College of Science & Health (CSH)

Biochemistry is the study of molecules used by living things, as well as how these molecules can be used to develop new products and solve problems. As a biochemist your future could be in the growing biotechnology industry or in graduate or professional school in areas such as pharmacy or medicine.

Programs available: major

Prepare for a career in healthcare, learn about organisms worldwide or help cure diseases. Find these opportunities and more by studying biology. You will find an abundance of research opportunities working alongside professors in a department recognized statewide for excellence in teaching.

Programs available: major | minor | teacher license

Concentrations:

• aquatic science
• biomedical science
• environmental science
• molecular genetics & cell biology
• plant and fungal biology
• science education

Discover new medications, monitor pollution, or meet the demand for energy-producing fuels.  Chemistry education at UWL blends technical, hands-on research experience using modern equipment with practical skill development. Students are immersed in the process of science — designing experiments, collecting data and presenting results. They also learn soft skills to thrive in the workplace such as teamwork, communication and problem solving.

Programs available: major | minor | teacher license

Concentrations:

• ACS certification
• business concentration
• engineering dual degree
• environmental science concentration
• science education

Use your lab skills to help physicians diagnose and treat patients. A clinical laboratory scientist, also called a medical technologist or medical laboratory scientist, is a vital and in-demand member of the healthcare team. These professionals perform tests on patient samples to determine the presence or absence of disease, as well as its severity and the effectiveness of treatment.

Programs available: major 

You will develop cutting-edge hardware systems and craft ingenious software solutions that tackle real-world challenges head-on. From agriculture to medicine to entertainment, computer engineers are sought after in industries where computers provide the backbone of vital human services and industries.

Programs available: major

With a computer science degree, you can master the art of coding to open doors to a multitude of fascinating career pathways. With software as your canvas and your imagination as the brush, you can create artistic masterpieces that have the potential to revolutionize entire industries.

Programs available: major | minor

Concentrations:

• computer engineering technology
• cybersecurity
• engineering dual degree

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the lines between traditional engineering disciplines—such as civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering—are becoming increasingly blurred. Industries need engineers who are not only adaptable but also possess a broad and deep understanding of various fields.

The Engineering Physics program at UW-La Crosse combines the rigor of science, mathematics, and engineering to equip graduates with a unique skill set capable of addressing complex, interdisciplinary challenges. This program is designed to produce career-ready professionals who can thrive in diverse sectors, including industry, government research labs, and academia.

Programs available: major

Rooted in geography, biology, chemistry and microbiology, and environmental studies, environmental science applies knowledge from the natural and social sciences to understand issues in the environment with the goal of protecting the Earth and human health.

Programs available: major

Students can focus their major on a variety of emphasis areas: physical, adapted or school health education teaching; sport management; or exercise science. The exercise science emphasis prepares students for careers in fitness, health, and related fields, and they can choose a fitness track or pre-professional track. A pre-professional track prepares students for graduate fields that use exercise as medicine such as athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac & pulmonary rehabilitation and more.

Programs available: major | teacher license 

Concentrations:

• exercise science
  • fitness
  • pre-professional
• physical, adapted, and school health education
• sport management

The availability of nutritious foods is key to human health and wellness. As the global population continues to grow, food and healthcare systems will be increasingly challenged to meet demand for their services in a sustainable way.

As a food and nutrition sciences major, you will gain a strong science background and a broad understanding and skillset related to food science, food safety, food systems and nutrition. Your knowledge will help you address the health, social, and environmental challenges related to food and nutrition facing the nation and the world.

Programs available: major

Geographers study the relationship between humans and their environment. If you want to gain skills to address pressing environmental and societal issues such as climate change, natural disaster management, population growth and globalization, geography might be the right field for you. 

Programs available: major | minor | certificate

Concentrations:

• environmental science
• geographic information science
• humans and the environment

Study a subject that is both beautiful and practical. If you enjoy problem solving, abstract thinking, and structural beauty, this may be the right field for you. Mathematics can be studied by itself or in conjunction with other fields such as the biological and life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and social sciences.

Programs available: major | minor | teacher license

Concentration:

• applied mathematics
• engineering dual degree
• mathematics education

Do you want to know how to diagnose, prevent and treat infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites? Do you want to learn about using microbes to clean-up the environment, or produce food and beverages? Then become a microbiology major.

Programs available: major | minor

Concentrations:

• biomedical concentration
• business concentration
• environmental concentration

Nuclear Medicine Technologists work on the cutting edge of the radiology field to more precisely diagnose and treat patients with a wide variety of diseases. These healthcare professionals work with a growing number of radiopharmaceuticals and high-tech imaging instruments and cameras to pinpoint health problems and evaluate the aggressiveness of the disease. This is a highly-rewarding healthcare career where you see your patients throughout their entire health journey.

Programs available: major

Join a profession where your work is to bring quality leisure into people's lives.

The Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management program at UWL is the only nationally-accredited recreation management program in Wisconsin and one of the largest undergraduate programs in the U.S. Our students gain practice in the field and network with professionals through internships and community engagement in their coursework.

Programs available: major | minor

Concentrations:

• community-based recreation 
• generalist
• graduate dual degree
• outdoor recreation
• tourism and event management 

From wind energy to computer chips, physics concepts are at work in the technology we use every day. Even the GPS in your phone wouldn’t work without Einstein’s famous Theory of General Relativity. A degree in physics provides robust quantitative, analytical, and experimental skills to prepare for futures in hi-tech jobs, medical fields, engineering, and a wide variety of graduate school programs. If you are curious and enjoy problem solving, physics may be the perfect fit for you.

Programs available: major | minor | teacher license

Concentrations:

• applied physics
• astronomy
• biomedical concentration
• business concentration
• computational physics
• engineering dual degree
• optics
• science education

Do you want to help build healthier communities? With a career in public health, you can help make communities a better place to live while addressing major health issues affecting society from infectious disease to depression.

Programs available: major

Radiologic Science is a broad term incorporating various professions that use technologies such as ultrasound, CTs and MRIs to diagnose or treat patients. These professions require the ability to acquire technical skills and understanding while also developing excellent communication abilities to work with patients and healthcare team members from diverse backgrounds.

Programs available: major

Concentrations:

• radiation therapy
• radiologic technology 
• diagnostic medical sonography
  • general/vascular
  • echocardiography

Recreational therapists help people adapt and grow through recreation and leisure. Your future could be working to improve the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities or illnesses by creating therapeutic programs. These goal-directed programs are in areas such as exercise, aquatics, expressive arts, music and more.

Programs available: major 

Statistics helps us understand and describe phenomena in our world from population health to weather forecasting to business profits. Using data, statisticians can draw reliable conclusions and help guide important decisions. Statistics can be studied by itself or in conjunction with other fields such as the biological and life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and social sciences.

Programs available: major | minor

Concentrations:

• actuarial science