Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology Major (B.S.)

Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology Information Sheet

What kind of educational preparation does the BMCB program provide?

The BMCB provides students with conceptual competence, analytical and laboratory skills to understand life at the molecular and cellular level, through advanced coursework and laboratories in diverse research areas of modern biology.

The BMCB degree will prepare students for immediate employment as research associates, for entry into graduate or professional programs in medicine, dentistry or other allied health professionals, as well as other career tracks.

What types of jobs or careers do most BMCB majors go into?

About one-third of our majors are interested in research-oriented career track, and many got into top graduate programs in research institutions such as Chicago, Dartmouth, Duke, U Mass Medical School, U Maryland, U Wisconsin-Madison etc. in recent years.

About one-third are interested in health professional career, and attend professional health programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant, etc. About one-third of our majors join the workforce right away and work as research associates in the R&D sector of biotech or pharmaceutical companies, or biomedical research institutions. Some students work in pharmaceutical sales or in science-related non-profits, to give just a few examples.

What types of career development advice do most BMCB majors go into?

Our students receive career advice through a variety of channels. Each BMCB major has an academic advisor, who oversees their academic progress and points to appropriate resources on campus. For students who are interested in health professions, the college has a full-time pre-professional health advisor who provides detailed suggestions and supports our students’ application to health professional schools. Some BMCB faculty members have extensive experience in major medical schools and help prepare students in advising.

For students who want to join the work force right after graduation, the college has an endowed St. Martin Career Exploration Office who organizes career fairs, campus interviews, internship opportunities. The career center also provides resume review sessions, LinkedIn workshops and practice interviews. For students who feel passionate about research, faculty members BMCB, Genetics, Biomedical Sciences and Chemistry provide a plethora of research opportunities.

Do students have difficulty finding time to declare a minor or get involved in research, clubs, or other activities that they enjoy?

Not at all. While being rigorous, our curriculum is designed with great flexibility for students to explore and grow not only for a variety of career paths passions, but also as future citizens with social responsibility. In the 1-credit Freshman Orientation seminar (Professional Perspectives in BMCB), we provide additional resources to help students know campus resources, set academic goals and become engaged in campus life.

Is it possible to Study Abroad when you are a BMCB major?

Absolutely, but it requires planning! Our BMCB majors take a full year of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in their first three years. So, they often study abroad in the summer or J-term to stay on track. It is a good idea to discuss with your advisor early on, so that you reserve appropriate Discovery Courses for study abroad. For instance, you get the World Cultures Discovery automatically if you do a semester abroad, so hold off on taking one of those courses at UNH. Plus, Discovery courses taken abroad give you an opportunity to learn more about the history, literature, and culture of the country you are visiting.

Are courses taught by professors and do they hold office hours?

Almost all our courses are taught by professors. They have scheduled office hours every week but are usually also available for meetings by appointment. In addition, many courses have teaching assistants (graduate students) who also hold weekly office hours.

What is a typical class size?

Class sizes vary quite a lot - there is no typical size. Usually, introductory courses taken in freshman year tend to be large (~200 students); while major required or elective courses are small (20-40 students). For example, in ENGL 401 Freshman English, the class size is 24 but in BIOL 411 Introductory Biology: Molecular & Cellular, the lecture is about 200 students. However, large classes almost always have a lab or recitation each week which has only 25-30 students.

Are there opportunities for students to do research?

Yes, lots of opportunities. Faculty members in the BMCB program are highly accomplished, well-funded researchers with undergraduate researchers in their group all the time. UNH has a long-standing tradition in undergraduate research and has a large Undergraduate Research Conference every spring semester where students present their work and mingle with other researchers. In addition, the endowed Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research sponsors a variety a research programs (REAP, UROP, SURF, IROP) to financially support undergraduate research activities.

Can students get credit for doing research?

Yes. Students can enroll in BMCB 795, BMCB 799, INCO 590, or INCO 790 to earn credit for the research they are conducting with a faculty member.

Can first year students do research?

Yes, some BMCB freshmen carry out research with a faculty member. However, we usually advise students to focus on exceling in coursework, engaging in campus life and finding research areas they feel passionate about in their freshman year. Students in the honors program can consider the Research Experience and Apprentice Program (REAP) in freshman summer.

Can students get paid for the time that they spend doing research?

Yes, but not if you are taking research for credit. There are several ways to get paid. First, a faculty member may have funding to pay you from grant funds. Second, if you have work-study as financial aid, a faculty member may have funds to pay the matching portion of your aid. Third, the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research at UNH administers several competitive research programs (REAP, UROP, SURF, IROP) that students can apply for once they’ve identified a faculty mentor.

What are some good clubs to get involved in if you want to meet people?

There is a club for almost anything you can think of. Anything that interests you can help you meet new people on campus. There are several clubs relating to science and biology that are popular among COLSA students such as: Women in Science, Lab Science Society, American Red Cross, and the UNH chapter of American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

As part of the University of New Hampshire’s Discovery Program requirements, all students must complete a Capstone experience. 

Capstone Experiences 

Closed Course Form

Capstone Approval Form

This accelerated five-year program leading to a combined bachelor and master's degree in biochemistry is designed for highly motivated and qualified students seeking additional training to further their career goals as a researcher in the life sciences.

Admission to the combined degree program is highly competitive. Students wishing to pursue this option must have a grade point average greater than 3.2 at the time of application. A thesis advisor must be identified during the junior year, and the approval of the advisor must be obtained. Prior to the first semester of the senior year, the student must formally apply to the department through the Graduate School and receive early admission. The requirement for the Graduate Record Examinations is waived for combined degree applicants.

Thirty credits of graduate level (800-999) course work (including dual credit courses) must be completed. Six to eight credits must be taken during the senior year, and are applied to both the B.S. and M.S. requirements. All other requirements for the M.S. degree must be followed.

Limited financial support for the M.S. component of this combined degree program may be available through University Financial Aid or from the student's project advisor.

Alpha Chi Sigma

Alpha Epsilon Delta - The Health Professional Honor Society

American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)

Phi Sigma - Biological Sciences Honor Society