Biological Sciences, B.A.

Students in the chemistry lab at UNH Manchester.

Explore the living world through hands-on experience in the lab and in the field

Discover the inner workings of living organisms from molecules to ecosystems in our Biological Sciences program. As our largest and most popular major, the Biological Sciences program is designed to give you the degree you want — through self-designed concentrations, independent study, research projects, internships, job shadows and more.

You’ll work with faculty mentors to customize your degree around your interests, allowing you to focus your learning in these diverse areas of study:

  • > Biology Teaching
  • > Ecology
  • > Microbiology
  • > Pre-Dental
  • > Pre-Med
  • > Pre-Optometry
  • > Pre-Pharmacy
  • > Pre-Physician Assistant Studies
  • > Pre-Veterinary

Research is central to this program, empowering you to explore, question and invent. Side-by-side with your classmates and professors, you’ll conduct experiments in our seven state-of-the-art labs: general biology, advanced biology, microbiology, general chemistry and organic chemistry, as well as the cell culture research lab and microbiology research lab. TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF OUR BIOLOGY LABS

You’ll also have the opportunity to apply your skills in the real world through a robust job shadow at the Elliot Hospital Laboratory, an internship at Manchester Water Works, a summer research course at Shoals Marine Laboratory—and so much more.

Through diverse areas of study, faculty experts and hands-on experience, you’ll be prepared for success in graduate, medical or professional studies, and careers in industries from healthcare to agriculture to education.

Program Coordinator

Stephen Pugh

Department of Life Sciences Chair, Biology and Biotechnology Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of Biology

Program News

  • Lecturer in Biology Dr. Sue Cooke is New Hampshire's first partner instructor for Tiny Earth, a network of instructors and students focused on crowdsourcing antibiotic discovery from soil.

    Dr. Sue Cooke Joins Initiative to Fight Shortage of New Antibiotics

    Full Story
  • Meet Peer Assistant Leader Mamady Sankoh '21, a biological sciences major

    Meet Your PALs Series: Mamady Sankoh '21

    Full Story
  • This year's Excellence in Teaching award recognizes Daniel Seichepine, assistant professor of neuropsychology and psychology. Suzanne Cooke, adjunct instructor of biological sciences, will receive the Adjunct Excellence in Teaching award.

    Daniel Seichepine, Suzanne Cook Recognized for Excellence in Teaching

    Full Story
View More Program News

If you have an interest in a particular area, your faculty advisor will help you select courses that tailor your degree to the future you want. Students in our Biological Sciences program can focus their studies in the following areas:

  • Biology Teaching
  • Ecology
  • Microbiology
  • Pre-Dental
  • Pre-Med
  • Pre-Optometry
  • Pre-Pharmacy
  • Pre-Physician Assistant Studies
  • Pre-Veterinary

Because of the popularity and size of our Biological Sciences program, we’ve more than doubled our laboratory space. You’ll get hands-on experience in our seven state-of-the-art laboratories: general biology, advanced biology, microbiology, general chemistry and organic chemistry, as well as the cell culture research lab and microbiology research lab.

Labs are stocked with the latest, cutting-edge equipment and are taught by residential faculty or experienced instructors, all of whom specialize in their discipline.

take a virtual tour of our biology labs. 

First Year - Fall Semester

  • BIOL 413 – Principles of Biology I*:
  • CHEM 403 – General Chemistry I:
    Fundamental laws and concepts applied to nonmetals, metals, and their compounds. For students who plan to take further chemistry courses. Previous chemistry recommended. Knowledge of algebra, exponentials, and logarithms required.
  • MATH 418 – Analysis & Application of Functions:
    Analysis and applications of algebraic and transcendental functions, with special emphasis on exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. Graphical analysis. Written projects are required on some or all of the following topics: rates of change, optimization, logarithmic or exponential modeling, and trigonometric functions.
  • ENG 401 - First Year Writing:
    Training to write more skillfully and to read with more appreciation and discernment. Frequent individual conferences for every student. 
  • UMST 401 – First Year Seminar:
    The focus of this seminar in not on a specific academic subject or field of study; instead, the focus is on the student. This course is intentionally designed and proactively delivered for the purpose of promoting personal success-in college and in life after college--by fostering the development of skills or strategies that are both applicable and valuable across subjects. The course focuses on the following topics: college expectations and opportunities, campus resources, learning styles and strategiesincluding lecture note-taking, test taking, memory and concentration; life management, goal setting, educational planning, career decision-making, health maintenance, diversity and instructor/student relationships. The course integrates personal growth, academic and career success with problem solving, critical and creative thinking.

First Year - Spring Semester

  • BIOL 414 – Principles of Biology II:
    Introduces the study of business: examines the origins and development of American business, its place in a global economy, and its legal and ethical roles in modern society. Includes an overview of the functional areas of business such as finance, marketing, and organizational behavior. Designed for business majors as well as for students considering a major in business.
  • CHEM 404 - General Chemistry II:
    Fundamental laws and concepts applied to nonmetals, metals, and their compounds. For students who plan to take further chemistry courses. Previous chemistry recommended. Knowledge of algebra, exponentials, and logarithms required.
  • Discovery Course
  • Discovery Course
  •  

Second Year - Fall Semester

  • BMS 503 - General Microbiology:
    Principles of microbiology; morphology, physiology, genetics, culture, and classification of bacteria and other microorganisms; and their relationships to agriculture, environment, industry, sanitation, and infectious diseases. 
  • BIOL 541 - General Ecology:
    Physical and biological factors affecting distribution, abundance, and adaptations of organisms. Population, community, and ecosystem structure and function.
  • Foreign Lanaguage I
  • Discovery Course

Second Year - Spring Semester

  • GEN 604 - Principles of Genetics:
    Chemical structure of genetic material, Mendelism, gene recombination, and chromosome mapping. Mutation, gene expression and regulation, recombinant DNA. Quantitative inheritance and population genetics.
  • PSYC 402 - Statistics of Pyschology:
    Design, statistical analysis, and decision making in psychological research. Probability, hypothesis-testing, and confidence intervals. Conceptualization, computation, interpretation, and typical applications for exploratory data analysis (including measures of central tendency, variability), t-tests, correlations, bivariate regression, one-way analysis of variance, and chi square. 
  • Foreign Language II
  • Discovery Course
  •  

Third Year - Fall Semester

  • 600/700 Biological Concentration
     
  • Discovery Courses
  • Elective Course
  • Elective Course

Third Year - Spring Semester

  • 600/700 Biological Concentration:
  • Discovery Course
  • Elective Course
  • Elective Course
  •  

Fourth Year - Fall Semester

  • 600/700 Biological Concentration:
  • Elective Course
  • Elective Course
  • Elective Course

Fourth Year - Spring Semester

  • 600/700 Biological Concentration:
  • Capstone (Internship, Research or Independent Study)
  • BSCI 701 - Senior Seminar:
    To be taken during the last two semesters of the senior year as students complete their Capstone project. Course emphasizes written and oral communication, discussion of current topics in biology, and career guidance.
  • Elective Course

* This course fulfills the Inquiry (INQ) requirement.
 

Download a copy of the major sheet

Our Biological Sciences program prepares you for graduate or professional studies, or for a career in the laboratory, conference room, lecture hall, surgical suite or more – the choice is yours. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects positive growth in biological sciences professions between 2012 and 2024, translating to vast possibilities for your future.

Job Title
Job Growth
Average Salary
Agricultural and Food Scientist 5% $62,470
Biochemist 8% $82,150
Biological Science Teacher, Postsecondary 13% $72,470
Biological Technician 5% $41,650
Dentist 18% $158,310
Environmental Scientist 11% $67,460
Forensic Science Technician 27% $56,320
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist 16% $50,550
Medical Scientist 8% $82,240
Microbiologist 4% $67,550
Natural Sciences Manager 3% $120,160
Occupational Therapist 27% $80,150
Optometrist 27% $103,900
Pharmacist 3% $121,500
Physician or Surgeon 14% $187,200
Physician Assistant 30% $98,180
Veterinarian 9% $88,490

 

Internships

Our campus is in the heart of the region’s cultural, economic, entertainment and government activity — putting unlimited internship opportunities at your doorstep. We’ve partnered with local businesses to give you the real-world experience that sets you apart. Biological Sciences majors have interned at many high-profile organizations in the area, including:

  • Concord Hospital
  • Manchester Water Works
  • New Hampshire Audubon Society
  • Normandeau Associates
robust job shadow at elliot hospital laboratory

We've partnered with Elliot Hospital to offer a robust job shadow at the Elliot Laboratory. Faculty members will select two students each spring and fall semester to participate in the shadow, which gives students hands-on experience in each section of the medical lab. Read about one student's experience at the Elliot

Senior Capstone

The Senior Capstone puts your classroom learning into action by combining your senior seminar with an internship, independent study or research project.

Under the direction of a faculty mentor, you’ll have the option to explore your scientific curiosity through advanced research, individual study or a field-based experience at an outside agency.

Shoals Marine Laboratory

UNH has partnered with the Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML) to offer summer undergraduate courses and research internships at the SML field station in Kittery, Maine. With courses like marine mammal biology, wildlife forensics and underwater research, students get land- and boat-based experience in the field. SML credits can be applied toward your biological sciences major requirements. Learn more

UNH Manchester has a unique articulation agreement with MCPHS University that allows you to earn your B.A. in Biological Sciences from UNH Manchester plus a Master of Physician Assistant Studies or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from MCPHS’s Manchester campus.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S.)

While pursuing your bachelor’s at UNH Manchester, you’ll work closely with your advisor to make sure you complete prerequisites for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at MCPHS University. Each academic year, the most competitive students (top six) are given preferential consideration for admission to the M.P.A.S. program. Upon completing your UNH degree requirements, you’ll transfer to MCPHS’s Manchester campus to complete the 24-month M.P.A.S. degree.

Already earned a bachelor’s degree at UNH or another college? You can still complete MCPHS’s M.P.A.S. program prerequisites at UNH Manchester. Transfer students are not eligible for the collaborative program, but may apply through MCPHS’s regular admission process.

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

To get your Doctor of Pharmacy degree, you’ll complete three years of study in UNH Manchester’s pre-pharmacy track then transfer to MCPHS’s Manchester campus to fulfill your remaining bachelor’s requirements and complete the accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Each academic year, the most competitive (top six) Biological Sciences students are given preferential consideration for admission to the accelerated professional phase of MCPHS’s Pharm.D. program. As part of this articulation agreement, all prerequisite courses must be taken at UNH’s campuses in either Manchester or Durham.

In partnership with the New Hampshire Community Colleges below, we've developed curriculum guides to show you which courses at your community college will transfer into UNH Manchester's Biological Sciences program. 

Click on a community college below to see transferable biological sciences requirements. See the complete list of Pathways. 

Questions? Contact an Admission Counselor for help.

Course Sequence

Interested in a sample course sequence for this program?

Download a copy of the major sheet

Course Schedule

Visit courses.unh.edu and select "Courses at Manchester" to see our course schedules and descriptions.