A concentration chosen in the Open Curriculum
Brown says undergraduates sample courses before choosing one of 80-plus concentrations, and there is no required core. The pages read describe no separate application to Health & Human Biology.
Undergraduate · Brown University
Brown Health and Human Biology: biology with a human-health lens
Brown has no set core, and most undergraduates sample subjects before choosing one of 80-plus concentrations. Health and Human Biology is an interdisciplinary concentration the Bulletin describes as a rigorous foundation in the biological sciences with coursework in humanities and social sciences on human health and disease. This guide makes no claim of a separate application to the concentration.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Brown says about Brown Health & Human Biology
Taken from the Brown Bulletin entry for the Health & Human Biology concentration and Brown's Open Curriculum, Standardized Tests and international Admission Criteria pages, read on 1 November 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Brown's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Biology plus humanities and social science
Themed around Human Health and Disease.
Four components
Background courses, a biology core, theme courses and a senior capstone.
14 credits
The Bulletin lists a standard programme.
The SAT or ACT is required
Brown requires scores for first-year applicants and sets no minimum score; international applicants should plan to sit A levels or the IB and submit predicted or actual scores.
Official sources
- Brown University: Open Curriculumbrown.edu
- Brown Bulletin: Health & Human Biology concentrationbulletin.brown.edu
- Brown Undergraduate Admission: Standardized Testsadmission.brown.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on the Brown Bulletin entry for the Health & Human Biology concentration and Brown's Open Curriculum, Standardized Tests and international Admission Criteria pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Brown's department website, the course descriptions, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The concentration
What the Bulletin says the concentration is
The Bulletin says the concentration provides a rigorous foundation in the biological sciences with substantive coursework in the humanities and social sciences within a subfield of human health and disease. It has background courses in chemistry, mathematics, methods and basic biology, a biology core with a flexible menu of intermediate and advanced courses including Genetics, theme courses and a senior capstone. The standard programme is 14 credits. This guide does not list individual courses.
Is it the right concentration?
Health and Human Biology beside Public Health and Computational Biology
Brown lists these concentrations separately, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
This concentration fits if
you want biology with the human and social context of health.
Public Health fits if
you want health at population scale. Avandy's Brown Public Health guide covers it.
Computational Biology fits if
you want computation applied to biology. Avandy's Brown Computational Biology guide covers it.
Admission and testing
A Brown application, an SAT or ACT and A levels or the IB
Brown has returned to requiring SAT or ACT scores for first-year applicants and says there are no minimum scores. International applicants should plan to sit national and international examinations such as the GCE A-levels and the IB and submit predicted or actual scores, with actual scores expected before matriculation. The concentration is not a separate application. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Brown's.
Do you want biology and the social side of health together?
The concentration is built that way.
Are chemistry and mathematics acceptable backgrounds?
They are in the background courses.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with your A levels or IB?
Brown requires one of them for first-year applicants.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Brown's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Brown's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 1 November 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Brown has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Brown for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the Health & Human Biology entry in the Brown Bulletin and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Brown University or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Brown University. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Brown Health & Human Biology?
The pages read describe admission to Brown. Students develop a personalised course of study and choose a concentration in the Open Curriculum.
Is Genetics part of it?
The Bulletin calls Genetics a required cornerstone portion of the biology core.
How many credits?
The Bulletin lists 14.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Brown says it has returned to requiring SAT or ACT scores for first-year applicants, with no minimum score.
Do A levels and the IB count?
Brown tells international applicants to plan to sit examinations such as the GCE A-levels and the IB and submit predicted or actual scores.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Brown's wording with no entry-year label. Check Brown's pages again when Brown publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Brown Health & Human Biology
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their biology, chemistry and social-science subjects, their interest in health and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.