Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology Major (B.S.)
The Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology (BMCB) major provides you with conceptual competence, analytical skills, and laboratory experiences to understand life at the molecular and cellular level. Your BMCB degree will prepare you for immediate employment as a research associate in industry, for entry into graduate or professional programs in medicine, dentistry or other allied health professions, and other career tracks.
The BMCB program offers advanced coursework and laboratories in diverse research areas of modern biology
- Cancer biology
- Cell biology
- Cell culture & tissue engineering
- Endocrinology
- Molecular biology
- Pharmacology
- Physical biochemistry
- Protein structure, function & proteomics
BMCB majors participate in experiential learning activities
- Many courses have integrated laboratory experiences to foster inquiry-based learning and to train creative and critical thinkers
- Independent research experiences are available in faculty research laboratories
- Many courses provide exposure to cutting-edge techniques and instrumentation
- Job preparation can be enhanced by internships with regional biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies
- Summer undergraduate research fellowships at U.S. or international academic institutions combine travel with research opportunities outside UNH
BMCB graduates have been successful in many careers
- Research associates and laboratory technicians
- Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies
- Government agencies
- Forensics laboratories
- Academic research laboratories
- Hospitals
- Science journalists and technical writers
- Healthcare workers
- Pharmaceutical sales and marketing staff
- Regulatory agency staff
- Primary and secondary school educators (with additional coursework in education)
BMCB graduates are well prepared for post-baccalaureate education
- Masters and doctoral programs in a wide variety of disciplines
- Professional health programs
- Medical
- Dental
- Pharmacy
- Physician’s Assistant and other allied health programs
Note: The BMCB major is designed so you can complete all of the prerequisite courses needed to seek admission to graduate schools or health professional schools in four years.
Degree Requirements
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
Students in the Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology (BMCB) major take eight Foundation courses, four Bioscience Core courses, five BMCB Core courses, one Laboratory Techniques course, and three 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 Statistics and in all Bioscience Core, BMCB Core, Laboratory Techniques, and Major Elective courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Core Courses | ||
| CHEM 403 | General Chemistry I 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 404 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 547 & CHEM 549 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2 | 5 |
| CHEM 548 & CHEM 550 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2 | 5 |
| MATH 424B | Calculus for Life Sciences 3, 4 | 4 |
| BIOL 528 | Applied Biostatistics I 4 | 4 |
| PHYS 401 | Introduction to Physics I 5 | 4 |
| PHYS 402 | Introduction to Physics II 5 | 4 |
- 1
Fulfills Physical Science Discovery requirement
- 2
CHEM 651/CHEM 653 & CHEM 652/CHEM 654 can be substituted for CHEM 547/CHEM 549 & CHEM 548/CHEM 550.
- 3
Fulfills Quantitative Reasoning Discovery requirement
- 4
MATH 425 and MATH 426 can be substituted for MATH 424B and BIOL 528
- 5
PHYS 407 and PHYS 408 can be substituted for PHYS 401 and PHYS 402
Bioscience Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 411 | Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular 6 | 4 |
| BIOL 412 | Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology | 4 |
| BMS 503 & BMS 504 | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | 5 |
| GEN 604 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
- 6
BIOL 411 fulfills the Biological Science Discovery requirement, Discovery Laboratory requirement, and Discovery Inquiry requirement
BMCB Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MCBS 401 | Professional Perspectives in Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences | 1 |
| BMCB 605 | Principles of Cell Biology | 4 |
| BMCB 751 | Principles of Biochemistry I | 4 |
| BMCB 752 | Principles of Biochemistry II | 4 |
| GEN 704 | Genetics of Prokaryotic Microbes | 4-5 |
| or GEN 771 | Molecular Genetics | |
Laboratory Techniques Courses (Pick one)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMCB 753 | Cell Culture | 5 |
| BMCB 754 | Molecular Biology Research Methods | 5 |
| BMCB 755 | Protein Biochemistry Laboratory | 5 |
| BMS 725 | Cell Phenotyping and Tissue Engineering Laboratory | 4 |
BMCB Major Electives (Pick three)
A total of three unique major electives is required.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMCB #750 | Physical Biochemistry | 3 |
| BMCB 753 | Cell Culture 7 | 5 |
| BMCB 754 | Molecular Biology Research Methods 7 | 5 |
| BMCB 755 | Protein Biochemistry Laboratory 7 | 5 |
| BMCB 760 | Pharmacology | 4 |
| BMCB 763 | Biochemistry of Cancer | 4 |
| BMCB 794 | Protein Structure and Function | 4 |
| BMCB 795 | Investigations in Molecular and Cellular Biology (4-credit minimum) 8 | 1-4 |
| BMCB 795W | Investigations in Molecular and Cellular Biology (4-credit minimum) 8 | 1-4 |
| BMCB 799 | Senior Thesis (4-credit minimum) 8 | 1-4 |
| BMCB 799H | Honors Senior Thesis (4-credit minimum) 8 | 1-4 |
| ANSC 701 | Physiology of Reproduction | 4 |
| ANSC 715 | Physiology of Lactation | 4 |
| BIOL 706 | Data Science with R for the Life Sciences | 4 |
| BMS 507 & BMS 508 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 8 |
| BMS 702 | Endocrinology | 4 |
| BMS 704 | Pathologic Basis of Disease | 4 |
| BMS 705 & BMS 715 | Immunology and Immunology Laboratory | 5 |
| BMS 706 & BMS 708 | Virology and Virology Laboratory | 5 |
| BMS 718 | Mammalian Physiology | 4 |
| BMS 725 | Cell Phenotyping and Tissue Engineering Laboratory 7 | 4 |
| BMS 735 | Molecular and Cellular Parasitology | 4 |
| CHBE 755 | Computational Molecular Bioengineering | 4 |
| CHEM 740 | Chemical Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 755 | Advanced Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| GEN 704 | Genetics of Prokaryotic Microbes 7 | 5 |
| GEN 705 | Population Genetics 9 | 3 |
| GEN 706 | Human Genetics | 4 |
| GEN 711 | Genomics and Bioinformatics | 4 |
| GEN 713 | Microbial Ecology and Evolution | 4 |
| GEN 715 | Molecular Evolution | 4 |
| GEN 717 | Molecular Microbiology | 5 |
| GEN 721 | Comparative Genomics | 4 |
| GEN 771 | Molecular Genetics 7 | 4 |
| NUTR 750 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 4 |
- 7
If course is used to fulfill BMCB Core or Laboratory Technique requirement, course cannot count as BMCB Major Elective.
- 8
Choose no more than ONE of the following courses to fulfill a major elective: BMCB 795, BMCB 795W, BMCB 799, BMCB 799H
- 9
Taking GEN 725 Population Genetics Lab is recommended, but not required.
Approved BMCB Capstone Courses
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. If a second Lab Techniques course is taken, the second Lab Techniques course may count as a Capstone. 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMCB #750 | Physical Biochemistry | 3 |
| BMCB 760 | Pharmacology | 4 |
| BMCB 763 | Biochemistry of Cancer | 4 |
| BMCB 794 | Protein Structure and Function | 4 |
| BMCB 795 | Investigations in Molecular and Cellular Biology (4-credit minimum) | 1-4 |
| BMCB 795W | Investigations in Molecular and Cellular Biology (4-credit minimum) | 1-4 |
| BMCB 799 | Senior Thesis (4-credit minimum) | 1-4 |
| BMCB 799H | Honors Senior Thesis (4-credit minimum) | 1-4 |
| INCO 790 | Advanced Research Experience (4-credit minimum) | 1-4 |
For a Capstone experience not listed above, such as an internship, submit a Capstone Approval form prior to beginning the experience.
SAMPLE Course Sequence for Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cellular Biology
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| MCBS 401 | Professional Perspectives in Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences | 1 |
| ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| CHEM 403 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| BIOL 411 | Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 404 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| BIOL 412 | Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology | 4 |
| MATH 424B | Calculus for Life Sciences | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 547 & CHEM 549 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 5 |
| BMS 503 & BMS 504 | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOL 528 | Applied Biostatistics I | 4 |
| PHYS 401 | Introduction to Physics I | 4 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 548 & CHEM 550 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 5 |
| GEN 604 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| PHYS 402 | Introduction to Physics II | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BMCB 605 | Principles of Cell Biology | 4 |
| BMCB 751 | Principles of Biochemistry I | 4 |
| BMCB Core or Lab Techniques course | 4-5 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| BMCB 752 | Principles of Biochemistry II | 4 |
| BMCB Core or Lab Techniques course | 4-5 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Elective (any course) | 4 | |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BMCB Major Elective (possible Capstone) | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| BMCB Major Elective (any course) | 4 | |
| Elective (any course) | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective (any course) | 4-5 | |
| BMCB Major Elective | 4 | |
| Elective (any course) | 4 | |
| Credits | 12-13 | |
| Total Credits | 128-131 | |
Core Knowledge in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology
- Students will be able to explain the structure and function of macromolecules, including key functional groups, higher order structure and function of macromolecules, catalysis and enzyme kinetics.
- Students will be able to explain matter and energy conversion, including thermodynamics, catalysis, biological energy, ATP and its function in metabolism.
- Students will be able to explain cellular homeostasis, including major metabolic pathways for carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, key regulatory steps in these pathways and the organization of metabolic enzymes.
- Students will be able to explain the flow of biological information, including detailed replication, transcription and translation processes in the context of homeostasis and development.
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.