Undergraduate Major Requirements
The Department is a major contributor to the training of life-sciences undergraduate
and graduate students at the University of Oregon who desire careers in academic research,
medicine and allied health.
At the undergraduate level, future researchers, teachers, physicians, physical therapists
and other health care providers receive comprehensive, multidisciplinary training in the
physical, biological, and chemical sciences that prepares them well for entrance into most
professional health care-related programs.
In addition to requiring completion of the core science courses, students are challenged to
question critically, think logically, and communicate clearly. Human Physiology students also
examine the health sciences from a perspective that explores the functional and structural
mechanisms underlying human performance across the life span, ranging from simple motor
skills to the more complex environment of whole-body exercise. In short, the ever-expanding
role of "exercise as medicine" is a critical component of the curriculum.
Careers
A large percentage of HPHY graduates pursue careers in allied health professions. These include (and are not limited to): medicine, physical and occupational therapy, homeopathy, osteopathy, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, physicians assistant, podiatry, nursing, EMT, athletic training, and chiropractic. Another option is graduate study in Human Physiology. There are many schools around the country providing such study opportunities. Health clubs and corporate fitness/risk management are an expanding market for employment.
Prerequisites
- General Biology I,II,III (BI 211, 212, 213 or 214) or Foundations of Biology I,II,III (BI 251, 252, 253)
- General Chemistry (CH 221, 222, 223)
- General Physics (PHYS 201, 202, 203)
- General Chemistry Laboratory (CH 227, 228, 229) or Physics Laboratory (PHYS 204, 205, 206)
- Mind and Brain (PSY 201)
- Calculus I (MATH 246, "Calculus for Biological Sciences" section recommended or approved alternative, e.g. Math 251)
Major Requirements
- Human Anatomy I,II (ANAT 311, 312) and Labs (ANAT 314, 315)
- Human Physiology I,II (HPHY 313, 314) and Labs (HPHY 316, 317)
- Motor Control (HPHY 333)
- Tissue Injury and Healing (HPHY 362)
- Physiology of Exercise (HPHY 371)
- Biomechanics (HPHY 381)
- Elective Courses (minimum of two, 400 level HPHY courses of at least 3 credits)
Prerequisite and major-requirement courses must be taken for letter grades. Students must maintain a 2.0 overall GPA and a 2.0 GPA in courses required for the major. For more information, contact undergraduate studies office.
Transfer Students
Transfer students should work to complete as many of the general education requirements and prerequisites to the HPHY major as possible before attending the U of O. The department would strongly encourage that a transfer student complete the human anatomy and human physiology courses at the University of Oregon. Contact the HPHY Academic Advisor for more information.
Health Science Pre-Majors
HPHY majors who are planning careers in medicine should include one year of organic
chemistry with laboratory and additional coursework in biochemistry and genetics. Other
health science programs may also have these or other prerequisite requirements. Please
check with your academic advisor for more information.
HPHY Majors planning on careers in health sciences should include laboratories in chemistry
and physics in their studies.
HPHY Majors who plan on careers in medicine, physical therapy, or other health science
fields should also take one course in Probability and Statistics.