Bachelor of Science in Human Biology (BS-HB)

Return to: Academic Programs

Purpose

The purpose of the Bachelor of Science in Human Biology completion program is to equip students with a solid foundation in health and pre-medical sciences. The program also offers currently enrolled chiropractic students and chiropractic program alumni a means by which to complete an undergraduate degree.

About the Program

The BS in Human Biology degree is available to eligible UWS chiropractic (DC) program students and all chiropractic alumni who have not previously earned an undergraduate degree. A student who has earned an undergraduate degree in a field of biology other than human biology may request a transcript review to determine whether they are eligible to receive the BS in Human Biology degree from UWS. The coursework for the student’s prior biology degree must be substantially different than the UWS BS in Human Biology coursework to award a second bachelor’s degree. The design of the program is modeled after the general educational components of the traditional liberal arts biology major. The degree may fulfill the bachelor’s degree portion of the requirements for DC licensure in states that require a bachelor’s degree, and requirements for potential employment or admission to graduate programs. States that require a bachelor’s degree in addition to the DC degree for chiropractic licensure are listed and updated on the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Board website.

Credits applied toward the Bachelor of Science degree include prior undergraduate coursework totaling a minimum of 135 quarter credits or 90 semester credits. Such coursework must include general education and life/physical science requirements, as well as any additional electives needed to meet total degree requirements. Major requirements are fulfilled through completion of the basic science curriculum within the Doctor of Chiropractic program, including two courses in evidence-informed practice. Credits earned within the chiropractic program are applied concurrently to both the Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Chiropractic degrees, where applicable. Students must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher upon completion of all bachelor’s degree requirements to be eligible for conferral of the Bachelor of Science degree.

Degree Requirements

A bachelor’s degree traditionally represents a minimum of four years of undergraduate study with a core education of cultural and communication proficiency, a suitable depth of coursework in the major area, plus a breadth of general educational experience. This tradition is incorporated into the UWS Bachelor Degree in Human Biology. Students primarily obtain the general education, life and physical sciences, and elective credits prior to matriculation into the UWS Doctor of Chiropractic program. Admittance to the first professional degree program (DC) does not guarantee that the student has met the general education, life and physical sciences, and elective requirements for the bachelor’s degree. The Human Biology major requirements are obtained while enrolled in the UWS Doctor of Chiropractic program. All credit hours listed below are quarter credits. For conversion, 1.5 quarter credits equal 1 semester credit.

The bachelor’s degree requires a total of at least 180 quarter credits distributed in the following areas:

Courses that satisfy life and physical sciences coursework requirement include, but are not limited to biology, physics, chemistry, exercise physiology, anatomy, and physiology. Courses that satisfy general education coursework requirement include, but are not limited to humanities, social studies/social sciences, mathematics, writing, and speech. 

Only courses for which a grade of C- or above, or a grade of P, is recorded on the student’s transcript can be applied toward the requirements of the Bachelor of Science program.

Admissions Requirements

Students who meet the admission requirements for the DC also meet the admission requirements for the BS program. Admittance to the DC degree program does not guarantee conferral of the Bachelor of Science degree. Current UWS DC students may declare their intent to earn the Bachelor of Science in Human Biology degree at any time by completing the intent form.

Requirements for DC Alumni

The BS in Human Biology may also be an option for DC alumni. UWS chiropractic alumni wishing to earn the Bachelor of Science in Human Biology degree need to complete an application. Alumni may need to submit transcripts. The registrar’s office and the dean’s office are responsible for determining whether a student’s coursework meets the criteria established by the university. Degree applications submitted by alumni will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Graduates who have not completed the evidence-informed practice course sequence will be required to complete the series to meet the learning outcomes of the program. These additional courses are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis and can be completed from a distance. Students can enroll in fall, winter, spring or summer based on course availability.

Transfer Credit and Course Association

In accordance with Policy 2007 Transfer Credit students in the UWS bachelor’s degree completion program must earn 25% of the program credits at UWS. The Human Biology degree is comprised of courses in the Doctor of Chiropractic program. Once completed, the major courses are associated to the Human Biology degree enrollment.

Program Learning Outcomes - BS-HB

Students completing the BS in Human Biology will be able to:

1. Describe the biomolecular and biochemical basis of life at the cellular level.
2. Differentiate normal human physiology and morphology from disease processes.
3. Critically appraise health-related scientific literature.