Undergraduate Program

Overview of the Major

• Physiology is the science of function in living organisms. The curriculum in integrative physiology integrates knowledge from such life-science disciplines as anatomy, biochemistry, mathematics, physics, physiology, and statistics to study how humans and other animals function at the level of genes, cells, tissues, organs, and systems. The program of study emphasizes both the role of physical activity in human health and function across the lifespan and the responses of different organisms to various forms of stress.


• The major in integrative physiology leads to a bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree.


• Students may seek honors in integrative physiology which results in the designation of cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude at graduation. The minimum requirements for honors are a 3.3 overall GPA, a B grade or better in IPHY 3700 (Scientific Writing) and in Critical Thinking (IPHY 4660 or 4680), a successful defense and a senior honors research project. See the Information Videos page for more details.


• There is an opportunity to study, live, and travel in a foreign country for a period ranging from a few weeks to an academic year. The University offers international education at several institutions of higher education in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Australia.


• The integrative physiology program provides students with knowledge, skills, and expertise required for advanced training in many areas such as physical therapy, medicine, osteopathic medicine, physician assistant, exercise management, and physical education. A degree in integrative physiology also qualifies an individual for other career possibilities in cardiac rehabilitation, sports medicine, chiropractic, athletic training, geriatrics, physical fitness programming (industrial and corporate), and further scientific training in graduate school.


• The IPHY Student Board is located in Clare 111. The Student Board promotes professional development in all aspects of integrative physiology through interactions among students, faculty, and professionals in the community.


• The IPHY major packet (revised August 1, 2011) is the essential reference for details of the major.


• The following image shows an overview of the Integrative Physiology major. Click here for a PDF version.

General Requirements

• Applicants who graduated from high school in 1988 or later are required to meet certain minimum academic preparation standards (MAPS). Applicants who are admitted to CU-Boulder with MAPS deficiencies are required to complete at least one MAPS course each term.


• The entrance requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences include (1 unit = 1 year of high school study or 1 semester of college course work):
• English - 4 units (including 2 in composition)


• Mathematics - 3 units


• Natural science - 3 units (including 2 in laboratory science with 1 in chemistry or physics)


• Social science - 3 units (including 1 in U.S. or world history and 1 of geography. U.S. history may comprise 1/2 year of world history and 1/2 year of geography.)


• Foreign language - 3 units (all must be in the same language and the last year must be level III.)

Major in Integrative Physiology

1. 120 semester hours minimum. 
   
   
2. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in all University of Colorado coursework.
   
   
3. A minimum of 45 upper division hours; at least 18 upper division hours of IPHY coursework C- or better, at least 12 upper division hours in the major taken at CU-Boulder. Upper division courses here are numbered 3000 or above.
   
   
4. 30 semester hours of IPHY coursework with grades of C- or better; 2.0 or better cumulative major GPA.
   
   
5. No more than 45 semester hours in any one department.
   
   
6. No requirement may be taken pass/fail.
   
   
7. 45 hours must be taken in residence at CU-Boulder.

For further information on general degree requirements, please consult your catalog or degree audit

1. Skill Acquisition:
   • Foreign language: May be satisfied by completion of third level language in high school, or three successive semesters in college.
     
     
   • Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematical Skills: MATH 1300-5, MATH 1310-5, or APPM 1350-4 will meet this requirement.
     
     
   • Written Communication: IPHY 1950-3 (Lower Division) and IPHY 3700-3 (Upper Division) may be used to meet this requirement. There are other approved writing classes, not in the major, which also fulfill this requirement. See the University Catalog for details.
   
   
2. Content Areas of Study:
   • Historical Context: 3 semester hours of coursework (lower or upper division).
     
     
   • Human Diversity: 3 semester hours of coursework (lower or upper division).
     
     
   • United States Context: 3 semester hours of coursework (lower or upper division).
     
     
   • Literature and the Arts: 6 semester hours of coursework. (At least 3 hours must be upper division unless either HUMN 1010-6 or HUMN 1020-6.)
     
     
   • Natural Science: 13 semester hours of coursework. Integrative Physiology majors are exempt from this requirement.
     
     
   • Contemporary Societies: 3 semester hours of coursework (lower or upper division).
     
     
   • Ideals and Values: 3 semester hours of coursework (lower or upper division).

III. Ancillary Requirements for the Major (C- or better required; 31-33 credit hours).

• Biology: MCDB 1150 and 2150 with labs MCDB 1151 and 2151; or EBIO 1210 and 1220 with labs EBIO 1230 and 1240 (8).
  
  
• Chemistry: CHEM 1113 and 1114 (formerly CHEM 1111) and CHEM 1133 and 1134 (formerly CHEM 1131) (10); or CHEM 1351 and 1371 (10).
  
  
• Physics: PHYS 2010 (5) and 2020 (5) (algebra-based); or PHYS 1110 (4) and 1120 (4) and 1140 (1) (calculus-based).
  
  
• Math: (Calculus) MATH 1300 (5) or MATH 1310 (5) or APPM 1350 (4).

IV. Major Requirements in Integrative Physiology (30 hours C- or better):

Total hours for the Major: Minimum 61-63 credit hours.

Specifically Required Courses (17 credit hours)

• IPHY 2800-4 Introduction to Statistics
  
  
• IPHY 3410-3 (lecture) and IPHY 3415-2 (lab) Human Anatomy (Prereqs: MCDB or EBIO biology sequence)
  
  
• IPHY 3470-3 (lecture) Human Physiology 1 (Prereqs: One year of general biology, one year of general chemistry, IPHY 3410 and IPHY 3415)


• IPHY 3480-3 (lecture) Human Physiology 2 and IPHY 3435-2 Human Physiology Lab (Prereq for IPHY 3480: IPHY 3470; prereq for IPHY 3435: IPHY 2800 and 3470)

Major Core Courses (12-14 credit hours)

Prerequisites: IPHY 2800 and 3470, in addition to the ones noted.
Students must choose 3 of the 6 courses. Two of the three chosen courses must be taken at CU-Boulder, or through a CU-sponsored study abroad program.

• IPHY 3060-4 Cell Physiology (Prereqs: IPHY 2800 and 3470)
  
  
• IPHY 4440-4 Endocrinology (Prereqs: IPHY 2800 and 3470)
  
  
• IPHY 4540-5 Biomechanics (Prereqs: IPHY 2800, IPHY 3470, Calculus I and Physics I)
  
  
• IPHY 4600-4 Immunology (Prereqs: IPHY 2800 and 3470)
  
  
• IPHY 4650-5 Exercise Physiology (Prereqs: IPHY 2800, 3470, 3480 and 3435)
  
  
• IPHY 4720-4 Neurophysiology (Prereqs: IPHY 2800, 3470)

Major Electives (1-14 credit hours)

• IPHY 1950-3 Introduction to Scientific Writing**
  
  
• IPHY 3700-3 Scientific Writing* -- (Prereqs: Junior Standing, IPHY 2800 and one 3000-4000 level IPHY course)
  
  
• IPHY 4200-3 Physiological Genetics and Genomics
  
  
• IPHY 4580-3 Sleep Physiology
  
  
• IPHY 4660-3 Critical Thinking in Integrative Physiology -- (Prereq varies depending on specific topic; minimum Junior standing required)
  
  
• IPHY 4680-3 Critical Thinking in Exercise Physiology -- (Prereq: IPHY 4650)
  
  
• IPHY 4860-1-3 Independent Study -- (Prereq: Junior standing, one 3000-4000-level IPHY course)
  
  
• IPHY 4870-3 Honors Thesis -- (Prereqs: IPHY 2800, 3700, or 1950; acceptance into Honors program)
  
  
• IPHY 4930-1-6 Internship -- (Prereqs: Junior or Senior standing, and two of the following six courses: IPHY 3060, 3600, 4440, 4540, 4650, 4720, 4750)
  
  
• See IPHY major packet or your course catalog for additional elective courses.
  

Seniors may also take 5000-level graduate courses as electives.

*This satisfies the Arts and Sciences upper division requirement for written communication.
**This satisfies the Arts and Sciences lower division requirement for written communication.

Suggested 4-Year Plans

Integrative Physiology (covering major requirements only)

Year 1:	Fall semester	Sem. Hrs.
	Biology with lab	4
	Calculus (MATH 1300 or MATH 1310 or APPM 1350) (or take in the Spring)	4-5
	Spring semester
	Biology with lab	4
	CHEM 1021: Introduction to Chemistry (or take in the Fall)	4
Year 2:	Fall semester
	CHEM 1113/1114: General Chemistry 1	5
	IPHY 2800: Introduction to Statistics	3
	Spring semester
	CHEM 1133/1134: General Chemistry 2	5
	IPHY 3410: Human Anatomy (Lecture)	3
	IPHY 3415: Human Anatomy (Lab)	2
Year 3:	Fall semester
	PHYS 2010: General Physics 1	5
	IPHY 3470: Human Physiology 1	3
	Spring semester
	PHYS 2020: General Physics 2	5
	IPHY 3480: Human Physiology 2	3
	IPHY 3435: Human Physiology Lab	2
Year 4:	Fall semester
	IPHY Major Core Course #1	4-5
	IPHY Major Core Course #2	4-5
	Spring semester
	IPHY Major Core Course #3	4-5

Integrative Physiology + Additional Chemistry (often required for pre-health programs)

Year 1:	Fall semester	Sem. Hrs.
	Biology with lab	4
	CHEM 1021: Introduction to Chemistry (Note: If CHEM 1021 is not needed, then all chemistry courses move up one semester.)	4
	Calculus (MATH 1300 or MATH 1310 or APPM 1350) (or take in the Spring)	4-5
	Spring semester
	Biology with lab	4
	CHEM 1113/1114: General Chemistry 1	5
Year 2:	Fall semester
	CHEM 1133/1134: General Chemistry 2	5
	IPHY 3410: Human Anatomy (Lecture)	3
	IPHY 3415: Human Anatomy (Lab)	2
	Spring semester
	CHEM 3311/3321: Organic Chemistry 1	5
	IPHY 2800: Introduction to Statistics	3
	IPHY 3470: Human Physiology 1	3
Year 3:	Fall semester
	CHEM 3331/3341: Organic Chemistry 2	5
	IPHY 3480: Human Physiology 2	3
	IPHY 3435: Human Physiology (Lab)	2
	Spring semester
	CHEM 4611: Survey of Biochemistry	3
	IPHY Major Core Course #1	4-5
Year 4:	Fall semester
	PHYS 2010: General Physics 1	5
	IPHY Major Core Course #2	4-5
	Spring semester
	PHYS 2020: General Physics 2	5
	IPHY Major Core Course #3	4-5

Research, volunteering, teaching, and independent study

The major offers several opportunities for more active participation than what is usually encountered in standard coursework. The student can experience settings relating to his or her career interests while developing advanced skills and responsibilities. Usually credit toward the major may be earned while participating in these activities, and some activities can be tailored to the specific needs of the student and/or mentor. See below for links to more information about:

• Participating in research in one of the department's laboratories.
• Performing volunteer work in a clinic or other setting relevant to the degree.
• Teaching in Integrative Physiology, in other departments on campus, or at the high school or middle school level.
• Independent study, involving research or other activities.

Information Videos

Dr. David Sherwood holds periodic information sessions with undergraduates explaining various advanced options available to IPHY majors. Some of these presentations can be viewed on the Undergraduate Information Videos page.

For More Information

For more information, contact:

Department of Integrative Physiology
University of Colorado at Boulder
Clare Small 114
Boulder, CO 80309-0354
phone: 303-492-7333