All Human Biology majors choose a specific area of concentration in one of the following areas:
Areas of Concentration
- Human Environment + Ecology
How do human organisms interface with their environment, and what are the resulting effects on the earth and the human condition?
Take courses such as Religion, Ethics, and the Environment (REL-D 350) or learn Geographic Information Systems Applications in Geology (GEOL-G 424).
Explore the list of AOC courses- Human Growth + Development
Study the development of the human body and mind from a biological as well as a social and cultural perspective, exploring change over the course of the lifespan.
Learn about infant development (PSY-P 442) or Children's Literature (ENG-L 390).
- Human Health + Disease
The biological basis of health and disease as well as the social and cultural context that influences disease risk and healing.
- Human Origins + Survival
Study genetics and the evolutionary processes to learn about human origins, variation, and physiological adaptations. Cultural and biological adaptations related to health and disease are considered.
Take Prehistoric Diet and Nutrition (ANTH-P 380) and learn more about Paleo diets or Epidemics in History (HIST-H 333).
- Human Reproduction + Sexuality
Consider issues in human reproduction and sexuality from both from a biological standpoint and from psychological and social perspectives.
Take courses from faculty in the Kinsey Institute. Or, Gender Studies’ Sex, Gender, and the Body (GNDR-G 105).
Our areas of concentration have lists of corresponding courses divided into three categories. To complete an area of concentration (AOC), you take one Life Sciences Perspectives course; one Lecture/Laboratory course; and two Historical, Social, Arts, and Humanities Perspectives courses.
Altogether, you take a minimum of nine upper-level credit hours from within your chosen Human Biology area of concentration. The AOC course lists give you an idea of your options.
The Human Biology Program at Indiana University is attractive because of its interdisciplinary structure and the flexibility that allows students to choose a concentration. I am also a psychology major and it was great to be able to choose classes that not only fulfilled the Human Biology Program requirements, but also let me intersect with Psychology through the Human Growth and Development concentration. I really enjoyed the collaboration between the life science faculty and the humanities faculty. I think it’s important for students to see professionals from different fields work together and use each other’s knowledge. You learn to not only understand biology, but also to look at it through a social and cultural lens.
Peyton Cunningham, class of 2016
The College of Arts