Biomedical Science Major: Medical and Veterinary Sciences Option (B.S.)

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

The Biomedical Science: Medical and Veterinary Sciences (BMS:MVS) program is informed by the principles of the One Health Initiative, which unites human and veterinary medicine.  This rigorous academic program meets requirements for entry into veterinary school, medical school, and graduate school in the area of biomedical science or for a career as a research scientist in either the biotechnology/pharmaceutical sector or government and academic research labs.

You will select elective courses from three major areas of study:

  • biomedical systems
  • pathobiology and disease
  • health and environmental issues

As a BMS:MVS major, you have many opportunities for career-relevant learning experiences including:

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

Careers of previous Medical & Veterinary Sciences graduates include:

  • research scientists/laboratory technicians
    • biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies
    • academic biomedical research programs
    • forensic laboratories
    • hospitals/health clinics
  • state and federal government employment
    • public health laboratories
    • health inspector (e.g., Food and Drug Administration)

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 and Veterinary Sciences (MVS) option take eight Foundation courses, six Bioscience Core courses, three BMS-MVS Core courses, and six BMS-MVS 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 above is required in all courses within the major, which includes Foundation, Bioscience Core, and BMS-MVS Core courses, and BMS-MVS Major Electives.

Students applying to health profession schools need a full year of English.  ENGL 415C, ENGL 419, ENGL 501, ENGL 502 or ENGL 503 should be taken in addition to ENGL 401.  For further details, visit the Pre-Professional Health Program Advising Office on-line or in person (Rudman Hall, Room G02).

Foundation Courses

CHEM 403General Chemistry I 14
CHEM 404General Chemistry II4
CHEM 651
& CHEM 653		Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory		5
CHEM 652
& CHEM 654		Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory		5
MATH 424BCalculus for Life Sciences 24
BIOL 528Applied Biostatistics I4
PHYS 401Introduction to Physics I4
PHYS 402Introduction to Physics II4
1

 CHEM 403 fulfills the Physical Science Discovery requirement

2

 MATH 424B fulfills the Quantitative Reasoning Discovery requirement

Bioscience Core Courses

BIOL 411Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular 34
BIOL 412Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology4
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
3

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

BMS-MVS Core Courses

BMS 401Professional Perspectives in Biomedical Sciences1
BMS 507Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
or ANSC 511 Anatomy and Physiology
BMS 508Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
or ANSC 512 Anatomy and Physiology

BMS-MVS Major Elective Courses

A total of six unique major elective courses are required. Two courses must be taken in each of the following subject areas: biomedical systems, pathobiology and disease, and health and environmental issues.

Biomedical Systems Electives
Recommended Courses

BMS 702Endocrinology4
BMS 718Mammalian Physiology4
BMCB 760Pharmacology4
GEN 717Molecular Microbiology5
NUTR 750Nutritional Biochemistry4

Other Appropriate Courses

BMS 623Histology: Microscopic Cellular Structure and Function4
BMS 740Human Microbiome4
ANSC 603Introduction to Livestock Management4
ANSC 605Poultry Production and Health Management4
ANSC 609Principles of Animal Nutrition4
ANSC 612Genetics of Animals4
ANSC 698Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management (CREAM)4
ANSC 701Physiology of Reproduction4
ANSC 708Ruminant Nutritional Physiology3
ANSC 710Dairy Nutrition4
ANSC 715Physiology of Lactation4
ANSC 724Reproductive Management and Artificial Insemination4
BMCB 753Cell Culture5
BMCB 754Molecular Biology Research Methods5
BMCB 794Protein Structure and Function4
CHBE 762Biomedical Engineering4
GEN 704Genetics of Prokaryotic Microbes5
GEN 705Population Genetics 43
GEN 706Human Genetics4
GEN 711Genomics and Bioinformatics4
GEN 713Microbial Ecology and Evolution4
GEN 715Molecular Evolution4
GEN 721Comparative Genomics4
GEN 771Molecular Genetics4
KIN 684
& KIN 685		Emergency Medical Care: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
and Emergency Medical Care: EMT Lab		5
ZOOL 613WAnimal Behavior5
ZOOL 777WNeuroethology4
4

Enrolling in GEN 725 concurrently is encouraged but not required

Pathobiology and Disease Electives
Recommended Courses

BMS 602Pathogenic Microbiology3
BMS 655Human and Animal Parasites3
BMS 704Pathologic Basis of Disease4
BMS 705Immunology3
BMS 711Toxicology4
BMS 719Host-Microbe Interactions4
BMCB 763Biochemistry of Cancer4

Other Appropriate Courses

BMS 644Clinical Hematology3
BMS 650Molecular Diagnostics4
BMS 656Immunohematology3
BMS 658Medical Biochemistry3
BMS 703Infectious Disease and Health4
BMS 706Virology3
BMS 712Experiences in Applied Veterinary Diagnostics (4-credit minimum)2
BMS 720Mycology, Parasitology, and Virology3
BMS 735Molecular and Cellular Parasitology4
ANSC 627Animal Health Applications4
NUTR 773Clinical Nutrition4

Health and Environmental Issues Electives
Recommended Courses

BMS 730Ethical Issues in Biomedical Science4
ANSC 602Animal Rights and Societal Issues4
ANSC 750Collaborative Farm Design and Development4
ANSC 690Livestock and Wildlife in Namibia: Challenges, Opportunities and Geography4
ANTH #610Medical Anthropology: Illness and Healing4
BIOL 541WEcology0 or 4
HMP 401United States Health Care Systems 54
HMP 501Epidemiology and Community Medicine4
NR 435Contemporary Conservation Issues and Environmental Awareness 54
SOC 635WMedical Sociology4
5

 Only one 400-level course may be taken to fulfill a Major Elective requirement.

Other Appropriate Courses

ANTH 685Gender, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa4
BIOL 706Data Science with R for the Life Sciences4
CLAS 525Greek and Latin Origins of Medical Terms4
HMP 642Health Economics4
HMP 669Human Behavior and the Public Health4
NR 650Principles of Conservation Biology4
PSYC 531Psychobiology4
PSYC 737Behavioral Medicine4

BMS: MVS 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:MVS Capstone Courses

BMS 702Endocrinology4
BMS 704Pathologic Basis of Disease4
BMS 711Toxicology4
BMS 712Experiences in Applied Veterinary Diagnostics (4-credit minimum)2
BMS 718Mammalian Physiology4
BMS 719Host-Microbe Interactions4
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
BMCB 760Pharmacology4
BMCB 763Biochemistry of Cancer4
ANSC 605Poultry Production and Health Management4
ANSC 698Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management (CREAM)4
BMCB 753Cell Culture5
INCO 790Advanced Research Experience (4-credit minimum)1-4
NUTR 750Nutritional Biochemistry4
Other 795 Investigations course in the biological sciences (4-credit minimum)

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 and Veterinary Sciences. Several courses are flexible in order of completion, as indicated by footnotes.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
BMS 401 Professional Perspectives in Biomedical Sciences 1
BIOL 411 Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular 4
CHEM 403 General Chemistry I 4
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits17
Spring
BIOL 412 Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology 4
CHEM 404 General Chemistry II 4
MATH 424B Calculus for Life Sciences 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
BMS 507
or ANSC 511
 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
or Anatomy and Physiology
 4
BMCB 605 Principles of Cell Biology 1 4
CHEM 651
& CHEM 653		 Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory		 5
Discovery Course 4
 Credits17
Spring
BMS 508
or ANSC 512
 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
or Anatomy and Physiology
 4
CHEM 652
& CHEM 654		 Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory		 5
BMS 503
& BMS 504		 General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory 1		 5
Discovery Course 4
 Credits18
Third Year
Fall
BIOL 528 Applied Biostatistics I 4
BMCB 658
& BMCB 659		 General Biochemistry
and General Biochemistry Lab		 5
PHYS 401 Introduction to Physics I 4
GEN 604 Principles of Genetics 1 4
 Credits17
Spring
PHYS 402 Introduction to Physics II 4
Major Elective 4
Major Elective 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Fourth Year
Fall
Major Elective (Capstone) 4
Major Elective 4
Discovery Course 4
Elective (any course) 4
 Credits16
Spring
Major Elective 4
Major Elective 4
Elective (any course) 4
 Credits12
 Total Credits129
1

BMCB 605, BMS 503 & BMS 504, and GEN 604 may be taken in other semesters, but all should be completed by the end of Fall semester in junior year.

Core Knowledge

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

Biomedical Science: Medical & Veterinary Sciences option

  • Students will be able to list the major organ systems in mammals and describe their basic structure and function.
  • Students will be able to describe the differences between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
  • Students will be able to describe the structure and function of the major cellular organelles.
  • Students will understand the principles of Mendelian genetics.
  • Students will understand the pathogenesis of disease and effects on the major organ systems.
  • Students will be able to describe the inter-relationships between health and disease, society, and the environment.

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.