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

https://colsa.unh.edu/molecular-cellular-biomedical-sciences/program/bs/biomedical-science-major-medical-microbiology-option

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:

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

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

CHEM 403General Chemistry I 14
CHEM 404General Chemistry II4
CHEM 545
CHEM 546
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
5
MATH 424BCalculus for Life Sciences 34
BIOL 528Applied Biostatistics I 44
PHYS 401Introduction to Physics I4
PHYS 402Introduction to Physics II4

Bioscience Core Courses

BIOL 411Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular 54
BIOL 412Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology 24
or BMS 508 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BMS 503
BMS 504
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
5
GEN 604Principles of Genetics4
BMCB 605Principles of Cell Biology4
BMCB 658
BMCB 659
General Biochemistry
and General Biochemistry Lab
5
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 546ENGL 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

BMS 401Professional Perspectives in Biomedical Sciences 61
BMS 602
BMS 603
Pathogenic Microbiology
and Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory
5
BMS 705
BMS 715
Immunology
and Immunology Laboratory
5
BMS 706
BMS 708
Virology
and Virology Laboratory
5
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

BMS 655Human and Animal Parasites 73
BMS 703Infectious Disease and Health4
BMS 704Pathologic Basis of Disease4
BMS 719Host-Microbe Interactions 74
BMS 720Mycology, Parasitology, and Virology3
BMS 735Molecular and Cellular Parasitology 74
BMS 740Human Microbiome 74

Molecular Biology Electives

BMS 623Histology: Microscopic Cellular Structure and Function4
BMS 650Molecular Diagnostics4
BMS 655Human and Animal Parasites 73
BMS 711Toxicology4
BMS 719Host-Microbe Interactions 74
BMS 725Cell Phenotyping and Tissue Engineering Laboratory4
BMS 735Molecular and Cellular Parasitology 74
BMS 740Human Microbiome 74
BMCB 753Cell Culture5
BMCB 754Molecular Biology Research Methods5
BMCB 763Biochemistry of Cancer4
GEN 704Genetics of Prokaryotic Microbes5
GEN 717Molecular Microbiology5
GEN 721Comparative Genomics4
7

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

Community Electives

BMS 730Ethical Issues in Biomedical Science4
ANSC 602Animal Rights and Societal Issues4
ANTH 685Gender, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa4
BIOL 706Data Science with R for the Life Sciences4
GEN 705Population Genetics 83
GEN 713Microbial Ecology and Evolution4
HMP 501Epidemiology and Community Medicine4
8

Enrolling in GEN 725 concurrently is encouraged but not required

Other Major Electives

BMS 795Investigations in Biomedical Science (4-credit minimum)1-8
BMS 795WInvestigations in Biomedical Science (4-credit minimum )1-8
BMS 799Senior Thesis (4-credit minimum)1-4
BMS 799HSenior Honors Thesis (4-credit minimum)1-4
INCO 790Advanced Research Experience (4-credit minimum)1-4

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

BMS 719Host-Microbe Interactions4
BMS 730Ethical Issues in Biomedical Science4
BMS 740Human Microbiome4
BMS 795Investigations in Biomedical Science (4-credit minimum)1-8
BMS 795WInvestigations in Biomedical Science (4-credit minimum )1-8
BMS 799Senior Thesis (4-credit minimum)1-4
BMS 799HSenior Honors Thesis (4-credit minimum)1-4
GEN 717Molecular Microbiology5
INCO 790Advanced Research Experience (4-credit minimum)1-4

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

SAMPLE Course Sequence for Medical Microbiology

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
BMS 401 Professional Perspectives in Biomedical Sciences 1
BIOL 411 Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular 4
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
CHEM 403 General Chemistry I 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits17
Spring
BIOL 412 Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology 4
MATH 424B Calculus for Life Sciences 4
CHEM 404 General Chemistry II 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
BMS 503
BMS 504
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
5
GEN 604 Principles of Genetics 4
CHEM 545
CHEM 546
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
5
Discovery Course 4
 Credits18
Spring
BMS 602
BMS 603
Pathogenic Microbiology
and Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory
5
BMCB 605 Principles of Cell Biology 4
BIOL 528 Applied Biostatistics I 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits17
Third Year
Fall
BMS 705
BMS 715
Immunology
and Immunology Laboratory
5
PHYS 401 Introduction to Physics I 4
BMCB 658
BMCB 659
General Biochemistry
and General Biochemistry Lab
5
Discovery Course 4
 Credits18
Spring
BMS 706
BMS 708
Virology
and Virology Laboratory
5
PHYS 402 Introduction to Physics II 4
Major Elective 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits17
Fourth Year
Fall
Major Elective (possible Capstone course) 4
Major Elective 4
Elective (any course) 3-4
Elective (any course) 3-4
 Credits14-16
Spring
Major Elective 4
Major Elective 4
Elective (any course) 3-5
Elective (any course) 3-5
 Credits14-18
 Total Credits131-137

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.