Capstone Experience Overview
As part of the University of New Hampshire’s Discovery Program requirements, all students must complete a Capstone experience.
The Capstone experience is typically completed by senior students within the major, however students who have completed 90 credits at the end of their junior year may complete their Capstone the summer prior to their senior year. The Capstone may be met with an approved experience. It is not necessarily a course.
Visit the Discovery Program Capstone page
Capstone Courses
Courses designated as fulfilling Capstone requirements can be found in the Curriculum & Requirements section of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Science Program of Study pages and in UNH's Academic Catalog.
Capstone Experiences for Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Science Programs of Study
The BMCB Capstone Approval Subcommittee meets three times each year: 2nd week of fall semester, penultimate week of fall semester, penultimate week of spring semester. All BCMB majors must submit the Capstone Approval form, prior to the Subcommittee meeting, to Dr. Sarah Walker in Rudman Rm 185 to document and obtain approval for their proposed Capstone experience.
- Research projects and presentations in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biology or related field, including IROP or SURF, INCO 790, 795 Investigations, 799 Senior Thesis
- 790 Undergrad Teaching Experience after verbal pre-approval of your advisor
- (≥ 4 credits - typically 2 semesters; must include class/lab presentations)
- Internship, community service or service learning activity in areas such as medicine, microbiology, biotechnology, medical laboratory science, etc.*
- Participation in the McNair Program.
*Requires a written agreement between student, UNH advisor & on-site supervisor. (NOTE that internships at medical facilities often require a formal contract with UNH that includes certification of vaccinations, drug testing, etc. and take 3-4 months of advance preparation.)
Students must complete a BMS Major Non-credit Capstone Experience Approval form for any non-credit Capstone experience that includes a typed description of the proposed activity and how the experience meets capstone criteria. Non-credit/non-course capstone experiences are at the discretion of the advisor, and should meet the rigor and standards of a course and must meet the intent of the capstone experience.”
The completed form should be submitted to the student’s advisor for prior approval before beginning the experience. At the end of the experience, the on-site supervisor must sign the form, which is then presented to the student’s advisor for final approval.
- Research projects in Microbiology, or other biomedical science fields. Projects outside the biomedical sciences (i.e., with course prefixes other than BMS) need prior approval by the faculty to be accepted as meeting this requirment.
- Internship, community service or service learning activity in areas such as medicine, microbiology, biotechnology, medical laboratory science, etc.*
- Participation in the McNair Program.
*Requires a written agreement between student, UNH advisor & on-site supervisor. (NOTE that internships at medical facilities often require a formal contract with UNH that includes certification of vaccinations, drug testing, etc. and take 3-4 months of advance preparation.)
Students must complete a BMS Major Non-credit Capstone Experience Approval form for any non-credit Capstone experience that includes a typed description of the proposed activity and how the experience meets capstone criteria. Non-credit/non-course capstone experiences are at the discretion of the advisor, and should meet the rigor and standards of a course and must meet the intent of the capstone experience.”
The completed form should be submitted to the student’s advisor for prior approval before beginning the experience. At the end of the experience, the on-site supervisor must sign the form, which is then presented to the student’s advisor for final approval.
- Research projects and presentations in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biology or related field, including IROP or SURF, INCO 790, BMS 795, BMS 799
- BMS 790 Undergrad Teaching Experience after verbal pre-approval of your advisor
- (≥ 4 credits - typically 2 semesters; must include class/lab presentations)
- Internship, community service or service learning activity in areas such as medicine, microbiology, biotechnology, medical laboratory science, etc.*
- Participation in the McNair Program.
*Requires a written agreement between student, UNH advisor & on-site supervisor. (NOTE that internships at medical facilities often require a formal contract with UNH that includes certification of vaccinations, drug testing, etc. and take 3-4 months of advance preparation.)
Students must complete a BMS Major Non-credit Capstone Experience Approval form for any non-credit Capstone experience that includes a typed description of the proposed activity and how the experience meets capstone criteria. Non-credit/non-course capstone experiences are at the discretion of the advisor, and should meet the rigor and standards of a course and must meet the intent of the capstone experience.”
The completed form should be submitted to the student’s advisor for prior approval before beginning the experience. At the end of the experience, the on-site supervisor must sign the form, which is then presented to the student’s advisor for final approval.
- research projects and presentations in Genetics, Biochemistry, Biology or related field, including IROP or SURF, INCO 790, 795 Investigations, 799 Senior Thesis, Undergraduate Research Conference presentation
- 790 Undergrad Teaching Experience (4 credits; must include a class presentation)
- internship, community service or service learning activity (50 hours minimum) in areas such as medical or veterinary medicine, genetic counseling, psychology, etc.*
- genetics course with Capstone attributes: GEN 704, GEN 705, GEN 715, GEN 717
- participation in the McNair Program.
*Requires a written agreement between student, UNH supervisor & on-site supervisor. (NOTE that internships at medical facilities often require a formal contract with UNH that includes certification of vaccinations, drug testing, etc. and may take 1-2 months of advance preparation.)
Students must fill out the Capstone Approval form and deliver to David Plachetzki at least one week prior to the subcommittee's next scheduled meeting.
Capstone Subcommittee of the Genetics Curriculum Group will meet once or twice each semester to approve student capstone experiences. Meetings are held: 2nd week of fall semester, penultimate week of fall semester, and penultimate week of spring semester
