Human physiology is the science of how the human body functions in health and disease.
A degree in human physiology provides excellent preparation for careers or graduate study in biomedical research and the health professions or related disciplines.
Students examine human physiological systems from the molecular and cellular levels to the human body as a whole. This area of study uses basic science to measure human responses to internal and external stimuli (such as changes in activity levels, varying environmental conditions, and disease processes), and applies this knowledge to the promotion of human health.
Degree programs in the Department of Health and Human Physiology are versatile and designed for students with widely varying academic objectives.
Faculty members place a high priority on teaching and research. Their areas of expertise include sensorimotor mechanisms, environmental stresses, movement control, thermoregulation, mechanical factors that regulate blood flow, blood flow in cardiovascular disease, aging, stem cells, and monitoring and tracking physical activity across lifespans and in relation to health outcomes. Many faculty collaborate with faculty members in the university's Carver College of Medicine and College of Public Health.
Students interested in this major need to meet the requirements for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Students majoring in human physiology (BS) may not earn a second major in health and human physiology (BA).
Also, students who major in human physiology may not earn the minor in human physiology or the minor in physical activity and nutrition science.
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Iowa graduates have a 95 percent job/grad school placement rate within six months of graduation. Our Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.
Human physiology majors often continue their studies in health professional programs to become physicians or surgeons, physical therapists, physician assistants, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, or similar professionals. Others pursue graduate degrees (MS and/or PhD) in the biomedical or physiological sciences to prepare for careers in research and/or college teaching.
In addition to more than 500 student organizations, Iowa students choose from more than 100 study abroad programs and multiple undergraduate research opportunities.
The University of Iowa provides a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students through the Iowa Scholarship Portal. Scholarships are available to first-year, transfer, and currently enrolled students. For additional details on scholarships for your program of study, check directly with the department or college.
The Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid are great resources for students seeking scholarships.
The curriculum includes courses in human anatomy, physiology, and physical activity along with foundational course work in the sciences: biology, mathematics, statistics, and chemistry. Elective courses provide in-depth study across a broad range of topics in human physiology, including those related to health and disease.
Students in this major also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core requirements.
View Human Physiology in the General Catalog for details on required course work for the major or minor, graduating with honors, and for information about the minor in human physiology or physical activity and nutrition science.