Biomedical Science Major: Medical Microbiology Option (B.S.)

The Biomedical Science: Medical Microbiology (BMS:MM) program explores the world of microorganisms and how they interact with both humans and animals.  This major provides you with excellent academic training and laboratory experiences in the areas of microbiology, infectious disease, and public health.  BMS:MM graduates are prepared for successful careers in biotechnology or public health, or entry into graduate school or health professional programs.

The BMS:MM program includes course work and laboratories in:

• infectious disease
• immunology
• epidemiology and community health
• molecular biology
• microbial ecology and evolution

Students in the BMS:MM program may participate in a variety of experiential learning activities including:

• independent research experiences in laboratories of UNH biomedical science faculty
• work at the NH Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory located on the UNH campus
• internships at biotechnology companies in the Greater Boston area
• internships at the NH Department of Public Health Laboratories

BMS:MM graduates have been successful in attaining careers as:

• research scientists/laboratory technicians
  • biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies
  • academic biomedical research programs
  • brewing industry
• primary and secondary school educators (requires additional coursework in education)
• state and federal government employees
  • public health laboratories
  • regulatory agencies (e.g., U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

BMS:MM graduates are prepared for post-baccalaureate education in:

• professional health programs
  • medical school
  • dental school
  • allied health programs (physician assistant, pharmacist, nursing, or pathologist’s assistant programs)
• graduate programs
  • biomedical science
  • public health
  • forensic science

SAMPLE Course Sequence for Medical Microbiology

Degree Requirements

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

Students in the Medical Microbiology (MM) option take seven Foundation courses, six Bioscience Core courses, four BMS:MM Core courses, and five BMS:MM Major Elective courses. One capstone experience, supervised and approved within the major, is required of all seniors. In addition, all other University academic requirements must be completed, including those for the Discovery Program and the University Writing Requirement.

A grade of C-minus or better is required in all Bioscience Core, BMS:MM Core, and Major Elective courses.

Foundation Courses

Bioscience Core Courses

¹

 CHEM 403 fulfills the Physical Science Discovery requirement

²

Students applying to health profession schools need a full year of Organic Chemistry, a full year of Introductory Biology, and a full year of English. CHEM 651/CHEM 653 and CHEM 652/CHEM 654 should be taken in place of CHEM 545/CHEM 546;  ENGL 502 or ENGL 503 is suggested in addition to ENGL 401.

³

MATH 424B fulfills the Quantitative Reasoning Discovery requirement.

⁴

PSYC 402 and SOC 402 are acceptable alternatives.

⁵

BIOL 411 fulfills the Biological Science Discovery requirement, Discovery Laboratory requirement, and the Discovery Inquiry requirement.

BMS-MM Core Courses

⁶

Required for first-year students only.

BMS-MM Major Elective Courses

A total of five unique major elective courses is required. At least one course must be taken in each of the following subject areas: Host-Microbe Interaction Electives, Molecular Biology Electives, and Community Electives.  Two additional courses are taken from any of the major elective subject areas.

Host-Microbe Interaction Electives

Molecular Biology Electives

⁷

Course may be used as either a Host-Microbe Interaction elective or Molecular Biology elective, but not both.

Community Electives

⁸

Enrolling in GEN 725 concurrently is encouraged but not required

Other Major Electives

BMS:MM Capstone

The capstone explores areas of interest based on the integration of prior learning.  The capstone requirement may be satisfied through a course, created work or product, or some form of experiential learning (e.g., honors thesis, mentored research project, or other special student activity).  Students may take more than one capstone course.  Capstone completion is never displayed on Degree Works; your advisor will certify capstone completion at the time of graduation. Students must have 90 credits or more when completing their capstone requirement.  See your advisor for questions about capstones.

Approved BMS:MM Capstone Courses

For a Capstone experience not listed above, such as an internship, submit a Capstone Experience Approval form prior to beginning the experience. 

Core Knowledge

• Students will demonstrate an understanding of core knowledge in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics & biomedical sciences.

Biomedical Science: Medical Microbiology option

• Students will be able to compare and contrast cellular and non-cellular microorganisms.
• Students will understand basic structure-function relationships of microorganism components, and explain how specific microbial components contribute to a microorganism’s growth and survival.
• Students will be able to discuss basic metabolic pathways that allow microorganisms to grow, thrive, and survive in numerous environments
• Students will understand how genetic information is maintained and transferred, how mutation can affect viability and contribute to evolution, and how gene expression is regulated.
• Students will be able to discuss the role of microorganisms in human and animal health and explain, using specific examples, how microbes can be both harmful and beneficial.

Quantitative Literacy, Inquiry & Analysis

• Students will be able to apply the scientific method to examine experimental evidence and draw informed conclusions.
• Students will be able to use graphs to represent scientific data.
• Students will be able to apply statistical methods to interpret scientific data.

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

• Students will be able to use data to troubleshoot an unexpected outcome.
• Students will be able to apply core knowledge to critically interpret scientific data.

Written Communication

• Students will demonstrate written skills to communicate scientific knowledge and experimental data.

Oral Communication

• Students will be able to demonstrate oral presentation skills to communicate scientific knowledge and experimental data.