11.8 Human Biosciences

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www.mun.ca/humanbiosciences

How do food, drugs and the environment impact your health? That is the central question of the Human Biosciences program. Introductory courses provide the necessary background in an interdisciplinary manner with each course blending concepts from biochemistry, nutrition, pharmacology, and toxicology. Students may tailor their program to their own interests through diverse electives leading to one of our pre-defined sub-specialties (Human Biosciences [Biochemistry], Human Biosciences [Nutrition], Human Biosciences [Health and Disease], Human Biosciences [Gene Regulation]), or a student-defined general Human Biosciences degree. Honours degree options involve completion of a research project that may focus on either laboratory-based research, a literature-based systematic/scoping review, education/outreach, or entrepreneurship/business projects, depending on student interests and career goals.

The following undergraduate programs are available and are administered by the Department of Biochemistry:

Students who wish to enroll in any of these programs should plan their program well in advance so that they will have taken the appropriate prerequisites. Students are advised to consult with the Department Academic Advisor at the earliest opportunity.

For the general and honours degrees in the programs above, students should refer to the Faculty of Science Degree Regulations for the General and Honours degrees of Bachelor of Science. For a Minor in Human Biosciences, students should refer to Degree Regulations, Minor Programs in the Faculty of Science. All students are strongly advised to review the Faculty of Science Graduation Requirements and in particular, the requirements for Academic Standing.

Human Biosciences course descriptions are found at the end of the Faculty of Science section under Course Descriptions, Human Biosciences.

Students are encouraged to choose a minor.

11.8.1 Admission to Programs in Human Biosciences

Students seeking admission to any Human Biosciences program should apply no later than May 31 to ensure the application is processed before registration opens for the next academic year. Failure to apply before May 31 may result in the inability to register for required courses. Eligibility for scholarships and awards in Human Biosciences may also be affected.

11.8.1.1 Admission to the Major in Human Biosciences

Entry to the Human Biosciences Major program is based on academic standing.

To be considered for admission to the program students must have at least 24 credit hours in courses and have successfully completed the following courses (or their equivalents) with a minimum overall average of 60%. In addition, students must be eligible for entry to Chemistry 2400.
1. Six credit hours in Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) courses, including at least 3 credit hours in English courses.
2. Chemistry 1050 and 1051 (or 1200 and 1001).
3. Mathematics 1006 (or equivalent).
4. Biology 1001.
5. Biology 1002 or Human Biosciences 1001 (or Biochemistry 1600).

Note: Students who have appropriate high school equivalent courses may be admitted directly into the Human Biosciences major.

11.8.1.2 Admission to the Honours Degree in Human Biosciences

Students normally should apply for an Honours program during their third year of studies. To be eligible for admission, students must be in Honours standing as per Academic Standing in the Degree Regulations for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science.

11.8.2 Regulations for Programs in Human Biosciences

11.8.2.1 Major in Human Biosciences

Required courses to complete the major:
1. Six credit hours in Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) courses, including at least 3 credit hours in English courses.
2. Biology 1001; Biology 1002 or Human Biosciences 1001 (or Biochemistry 1600); Mathematics 1006 (or equivalent), Statistics 2550 (or equivalent); Chemistry 1050, 1051 (or Chemistry 1200 and 1001).
3. Human Biosciences 2001 (or the former Biochemistry 2101 or Biochemistry 2201), 2002 (or Biochemistry 2600), 2003 (or Biochemistry 3206 or 3106), 2004 (or Biochemistry 2100 or 2200), 2901 (or Biochemistry 2901), 3001, 3002, 3003, 3004, 3005, 3906 (or Biochemistry 3906), 3907 (or Biochemistry 3907).
4. Human Biosciences 4800.
5. At least six further credit hours from Human Biosciences courses at the 4000-level.
6. Medicine 310A/B.
7. Chemistry 2400.
8. A sufficient number of elective courses to bring the total Science courses up to at least 78 credit hours and the degree total up to 120 credit hours.

11.8.2.2 Honours Degree in Human Biosciences

Required courses:
1. Six credit hours in Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) courses, including at least 3 credit hours in English courses.
2. Biology 1001; Biology 1002 or Human Biosciences 1001 (or Biochemistry 1600); Mathematics 1006 (or equivalent), Statistics 2550 (or equivalent); Chemistry 1050, 1051 (or Chemistry 1200 and 1001).
3. Human Biosciences 2001 (or the former Biochemistry 2101 or Biochemistry 2201), 2002 (or Biochemistry 2600), 2003 (or Biochemistry 3206 or 3106), 2004 (or Biochemistry 2100 or 2200), 2901 (or Biochemistry 2901), 3001, 3002, 3003, 3004, 3005, 3906 (or Biochemistry 3906), 3907 (or Biochemistry 3907), 499A/B.
4. Human Biosciences 4800.
5. At least 15 credit hours from Human Biosciences courses at the 3000 or 4000-level, at least 9 credit hours of which are from the 4000-level.
6. Medicine 310A/B.
7. Chemistry 2400.
8. A sufficient number of elective courses to bring the total for the degree up to 120 credit hours.

11.8.3 Human Biosciences Concentrations

While meeting the requirements for a program in Human Biosciences, students may choose to select courses in one of the following formal concentrations, which, if completed, will be noted on the student’s transcript.

Particular attention should be paid to necessary prerequisites when scheduling courses. Students should consult with the Academic Advisor regarding the availability of courses applicable to their chosen concentration. Students completing a Minor in Human Biosciences will not be able to complete the requirements to achieve a concentration.

11.8.3.1 Biochemistry

Students selecting the Biochemistry concentration are required to complete 15 credit hours from the following courses:

Human Biosciences 3101, 3105, 4002, 4101, 4106, 4200, 4201, 4232, Chemistry 2100, Chemistry 2401

11.8.3.2 Health and Disease

Students selecting the Health and Disease concentration are required to complete 15 credit hours from the following courses:

Human Biosciences 3101, 3600, 4230, 4231, 4232, 4301, 4240, Biology 3050, Biology 3052, Chemistry 4701

11.8.3.3 Gene Regulation

Students selecting the Molecular Biology concentration are required to complete 15 credit hours from the following courses:

Human Biosciences 3207, 4101, 4104, 4231, 4240, Biology 2250, 3951, 4241, 4606

11.8.3.4 Nutrition

Students selecting the Nutrition concentration are required to complete 15 credit hours from the following courses:

Human Biosciences 3402, 3600, 4106, 4230, 4240, 4242, 4300, 4301, Biology 3052

11.8.4 Minor in Human Biosciences

Students who wish to take a minor in Human Biosciences will successfully complete:

Human Biosciences 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.
Twelve credit hours in Human Biosciences courses at 3000 or 4000-level.
Note: Course prerequisites stipulated in the course descriptions shall apply to a minor in Human Biosciences.

The information on this site has been extracted from the Official 2024-2025 University Calendar. While every reasonable effort has been made to duplicate the information contained in the official University Calendar, if there are differences, the official Memorial University of Newfoundland Calendar will be considered the final and accurate authority.