When the way the human body works fascinates you and you have an aptitude for scientific subjects, a B.S. in Human Biology degree may be the right path. Coursework in biological sciences supports the drive to understand the mechanisms of human life.
Biology – especially human biology — are complex subjects to master because discoveries in the biological sciences happen rapidly. Understanding biological systems and processes at the deepest possible level opens a wide variety of career possibilities.
Just ask McKenna and Jake.
McKenna A. received her Human Biology degree from a private chiropractic and health sciences university in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
“I knew I wanted to be a medical physician,” McKenna says. “An accelerated undergraduate program for my B.S. in Human Biology made sense. It significantly shortened my time to be accepted into medical school.”
With his undergraduate biology degree, Jake J. started his career as a clinical specialist for a private medical company and now is a territory manager where he consults with spinal surgeons in the Austin, Tex., area.
“Studying biology shows you can learn complicated processes and exposes you to so much of our natural world,” Jake says. “There are way more applications for biology than you might think, including supply chain, business, and the healthcare and medical device fields.”
A great first step for a comprehensive biology education is ensuring your college has the best biology textbooks, resources, and instructors.
Biology textbooks often change, so you’ll want the specific editions noted. Make sure to get all the listed accompanying materials. Most biology textbooks will give you links to websites or resources that enhance your learning. There’s much to master, and these include:
Regardless of success in scientific subjects in high school, the complexity of college biology can be surprising. One foundational step to success in college is taking good classroom notes. If your instructor says, “this is important,” draws a chart or graphic, or mentions pages in the textbook, expect these items to be part of quizzes or tests.
To master what’s important, take notes in a way that shows details indented under specific topics – don’t try to write complete sentences. After class, spend time reworking your notes more completely while the concepts are fresh. Before the next class, review the previous day’s notes so new ideas mesh with existing knowledge.
Have the courage to ask questions in class. Write down questions as they come to you, so you can organize your thoughts and get clear answers after class. Remember: your questions are most likely the same as many classmates.
Some college students initially struggle with the human biology degree. The usual reason is because of poor study habits, time management, or both. Spending the right amount of time studying is part of the secret, but so is understanding and mastering concepts and principles rather than simple memorization.
Finally, how to study for biology in college means avoiding cramming sessions for tests. A small amount of time every day is more effective than late-night marathon sessions. If a longer, intensive study session is needed, do it two nights before a test to guarantee a full night’s rest.
Cleveland University-Kansas City is a nonprofit, private university and that has been educating and developing leaders in health promotion since 1922. CUKC is in Overland Park, Kansas, a large city within the Kansas City metro area.
CUKC offers a B.S. in Human Biology degree with a core curriculum and electives totaling 120 credit hours. In addition, the CUKC program has intentionally mapped the coursework to the MCAT.® Learn about the Medical College Admissions Test here.) Students are required to complete a minimum of 32 semester credit hours, including BIOL 495 Advanced Topics in Human Biology at CUKC.
To learn more, connect with an admissions advisor. For an overview of our human biology degree, go here.
Some CUKC students enter our B.S. in Human Biology/Doctor of Chiropractic program, earning their B.S. in Human Biology concurrently with their Doctor of Chiropractic degree. This option can reduce the time from high school to a professional degree by up to a year. Learn more about our College of Chiropractic here.
