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
  • Genomics
  • Microbiology
  • Pre-professional health (dental, medical, optometry, pharmacy, physical/occupational therapy, physician assistant, veterinary, etc.)

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

  • Patricia Halpin, assistant professor of biological science and biotechnology, conducting STEM outreach activities with students at Bakersville Elementary School.

    Faculty Friday: Meet Dr. Patricia Halpin

    Full Story
  • Biotechnology major Lizz Maurais ’19 conducts research in one of UNH Manchester's lab spaces

    Wildcats in the World: Lizz Maurais ’19 on Life in the Lab

    Full Story
  • Biotechnology graduate Becky Baker '16 runs tests on water samples during her internship at Manchester Water Works in 2016.

    Wildcats in the World: Becky Baker '16 at Public Health Laboratories

    Full Story
View More Program News

To get your B.A. in Biological Sciences, you’ll complete 128 credits between courses for the UNH Discovery Program and your major. Below is an example of what your four-year course sequence might look like. Courses are subject to change, so visit courses.unh.edu and select "Courses at Manchester" to see the most up-to-date course schedules and descriptions.

  
FIRST YEAR

Fall Semester Spring Semester
BIOL 413 – Principles of Biology I* BIOL 414 – Principles of Biology II
CHEM 403 – General Chemistry I CHEM 404 – General Chemistry II
ENGL 401 – First Year Writing Discovery Course
MATH 418 – Analysis & Application of Functions Discovery Course
UMST 401 – First Year Experience Seminar  

SECOND YEAR

Fall Semester Spring Semester
BIOL 541 – General Ecology BMS 503/504 – General Microbiology
PSYC 402 – Statistics in Psychology GEN 604 – Principles of Genetics
Foreign Language I Foreign Language II
Discovery Course Discovery Course

THIRD YEAR

Fall Semester Spring Semester
600/700 – Biological Concentration 600/700 – Biological Concentration
Discovery Course Discovery Course
Elective Course Elective Course
Elective Course Elective Course

FOURTH YEAR

Fall Semester Spring Semester
600/700 – Biological Concentration 600/700 – Biological Concentration
Capstone (Internship, Research or Independent Study) BSCI 701 – Senior Seminar
Elective Course Elective Course
Elective Course Elective Course

* This course fulfills the Inquiry (INQ) requirement.

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. 

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.