Department Information:
The Natural Sciences Department programs prepare students for in-demand careers addressing important challenges facing the world today. Employment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) occupations is expected to grow over 10% between 2023 and 2033 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025). Graduates with Natural Science degrees have a high-eearning potential working in fields they can contribute to healthier communities and a safer and more technologically advanced world.
Programs in Biology lead to careers in health care, industry, biotechnology, or research. Students apply their biological knowledge in careers like science writing or environmental law.
- The Biology: Human Biology major prepares students for technical laboratory work, physician assistant programs, direct entry masters of nursing programs, and similar health related fields.
- The Biology: Biomedical Science major is the foundation for those aspiring to medical school, dental school, veterinary school, or biomedical research.
- The Chemistry program graduates work in academia, in industry, in governmental capacities, as consultants and as entrepreneurs. Integrated Natural Sciences provides a flexible major for students who want a combination of biology, chemistry, and mathematics courses for interdisciplinary careers.
- The Pharmaceutical Science major is a collaboration between Alverno College and Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) School of Pharmacy or the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) School of Pharmacy. This dual degree program allows students to receive their bachelor's degree and their PharmD in as little as 6 years (MCW) or 7 years (CUW). With the first year of pharmacy school double-counting toward both degrees, students earn their white coat faster and more cost-effectively.
The Natural Sciences Department provides learners with a safe, supportive environment offering a wealth of opportunities, with a focus on building STEM professional identity as students grow their knowledge base, skill set, and resume.
- Small class sizes with faculty who are invested in the success of each individual student
- The 8 Alverno Abilities, emphasis on self assessment, and narrative feedback from faculty to help students develop and polish the skills most sought by employers and graduate/professional schools
- A required undergraduate internship (often paid), with a formalized program to ensure students get the most out of the internship experience
- A pre-professional program with additional programming, guidance, and instruction from our pre-professional faculty advisors
- The Mary Ellen Powers summer research fellowship program, a paid STEM research experience open to all students (even freshman!)
- Over $3 million dollars in grant support for STEM scholarships, facilities, laboratory instrumentation, and programming
- A $2 million award from the National Science Foundation that will provide over $1.3 million in scholarship support for eligible STEM students from 2025-2030, along with STEM programming to support the success of these scholars
- Funding to sponsor travel to professional conferences and a cohort travel model where faculty and students travel together to multiple local and national conferences each year
- A supportive STEM community that provides leadership opportunities, on-campus paid work as laboratory/greenhouse assistants and peer tutors, a peer mentoring program, an alumni mentoring network, and weekly professional development programming in our STEM community clubhouse space
Location: Natural Science Department faculty offices are in Corona Hall 2nd floor, the chemistry and biology laboratory spaces are Read Center 2nd floor, the STEM Community Clubhouse is Read Center 201, and our Greenhouse is located between the Read Center and Alexia Hall.
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