Overview
Biology is the study of living organisms in both laboratory and field conditions.
Students develop an understanding of the living world, its complex interrelationships
and the role of human beings within it. Beyond biological principles, concepts
and theories, students develop competence in the use of laboratory equipment and
instrumentation and the ability to evaluate, synthesize and communicate technical
information and ideas.
With the program’s flexible design, students can combine a study of biology with
other programs and disciplines. Students can complete a major in biology while
taking required education courses to prepare for the 5-year MAT or M.Ed. and state
certification in secondary science education. Students will be prepared for professional
graduate education in medical, dental, veterinary, physician assistant, laboratory
medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy and other programs.
Employment opportunities include business, education, food, water, wastewater,
industrial and clinical laboratories, biotechnology, environmental research and
monitoring and animal behavior.
Program Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 128 credits and satisfy the University’s General Education
and Foreign language requirements. BIOL 413, 414 and CHEM 403, 404 may be used to satisfy the
Group 3 General Education requirement. PSYC 402 may be used to satisfy the Group 2 General
Education requirement; however, students interested in graduate or professional programs would be
encouraged to take MATH 425, Calculus I to satisfy the Group 2 requirement. The UNH Manchester BA
in Biological Sciences Program is structured with three levels of coursework.
BIOLOGY CORE CURRICULUM
(9 courses, 37 credits)
The Biology Core Curriculum consists of five required biology courses:
• BIOL 413-414, Principles of Biology I and II
• MICR 503, General Microbiology
• BIOL 541, General Ecology
• BIOL 604, Principles of Genetics
Two required chemistry courses:
• CHEM 403-404
• General Chemistry I and II
One course in mathematics
• MATH 418, Analysis and Application of Functions,
• MATH 425, Calculus I
One course in statistics
• PSYC 402, Statistics in Psychology (other statistics
courses such as BIOL 528 or ADM 430 may used
to satisfy this requirement).
Depending on their specific academic and career
goals and in consultation with their advisor,
students may elect to take additional supporting
science courses such as CHEM 545/546, Organic
Chemistry with lab (one semester); CHEM 547/549
- 548/550, Organic Chemistry I and II with lab (two
semesters); BCHM 658/659, Biochemistry with
lab; MATH 426 Calculus II; and Physics 407-408,
General Physics I and II. These courses are often
required for admission to medical, professional
and other graduate programs.
SELF-DESIGNED CONCENTRATION
IN BIOLOGY (4 courses, 16 credits)
Students will select, in consultation with their advisor, four biology
courses at the 600-700 level to be taken at UNH Manchester or UNH
Durham.
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
The Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by taking two one-credit courses,
Senior Studies, during both semesters of the senior year and a capstone
experience, such as BSCI 600, Field Experience, Internship in Biology,
or Independent Study. Senior Studies will meet weekly during both
semesters of the senior year in a seminar format to share information
about students’ research or independent study activities, listen to
presentations on timely issues in biology and to support and provide
training in poster production, Power Point and other methods of oral
presentation and scientific writing as they prepare to present the results
of their capstone activities at the Undergraduate Research Conference or
other venues.
In addition, all students will take elective courses to fulfill the 128-credit
requirement for a BA degree. These elective courses could fulfill the
requirements for a major or minor in another program or they could fulfill
a self-designed interdisciplinary concentration. They could include some
of the supporting science courses listed above. These courses would be
selected in consultation with their advisor and the appropriate faculty
advisor in another program.
Note: Pre-medical and pre-dental students should enroll in CHEM 651-652and 653-654 at Durham. These courses may substitute for CHEM 545/546 andBCHM 658-659. In addition, they should also enroll in MATH 426.
