The Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health (BBH) is a 120-credit program that offers a solid foundation to help you understand health and wellness by fully exploring the science behind health through course work in biobehavioral health, biology, epidemiology, physiology, nutrition, genetics, and statistics. To earn this degree, you must successfully complete:
- 97-99 credits in requirements for the major
- 31 credits prescribed courses
- 51-53 credits additional courses
- 15 credits supporting and related areas
- 45 credits of General Education courses (22 of these 45 credits are included in the requirements for the major)
Course List - Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Biobehavioral Health | BB H 101 (GHA) | Introduction to an interdisciplinary study of health, examining the interaction of biological processes and behavior on health. | 3 credits |
| Research Strategies for Studying Biobehavioral Health | BB H 310 | Surveys the various research methodologies used in biomedical research, including case, epidemiological, quasiexperimental and experimental approaches. Prerequisite: BB H 101, STAT 200. |
3 credits |
| Interdisciplinary Integration in Biobehavioral Health | BB H 311 | A review of literature relevant to the concepts and findings of different scientific domains as they apply to biobehavioral health. Prerequisite: BB H 101, BIOL 110, PSYCH 100. |
3 credits |
| Foundations and Principles of Health Promotion | BB H 316 | Basic exposure and skills development in theory and practice in health promotion. Prerequisite: BB H 101 |
3 credits |
| Research and Applications in Biobehavioral Health | BB H 411W | Research methods, multi-level analyses, and applications in biobehavioral health. Prerequisite: BB H 101, BB H 310, STAT 200 |
3 credits |
| Principles of Epidemiology | BB H 440 (US; IL) | Theory of epidemiology and significant case studies; potential applications to health care. Prerequisite: BB H 101 or BIOL 110 or H P A 310; STAT 200 or STAT 250 |
3 credits |
| Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity | BIOL 110 (GN) | A study of the evolution of the major groups of organisms including the fundamental concepts of biology. | 4 credits |
| Genetics and Evolution of the Human Species | BIOL 133 | Human heredity and evolution, individual and social implications. | 3 credits |
| Introductory Physiology | BIOL 141 (GN) | Explanation of the normal structure and function of the animal body, with special emphasis on human body systems. | 3 credits |
| Introductory Principles of Nutrition | NUTR 251 (GHA) | The nutrients: food sources and physiological functions as related to human growth and well-being throughout life; current nutrition issues. | 3 credits |
| Introductory Psychology | PSYCH 100 (GS) | Introduction to general psychology; principles of human behavior and their applications. | 3 credits |
| Elementary Statistics | STAT 200 (GQ) | Descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, probability, binomial and normal distributions, statistical inference, linear regression, and correlation. Prerequisite: Placement into MATH 021 or higher |
4 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory Chemistry | CHEM 101 (GN) | Selected principles and applications of chemistry. Prerequisite: MATH 021 |
3 credits |
| Elementary Microbiology | MICRB 106 (GN) | Importance of microorganisms in health and disease, agriculture, and industry; descriptive course for students not planning advanced study in microbiology. | 3 credits |
Note: Courses taken to fulfill this requirement may not be double counted toward the 12 credits of Basic Sciences.
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory Biological Anthropology | ANTH 021 (GN) | The role of human biology and evolution in culture, society, and behavior. | 3 credits |
| Humans as Primates | ANTH 022 (GN) | The biological basis of human behavior within the context of primate biology, behavior, and evolution. | 3 credits |
| Introduction to the Biology of Aging | BIOL 155 (GN) | Examination of human aging from a biological perspective. Population demographics, physiological and pathological changes, and healthy lifestyles are discussed. Students who have passed BIOL 409 may not schedule this course. | 3 credits |
| Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry I | CHEM 202 | Introduction to organic chemistry, with emphasis on the properties of organic compounds of biochemical importance. Prerequisite: CHEM 101 or CHEM 110 or CHEM 106 |
3 credits |
| Earth in the Future: Predicting Climate Change and Its Impacts Over the Next Century | EARTH 103 (GN) | Climate predictions for the coming century are utilized to examine potential impacts on regions, sectors of society, and natural ecosystems. | 3 credits |
| Energy and the Environment | EGEE 101 (GN) | Energy utilization and technological development, energy resources, conversion and consequences on the local and global environment, and future energy alternatives. | 3 credits |
| Energy Conservation for Environmental Protection | EGEE 102 (GN) | Exposure to energy efficiency in day-to-day life to save money and energy, and thereby protect the environment. | 3 credits |
| Elementary Microbiology | MICRB 106 (GN) | Importance of microorganisms in health and disease, agriculture, and industry; descriptive course for students not planning advanced study in microbiology. The combination of MICRB 106 GN and 107 GN must be taken to receive General Education credit in biology. | 3 credits |
| Elementary Microbiology Laboratory | MICRB 107 (GN) | Selected techniques used to observe, identify, and count bacteria; effects of chemical and physical agents on microorganisms. The combination of MICRB 106 GN and 107 GN must be taken to receive General Education credit in biology. Prerequisite or concurrent: MICRB 106 |
1 credit |
| Neurological Bases of Human Behavior | PSYCH 260 | An introduction to biopsychology, emphasizing the structure and function of the human brain. | 3 credits |
| Abnormal Psychology | PSYCH 470 | Causes, dynamics, symptoms, and treatment of neuroses, psychoses, personality disorders, and other psychological disorders of adulthood. Prerequisite: PSYCH 100; PSYCH 238, PSYCH 243 or PSYCH 27 |
3 credits |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| BB H courses chosen from predetermined list in consultation with program. | 15 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaf Culture | CSD 269 (GS) | Explores the economic, social, psychological, and political aspects of the deaf culture and its interaction with the majority hearing culture. | 3 credits |
| Consumer Choices in Health Care | H P A 057 | Introduction to consumers' role in health-care decisions, including health benefits, physician and hospital choice, and end-of-life choices. | 3 credits |
| Introduction to Health Services Organization | H P A 101 | Examination of the social, political, historic, and scientific factors in the development and organization of health services. | 3 credits |
| Health Care and Medical Needs | H P A 310 | Health care from an individual, family, and community standpoint illustrated with specific diseases and health problems. Prerequisite: BB H 101, BI SC 004 or BIOL 141 |
3 credits |
| Infant and Child Development | HD FS 229 (GS) | Theory, research, and methods of social/behavioral/biological sciences related to developmental processes and intervention during infancy and childhood. | 3 credits |
| Adolescent Development | HD FS 239 (GS) | Social, behavioral, and biological development and intervention throughout adolescence. | 3 credits |
| Adult Development and Aging | HD FS 249 (GS) | Physiological, psychological, and social development and intervention from young adulthood through old age. | 3 credits |
| Human Development and Family Studies Interventions | HD FS 311 | Survey of individual and family formal and informal intervention efforts; historical and current perspectives and approaches. Prerequisite: HD FS 129 |
3 credits |
| Family Development | HD FS 315Y | Family functions over the life course; family from a multidisciplinary perspective, emphasizing adaptation and change. Prerequisite: HD FS 129; 3 credits of social behavioral or human biological sciences |
3 credits |
| Family Relationships | HD FS 418 | Dynamics of family interaction; effects of parenthood, sibling and intergeneration relationships on family solidarity. Prerequisite: HD FS 312W; HD FS 315 or HD FS 315W |
3 credits |
|
Infant Development |
HD FS 428 | Conceptual analysis, assessment, and empirical investigation of normal and deviant development, prenatal through first two years of life. Prerequisite: HD FS 229 or PSYCH 212; HD FS 312W |
3 credits |
| Advanced Child Development | HD FS 429 | Processes of development during childhood from birth to adolescence. Emphasis upon theory, method, and empirical research. Prerequisite: HD FS 229 or PSYCH 212; HD FS 312W |
3 credits |
| Developmental Transition to Adulthood | HD FS 433 | Conceptual analysis and empirical investigation of interrelationships between developmental processes during the period of pubertal growth. Prerequisite: HD FS 239; HD FS 312W |
3 credits |
| Development Throughout Adulthood | HD FS 445 | Processes of development and change of behavior from early adulthood through old age, emphasizing theory, method, and empirical research. Prerequisite: HD FS 249 or PSYCH 100; HD FS 312W or PSYCH 301W; PSYCH 200, STAT 200 or 3 credits of statistics; 6 credits in HD FS, PSYCH or SOC. |
3 credits |
| Introduction to Developmental Psychology | PSYCH 212 | Developmental principles; physical growth; linguistic, intellectual, emotional, and social development from infancy to maturity. Prerequisite: PSYCH 100 |
3 credits |
| Introduction to Well-being and Positive Psychology | PSYCH 243 | Applying psychological knowledge to develop and maintain effective personal adjustment and well-being and positive social relations. Prerequisite: PSYCH 100 |
3 credits |
| Health Psychology | PSYCH 441 | Overview of the field with an emphasis on how psychological research contributes to an understanding of health and behavior. Prerequisite: PSYCH 100; 6 additional credits of PSYCH |
3 credits |
| Leisure and Human Behavior | RPTM 120 | Leisure from historical and contemporary perspectives, including forces shaping leisure behavior, and relationships among leisure, the environment, and social institutions. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies | HD FS 129 (GS) | Introduction to psychosocial and family development at all stages of the individual and family life cycle. Students may take only one course for General Education credit from SOC 030 or HD FS 129. | 3 credits |
| Infant and Child Development | HD FS 229 (GS) | Theory, research, and methods of social/behavioral/biological sciences related to developmental processes and intervention during infancy and childhood. | 3 credits |
| Adolescent Development | HD FS 239 (GS) | Social, behavioral, and biological development and intervention throughout adolescence. | 3 credits |
| Adult Development and Aging | HD FS 249 (GS) | Physiological, psychological, and social development and intervention from young adulthood through old age. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Values and Ethics in Biobehavioral Health Research and Practice | BB H 301W | Examines bases for choices among values in personal and professional relations in human development processes and supporting services. Prerequisite: BB H 101 |
3 credits |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| 400-level health promotion from approved list, in consultation with adviser. | 3 credits |
| University-wide offerings from approved list, in consultation with adviser. | 12 credits |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Arts – GA | 6 credits |
| Humanities – GH | 6 credits |
| Health and Wellness – GHW | 3 credits |
| Natural Sciences – GN | 9 credits |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences – GS | 6 credits |
| Writing and Speaking – GWS* | 9 credits |
| Quantification – GQ* | 6 credits |
| Integrative Studies | (6 credits)*** |
*A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
**12 credits are included in the requirements for the major.
***This requirement only applies to students starting in summer 2018 or later. Learn more about the Integrative Studies options and consult your academic adviser when choosing courses to fulfill these requirements.
Course Availability
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