Bulletin Archive
This archived information is dated to the 2011-12 academic year only and may no longer be current.
For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.
This archived information is dated to the 2011-12 academic year only and may no longer be current.
For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.
A prospective major must consult with the student and faculty advisers to obtain detailed information about the program and guidance in the development of an individual course of study.
At the time the major is declared, the student must submit a written statement (3-5 pages) of academic and long-term goals and the proposed list of courses satisfying the requirements for the major. The proposal is then reviewed by the student advisers who help identify an appropriate faculty adviser. Final approval of the proposed course of study rests with the faculty adviser.
It is important to declare early, preferably in early spring as soon as students have passed both Autumn and Winter Quarter core courses (2A,B, 3A,B). The University requires students to declare a major by the end of Spring Quarter of the sophomore year. Under special circumstances students may declare as late as Autumn Quarter of the junior year. Petitions to declare late require additional documentation and are less likely to be approved.
Students who plan to pursue graduate work should be aware of the admission requirements of the schools to which they intend to apply. Early planning is advisable to guarantee completion of major and graduate school requirements.
The B.A. in Human Biology (HUMBIO) requires a minimum of 87 units in the major divided among four levels of courses:
Area 1: Environment and Environmental Policy
Area 2: Health and Health Policy
Area 3: Human Performance
Area 4: Human Development
Area 5: Biomedical Science
Area 6: Brain and Behavior
Area 7: Ethics and Medical Humanities
Area 8: Evolution
A non-exclusive list of possible courses for each emphasis is available at the student advisers' office or at https://humbio.stanford.edu/node/474.
Required core sequences (HUMBIO 2A,B, 3A,B, and 4A,B) introduce the biological and social sciences, and most importantly, relationships between the two. Classes meet throughout the academic year. Students must register concurrently for the A and B series and take the core in sequence. Students should initiate the core in Autumn Quarter of the sophomore year. Freshmen are not permitted to enroll. Majors must earn a minimum letter grade of 'C-' in core courses. The Human Biology core consists of the following courses:
The honors program in Human Biology provides qualified majors the opportunity to work closely with faculty on an individual research project, culminating in an honors thesis. Students may begin honors research from a number of starting points including topics introduced in the core or upper-division courses; independent interests stemming from an internship experience; or collaborating with faculty from the natural, social, or behavioral sciences.
Students may apply to the honors program if they have completed the Human Biology core with a minimum GPA of 3.0, have an overall Stanford grade point average (GPA) of 3.2, and meet other requirements detailed in the honors handbook. Interested students should consult the Human Biology Honors Handbook at https://humbio.stanford.edu/node/152 and meet with the Human Biology Associate Director or student services officer.
Most honors projects involve a total of 10-15 units of course work in HUMBIO 193 and 194.
Admission to the honors program is by submission of an intention to undertake honors research in early February, followed by the application in early March of the junior year. Students planning to undertake honors begin research or preparation as early as completion of the sophomore year.
The honors thesis is normally completed by the middle of Spring Quarter of the senior year. Honors students then present summaries of their research at the Human Biology Honors Poster Symposium in May.
Human Biology also holds a Summer Honors College just prior to Autumn Quarter each year for students who have applied to the honors program. Students apply to Summer Honors College in April of the junior year. For applications, contact the program office.
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