Get a Great Start on Your Health Care Career
The Bachelor of Science in Human Biology program at UM-Flint is primarily designed for students planning to pursue professional education to become health care professionals.
Many of our graduates go on to become physicians, dentists, physician assistants, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. But the training you’ll receive also opens up technical career paths to becoming a research scientist, program director for research, consultant in health care, and more.
While theory learned in the classroom plays an important role in the program, you’ll spend a significant amount of time learning hands-on in the laboratory. Your courses will provide rigorous exposure to anatomy and physiology, and you’ll also learn about subjects like research design, statistical analysis, and scientific writing. Class sizes average around 20 students, so you’ll get lots of personal attention from faculty.
As a biology student, you’ll have the opportunity to conduct research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. UROP allows students at any education level to perform paid or volunteer research with faculty on cutting-edge projects.
You’ll also have the chance to meet and learn with students who share your interests and career aspirations in a variety of clubs. You can choose from the Pre-Physician Assistant Club, the Pre-Physical Therapy Club, the Pre-Med Club, the Pre-Dental Club, and the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) Preparedness Club, among others.
UM-Flint is among a handful of primarily undergraduate institutions in Michigan to have a fully functional cadaver lab. It’s an essential learning tool if you’re pursuing a professional degree in health care.
How the Program Works
All students in the Bachelor of Science in Human Biology program fulfill general education requirements and take six biology courses, two ethics courses, and single courses in oral communication, written communication, health care delivery to diverse cultures, psychology, and statistics. Then they follow one of five concentrations based on their career interest:
- Pre-Dental
- Pre-Medicine
- Pre-Occupational Therapy: Prepares students for UM-Flint’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program and the dual Doctor of Occupational Therapy/Master of Business Administration program.
- Pre-Physical Therapy: Designed to be preparation for UM-Flint’s physical therapy doctoral programs: the Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program, the dual Doctor of Physical Therapy/Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy program, and the dual Doctor of Physical Therapy/Master of Business Administration program.
- Pre-Physician Assistant: Prepares students for UM-Flint’s Master of Science Physician Assistant program and the dual Master of Science Physician Assistant/Master of Business Administration program.
Biology Programs at UM-Flint
Besides the Bachelor of Science in Human Biology program, the Natural Sciences Department offers three other undergraduate biology programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Biology
- Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
- Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology
Two minors also are available:
- A 24-credit Biology Minor
- A 24-credit Field Biology Minor
All undergraduate biology students are encouraged to consider adding a minor or a second major in another discipline. You can’t major in more than one biology program, nor can you both major and minor in biology.
Students who wish to continue their studies can pursue UM-Flint’s Master of Science in Biology program or the professional health care programs listed earlier.
Scholarships for Biology Majors
Besides being eligible for financial assistance through our Office of Financial Aid, you can apply for UM-Flint scholarships that are specifically for biology students. They include:
- Fleming A. and Marian E. Barbour Scholarship Fund
- Emmalyn Ellis Freeman Master of Science in Biology Scholarship
- Zelpha E. McKinnon Science Scholarship
- Gary Pace Biology/Ecology Field Study Scholarship
- Holly Sucic Endowed Memorial Scholarship
- John Terrill and Lora Dorland Biological Sciences Scholarship Fund
Academic Advising for Human Biology Majors
Human biology majors have many options and opportunities, so it’s essential for you to develop a strong relationship with UM-Flint’s academic advisors. They can clarify program requirements, help you select courses, discuss the benefits of different concentrations, and more. The dedicated academic advisor for the Human Biology program is Cydnee Robertson. You can contact her at [email protected] or schedule an appointment.
If you’re thinking about majoring in human biology, it’s important for you to consult with the Human Biology program’s academic advisor before registering for your first-semester classes.
Career Opportunities in Human Biology
Most human biology majors go on to careers in health care, usually after getting additional professional education. Consider just a few of the career opportunities that are available:
- Biological technicians: The number of jobs for biological technicians, who help biological and medical scientists conduct lab tests and experiments, should grow 7 percent through 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 11,800 jobs should become available annually through 2030, and the latest median salary is $48,140 annually.
- Physician assistants: Job growth for physician assistants, who practice medicine as part of health care teams, should be 31 percent through 2030, the BLS says. That translates into about 12,200 job openings annually through 2030. The latest median pay for PAs is $115,390 annually.
- Physical therapists: Jobs for physical therapists should grow by 21 percent through 2030, the BLS projects, almost three times the rate for all jobs. Physical therapists earn a median salary of $91,010 annually, and there should be about 15,600 job openings each year through 2030.
- Physicians and surgeons: Despite the overall employment of physicians and surgeons growing just 3 percent through 2030, the BLS projects about 22,700 job openings annually through 2030. The median salary for physicians and surgeons is more than $208,000 annually.
More information about careers for human biology majors is available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Get Started on Your Human Biology Career Today
If you want great preparation for professional studies in health care, apply to the University of Michigan-Flint’s Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology program today. If you have questions, you can contact the program’s dedicated academic advisor, Cydnee Weirauch, at [email protected].