by our College Data Analytics TeamHuman Biology is a complex, multidisciplinary and interesting major. Students use the social sciences, humanities, and biology, to gain a holistic view of humanity. Some of the subjects studied are normal physiology and disease, as well as society and culture. Classes are innovative and encourage students to think creatively and develop their own options.
Some of the classes you can expect to take as a Human Biology Major include: biology, chemistry, physics, adolescent development, sexual development, family relationships, gerontology, death and dying, genetics, and disease.
Some colleges allow students the ability to choose a concentration. The concentration of Dispute Resolution will prepare students to gain negotiation, mediation, and arbitration skills to resolve issues.
Studying Human Biology explores Human Biology. Read on to learn the essential details every human biology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering human biology programs.
Nationwide, human biology is a popular field of study, with 2,206 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Human Biology Schools ranking analyzes these 37 schools to determine the best overall colleges for human biology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of human biology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Human Biology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations human biology graduates commonly enter.
This interdisciplinary major combines classes from a variety of subjects. Students can expect to spend time in the lab performing experiments and submitting lab reports, as well as time in the library writing in-depth research papers. This major may also involve time in the field, interacting and interviewing people. Communication skills are important as you will need to clearly explain complex information.
Be ready to collaborate with others on group projects and presentations. Listen to the opinions and experiences of others to gain a broader understanding of human life.
This major also requires math and science skills. Do not get discouraged if you need multiple tries to get a problem or a formula correct. Perseverance will lead you to success.
The skill set emphasized by a human biology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a human biology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several human biology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 86 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,071 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 41 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 8 |
People currently working in careers related to human biology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.3% |
| Master’s degree | 18.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in human biology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Human Biology is a broad major that prepares graduates for a wide range of employment possibilities. Those interested in medicine may choose to work for a medical or pharmaceutical company as research specialists, lab technicians, marketers or salespersons. Graduates also find work in information technology, social work, public health, education or scientific writing. Some choose to continue their education to become nurses, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists or mental health counselors.
Studying human biology can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to human biology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to human biology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of human biology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,054 |
| 4 years | $57,920 |
| 5 years | $68,953 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for human biology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers human biology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,345 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
With 37 different human biology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased human biology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in human biology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Biology | 2,206 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 30,141 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 28,033 |
| Data Analytics | 12,891 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 10,355 |
| Data Science | 7,716 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,740 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,456 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 5,391 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,374 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,121 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
