College Pulse)
No. 1Best Colleges in Michigan (Niche)
Agrade for both quality of professors and overall value (Niche)
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"Because of Tech, I'm ready to show the world the best version of myself."Nathan Erva, BS Nursing

Preparing Leaders Across Every Stage of Discovery

Graduates from the School of Health, Human, and Biological Systems pursue careers wherever these systems intersect. Our graduates become:

  • Scientists advancing research in academia, government, biotechnology, and industry
  • Healthcare professionals improving patient care through nursing, medical laboratory science, medicine, dentistry, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and other clinical professions
  • Psychologists, counselors, social workers, neuroscientists, and behavioral scientists improving individual and community well-being
  • Human factors professionals, UX researchers, ergonomists, and systems designers creating technologies that work better for the people they serve
  • Exercise scientists and performance specialists supporting health, rehabilitation, sport, and wellness
  • Ecologists, evolutionary biologists, conservation scientists, and environmental professionals developing and using data-informed decisions to protect natural resources and ecosystems.
  • Leaders in government, public service, law enforcement, policy, and law who apply scientific thinking to complex societal challenges
Many graduates continue into competitive master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs, while others enter rewarding careers immediately after graduation.

Join a Community of Discovery

Whether you're exploring biology at the molecular level, studying the human mind, improving athletic performance, designing technologies around human needs, protecting ecosystems, advancing patient care, or pursuing interdisciplinary research, you'll find a community committed to understanding living systems and applying knowledge to improve lives.

College of Sciences and Arts

The College of Sciences and Arts is a community of faculty, staff, and students committed to excellence and driven by our passion for education, outreach, research, and creativity across the social and natural sciences, humanities, and the arts. Uniquely situated in the heart of Michigan's R1 flagship technological university, we specialize in human-centered potential and discovery-based learning designed to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Knowing that every student at Michigan Tech will pass through our doors, our college strives to be at the forefront of interdisciplinary collaborations that lead to breakthrough solutions.

Our students gain a profound understanding of social and cultural contexts through experiential learning and innovative research. We welcome you to be part of our caring, expansive college community, with 32 undergraduate and 24 graduate degrees to choose from.

The opportunities in Michigan Tech's College of Sciences and Arts are limitless. Transform into a civic leader ready to contribute to a sustainable future. Lead and participate in action-based experiences that are critical to the start of a fulfilling career. Job-shadow at a local hospital or veterinary clinic while preparing for a career in health. Design sound and lighting for a regional production. Conduct community forums on the implications of artificial intelligence. Work to purify vaccines. Study the impact of social media on society. Research the mysteries of space and galaxies beyond our universe. Explore transforming abandoned iron and copper mines into giant batteries. Understand freshwater ecosystem health. Document the nature of changes in cognitive function and motor behavior in aging and dementia.

At Michigan Tech, your academic growth is supported by a variety of learning centers, along with our Humanities Digital Media Zone and Writing Center. Model climate in the only cloud chamber of its kind. Take part in interdisciplinary health research in our state-of-the-art H-STEM Complex. Create amazing sights and sounds in our visual art, sound, and theatre performance spaces. 

Three students in a lab with lab coats.

Tomorrow Needs You

Combine your creativity and curiosity to meet pressing societal challenges with innovative solutions. Graduate with the technical skills, critical thinking and tenacity to inspire, design and implement a sustainable future across social and natural sciences, humanities, and arts.

Not sure which major is the right fit? No problem. Browse the entire list of College of Sciences and Arts majors. Or, give yourself time and declare the General Sciences and Arts major, which lets you decide when you arrive on campus. To learn more, speak to an academic advisor.