About the Program

What does it mean to be human? This program invites you to explore the complexity of human beings from biological, behavioral, social, and cultural perspectives. Our students appreciate the flexibility to construct a unique course of study that meets their goals. Whether they are addressing causes of disease and possible therapies, health disparities, environmental sustainability, socio-economic contributors to well-being, or other critical issues, HumBio students leave the program eager to use their knowledge and skills to effect change where it is most needed, which is often their own communities.

What You'll Study

Your academic journey in Human Biology is designed to be both foundational and uniquely personal. You can expect to:

• Build a Strong Foundation:  The Human Biology Core delves into the natural and social sciences and, most importantly, the relationship between the two. The core explores biological sciences in areas such as Human Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, Cellular Development, and Human Physiology; the corresponding social sciences focus on Human Culture, Society, Environmental & Health Policy, Behavior, and Development. 

• Design Your Degree Path: You can pursue either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS). The BS path requires a greater depth of coursework in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering, including more lab experience. The BA option offers more flexibility to integrate the social sciences and humanities into your area of concentration. Either degree provides students with a transferable skillset that prepares them to join a broad scientific community with a culture of building and sharing knowledge and to face the challenges of the modern world. 

• Design Your Individualized Concentration: Every Human Biology major applies core knowledge in the biological and behavioral sciences to their individually designed set of courses.  The heart of the major is the Area of Concentration, a personalized curriculum you design in collaboration with an advisor. Here are just a few titles of our students' unique, individual concentrations:

  • Inequities in Community and Global Health

  • Biomedical Foundations of Human Function & Regeneration

  • Epidemiological and Computational Approaches to Health

  • Physiological and Psychological Child Development

  • Molecular Basis of Neurological Disease

  • Addiction Medicine and Mental Illness

  • Human and Planetary Health

  • Sports Performance

• Engage in Research: Human Biology majors have the opportunity to explore their interests in depth through mentored research in the natural and social sciences. The Human Biology Research Exploration program introduces new majors to research through a full-time funded summer experience with Stanford faculty across the University. The honors thesis program allows students to work closely with faculty on an individual research project and develop their professional writing and presentation skills. Many of our students have gone on to publish their research and have been honored with top prizes such as the University Firestone Award and the Kennedy Prize.