BA Human Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Virginia

Program Overview

The BA in Human Biology at the University of Virginia is an interdisciplinary program that combines biological sciences with the social sciences and humanities to explore human health, disease, evolution, behavior, and society. It suits students interested in understanding human biology from multiple perspectives, with opportunities to connect scientific study to areas such as healthcare, public health, medical research, and policy.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their scientific foundation through courses such as BIOL 2100 – Introduction to Biology: Cell Biology and Genetics and BIOL 2200 – Introduction to Biology: Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, supported by their associated laboratory courses. The curriculum also introduces students to the broader human-health perspective through options such as BIOL 1210 – Human Biology and Disease.

Year 2: Students broaden their understanding of human biology by combining biological study with courses that examine health and society. RELG 2650 – Religion, Ethics, and Healthcare is specifically identified by UVA as an early course for Human Biology majors, helping students connect scientific knowledge with ethical and healthcare questions.

Year 3: Students can deepen their interdisciplinary focus through advanced biology and related coursework while developing research and analytical skills. Opportunities include HBIO 4950 – Independent Research for Human Biology and HBIO 4960 – Independent Research for Human Biology, where students conduct independent research or study under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Year 4: Students pursuing the Distinguished Majors Program complete advanced research and a thesis, with HBIO 4998 – Thesis Research in Human Biology I followed by HBIO 4999 – Thesis Research for Human Biology. The program also includes HBIO 4810 – Capstone Seminar in Human Biology I and HBIO 4820 – Capstone Seminar in Human Biology II, integrating research, coursework, humanities, social sciences, and contemporary issues.

Focus areas: Human health, disease, evolution, biology, behavior, social sciences, humanities, healthcare ethics, medical research, public health, healthcare policy

Learning outcomes: Interdisciplinary analysis, biological understanding, research skills, scientific writing, oral presentation, critical evaluation of research, understanding of human health and disease

Professional alignment (accreditation): University of Virginia institutional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) supports the academic recognition of the bachelor's degree; UVA also provides the Distinguished Majors Program for Human Biology students seeking advanced research and thesis experience.

Reputation (employability rankings): UVA has received recognition in international rankings for employer reputation and employability, but the university does not publish a current program-specific employability ranking for the BA in Human Biology. UVA's official College of Arts & Sciences identifies Human Biology graduates as pursuing medical research, public health, and healthcare policy.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BA in Human Biology at the University of Virginia gives students hands-on opportunities to connect biological science with human health, behavior, ethics, and society. Practical learning is especially strong through independent research and thesis work, where students can investigate a biological issue under the guidance of a UVA faculty member. Students in the Distinguished Majors Program can conduct research in laboratories across UVA Biology and affiliated Medical School departments, while other independent-study projects can draw on social-science and humanities departments.

Practical learning opportunities include:

Independent laboratory research: Students can conduct research under a full-time, tenure-track or tenured UVA faculty member in areas connected to human biology and societal issues.
Research laboratories: Approved research may be conducted in UVA Biology laboratories and Medical School research departments including Neuroscience, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, the Beirne Carter Immunology Center, and the Thaler HIV Center.
Human Biology thesis: Research undertaken through the Distinguished Majors Program can form the basis of the thesis required for the BA in Human Biology, giving students substantial experience developing and completing an original research project.
Independent research in biology: Students can pursue BIOL 4910 – Independent Research in the Life Sciences, BIOL 4920 – Independent Research in Biology, and HBIO 4950–4960 – Independent Research in Human Biology, providing structured opportunities to gain research experience.
Laboratory-based coursework: The major encourages students to complete at least one 3000-level or higher laboratory-based biology course, alongside core study in Cell Biology (BIOL 3000) and Genetics & Molecular Biology (BIOL 3010).
Cross-disciplinary projects: Students can undertake non-laboratory independent studies through departments such as Philosophy, Religious Studies, Anthropology, and Government/Foreign Affairs, exploring biological questions through policy, ethics, law, or social-science research.
Public-health application: PHS 3050 – Introduction to Public Health allows students to connect biological knowledge with population health and public-health issues, while RELG 2650 – Religion, Ethics, and Healthcare adds an applied ethical perspective to healthcare.
Academic facilities and research environment: Students can draw on UVA's Biology research laboratories and affiliated School of Medicine research centers for faculty-supervised research related to human biology, disease, immunity, microbiology, genetics, and other biological questions.
Specialized academic pathway: The Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) provides an enhanced research experience culminating in a thesis, making it particularly useful for students considering medical research, public health, or graduate-level study.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BA in Human Biology gives students an interdisciplinary foundation combining biological sciences with social sciences and humanities to explore human health, disease, evolution, behavior, and society. The program is particularly suited to students interested in medical research, public health, healthcare policy, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, law, bioethics, and health-related careers, while its research-focused Distinguished Majors Program can provide deeper preparation for advanced study.

Typical job roles: Medical Research Assistant, Public Health Specialist, Healthcare Policy Analyst, Biotechnology Associate

Career services: UVA’s Career Center provides career counseling, job and internship-search support, Handshake, PathwayU, and access to employment and graduate-school outcome data, helping students explore careers and connect with opportunities.
Research opportunities: Human Biology students can undertake independent research and a yearlong capstone/thesis experience, with the Distinguished Majors Program designed around research and interdisciplinary analysis.
Employment statistics and salary: UVA publishes undergraduate first-destination, employment, graduate-school, and starting-salary data through its Career Outcomes platform; a Human Biology-specific employment rate or salary figure is not stated on the official Human Biology pages.
Industry and professional pathways: UVA identifies Human Biology preparation for biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, as well as medicine, public health, health policy, health evaluation sciences, law, and bioethics.
Practical research connections: Students can pursue opportunities such as summer research programs, NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates, Harrison Undergraduate Research Awards, Double Hoo Research Grants, and regional professional conferences through UVA’s biology ecosystem.
Long-term accreditation value: The University of Virginia is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees, providing continuing institutional recognition of its degrees.
Graduation outcomes: Human Biology graduates can progress toward medical research, public health, healthcare policy, biotechnology, pharmaceutical careers, law, medicine, bioethics, and health evaluation sciences.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BA, students can continue into medical school, public health, law, bioethics, health policy, health evaluation sciences, or graduate research programs. The Human Biology program specifically identifies these areas as pathways for further study, while UVA also offers research-oriented opportunities that can strengthen preparation for advanced degrees.