Promoting health and well-being in the 21st century requires depth of expertise in the life sciences as well as breadth of knowledge in the social sciences and humanities. Brown's concentration in Health & Human Biology (HHB) is designed to offer students the chance to examine human health issues from a multidisciplinary perspective. HHB provides students with foundations in biology, chemistry, quantitative methods, genetics, structure & function and organismal biology while a choice of two advanced electives ensures depth of study in an area of interest.  Theme-based coursework outside of the biological sciences adds breadth of understanding in one of the following four areas:

Mind, Brain, Behavior encompasses the study of causes and consequences of brain and behavioral health wellness through the lens of myriad fields including contemplative studies, education, cognitive science and more.  Examples of specific interests relevant to this theme  include young adult development, traumatic brain injury, addiction, nervous system disorders, mental health, mindfulness, cognitive wellness, and more. Departments offering relevant coursework include but are not limited to CLPS, Education, Contemplative Studies, Public Health, and Sociology.  Many students who pursue capstones and research do so with faculty from within the Division of Biology and Medicine as well as The Carney Institute for Brain Science, but experiences with non-BioMed faculty are common, as well. 

Planetary Health is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on the human health impacts of human-caused disruptions of Earth's natural systems. Students studying planetary health might focus on the health and wellness implications of climate change, global trade/travel and species invasions, land-use change,  the loss of biological diversity and ecosystem function. Because environmental factors that influence health and well-being are often intertwined with sociocultural factors, many students simultaneously explore the social dimensions of environmental health from sustainable and equitable development perspectives. Biology, Public Health, and the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES)  are examples of departments  whose faculty offer relevant coursework and support undergraduate research. 

Global Health is a collaborative and transnational approach to improving health and achieving health equity for all people worldwide. Global Health draws on many disciplines within the health sciences, sociology, anthropology, international relations, and economics. Students who pursue this theme might study prevention and control of global pandemics,  transnational differences in vaccine development and delivery, and the economic factors that impact the diagnosis, prevention, surveillance and treatment of communicable and non-communicable disease. The School of Public Health, BioMed, Brown's Global Health Initiative, and the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) are examples of the affiliations of faculty who support coursework and research relevant to this theme.

The Social Determinants of Health encompasses both qualitative and quantitative examination of social factors and their influence on health outcomes. These influences can be exerted at levels ranging from individual and family circumstances to societal factors such as economic policies, social norms, and political systems. The history of medicine, health communication, and alternative approaches to healing are examples of a few additional  areas of study applicable to this theme.

The flexibility of the HHB concentration allows students with diverse interests to achieve their academic goals at Brown and prepare for subsequent career choices. Nearly half of HHB graduates pursue advanced degrees in health-related fields. Approximately 20% go on to Master's and PhD programs in the life sciences. HHB students who identify as pre-med, or who intend to pursue graduate school, have the opportunity to further engage in STEM coursework and independent research in the senior year. Students aiming to pursue graduate school in the social sciences or humanities, or who intend to work in non-academic sectors, have the freedom to add more breadth to their thematic studies or pursue other interests such as a foreign language and sometimes a second concentration.