Vertebrate Physiology Option
For students who are interested in exploring the mechanisms that support life processes in vertebrates. This option has a strong focus on the human body, and allows you to study function at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and systemic levels. You will explore the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, nervous, immune, and endocrine systems, and you will learn how each system maintains homeostasis, communicates, and adapts to stress and changing environmental conditions. This option incorporates opportunities to gain hands-on lab experiences, utilizing tools like EKG/ECG, ultrasound, blood pressure and metabolic carts, and human cadavers. Vertebrate physiology is fundamental to fields like medicine, veterinary science, and evolutionary biology, and therefore, it provides excellent preparation for students who wish to pursue careers in those fields.
Careers
The Vertebrate Physiology option is excellent preparation for a career as a(n)
- Physician
- Dentist
- Optometrist
- Physician Assistant
- Podiatrist
- Veterinarian
- Comparative Biologist
- Biomedical Researcher
- Physiologist
- Pharmacologist
- Endocrinologist
- Neurobiologist
- Animal Behaviorist
- Conservation Biologist
It is also a good route to prepare for attending graduate school or other professional schools.
Requirements
Entrance-to-major requirements, C-required courses, and graduation requirements for this option are listed on the "Biology major" page.