At Lawrence Tech, we prioritize teaching and student success above all else. Unlike large research universities, our faculty’s primary mission is to educate, mentor, and guide students on their academic and professional journeys. In the Department of Natural Sciences, you’ll experience personalized support and unparalleled opportunities to thrive.
With class sizes of 30 students or less, you’ll never get lost in the crowd in your Natural Sciences classes. Your professors will know your name long before the end of your freshman year. You’ll receive academic and career guidance from a faculty member in your discipline, ensuring your goals are always a priority.
Your courses and labs will always be taught by expert teaching faculty, never graduate student teaching assistants. In your classes and labs, you’ll gain practical experience with the tools and technologies used in professional scientific careers.
Internships, leadership opportunities, and hands-on coursework will help prepare you with the professional skills you need for careers in research, industry, or medicine. Whether your next step is graduate school, professional school, or your first job, LTU Natural Sciences will set you up to succeed.
All Natural Sciences students have the opportunity to participate in biology, chemistry, and physics research projects. In addition to a senior research experience, you can also participate in course-based research experiences or the Quest undergraduate student researcher program as early as freshman year.
LTU students have access to excellent scholarships, with hundreds of competitive scholarships awarded each year. While all students are automatically reviewed for merit scholarships upon acceptance to LTU, Natural Sciences majors also have access to unique scholarship opportunities and other support programs to help you invest in your future and achieve your academic goals.
The STEM Scholar Award is designed to support high-achieving LTU students majoring in STEM fields. Full-time, first-year students pursuing a STEM degree like biology, chemistry, and physics are eligible for this award. To be considered for this scholarship, students must meet the following requirements:
Students are automatically reviewed for this scholarship; there is no application. Scholarship funds are for tuition use only.
The I-CAAN Scholars program provides financial support and mentoring opportunities for academically talented, economically disadvantaged students majoring in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematical sciences, or physics.
This program requires a secondary application after acceptance to Lawrence Technological University.
Participating in undergraduate research is an excellent opportunity to develop essential critical thinking and problem-solving skills and to enhance your career or graduate school prospects. Natural Sciences undergraduate researchers lead the future of science through their close involvement in the research process, from experimental design to data analysis. Students have a chance to share their work and connect with the scientific community through LTU’s Research Day symposium, national and regional conferences, and publications in scholarly journals.
In the Department of Natural Sciences, every student has the opportunity to complete a senior research project under the guidance of a dedicated faculty mentor. In addition, students have the option to participate in internships, course-based research experiences, and our Quest undergraduate student researcher program as soon as their freshman year
Learn more about areas of active research on the pages below.
A degree in biology, chemistry, or physics is the first step to many great careers in research, medicine, or industry, and the careers listed below are just some of excellent options. Through a commitment to hands-on learning, individual attention from faculty mentors, and real-world experiences through research and internships, the Department of Natural Sciences helps prepare you to succeed in whatever your next step may be.
This broad-based degree provides a strong background in genetics, biochemistry, ecology, cell biology, and more.
A chemistry degree prepares graduates to address diverse array of industrial, engineering, and medical challenges.
Prepare for great STEM careers as you explore the composition, behavior, and interactions of matter and energy.
There are many opportunities to get involved in campus life at Lawrence Tech. In addition to LTU’s excellent athletic teams, a thriving Greek life community, and roles in student government, there are over 40 academic and social organizations students can join to enhance their university experience.
The Department of Natural Sciences hosts and advises student chapters of three outstanding scientific organizations: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, American Chemical Society, and Society of Physics Students.
These organizations provide students with valuable opportunities to build professional connections by providing funding for conference travel and sponsoring guest speaker seminars. There’s plenty of fun, too; students form lifelong friendships during events like movie and game nights, museum trips, liquid nitrogen ice cream socials, holiday events, and an annual tie-dye lab coat party.
Our small class sizes, one-on-one mentorship from faculty, undergraduate research opportunities, and emphasis on hands-on learning makes LTU Natural Sciences the ideal place to launch your career in science, research, medicine, industry, and more.
Natural Sciences courses are taught by expert faculty members, never teaching assistants. Natural Sciences classes are capped at approximately thirty students, although even smaller sizes are common for labs and upper-level courses. Your professors will get to know you, your strengths, and your career goals over the course of the semester and act as helpful mentors in your educational journey.
Good advice from advisors is essential for graduating on time and preparing for your next step after LTU, so we conduct all academic advising within our college. Incoming students will meet with specialized College of Arts and Sciences advisors to discuss career goals, learn how to choose classes, and prepare for your first semester at LTU. For future semesters, you will be assigned a full-time faculty member within your discipline as your advisor, who will meet with you every semester to ensure you’re on track for success.
LTU’s Biology, Chemistry, and Physics degrees are excellent preparation for many in-demand career paths. Our graduates are currently employed as scientific researchers, engineers and materials scientists, life science and healthcare professionals, and more. The Department of Natural Sciences prepares our students for these great careers through hands-on learning, research experiences, and one-on-one mentorship to help you succeed.
There are many scholarship opportunities for LTU students. All applicants are automatically reviewed for academic merit scholarships, and Natural Sciences majors may also qualify for the STEM Scholar Award (up to $19,650 over 4 years) and the I-CAAN Scholars Program scholarship (up to $15,000/year over 4 years). You can review all scholarships on LTU’s Scholarships page, or reach out to your LTU Admissions counselor about how to find external scholarships based on your interests, career goals, and background.
I-CAAN is a scholarship and student success initiative that supports incoming LTU students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Data Science, and Mathematical Science. I-CAAN Scholars have access to mentorship, networking, and community resources, as well as up to $15,000/year in scholarship funding. Learn more about I-CAAN and how to apply on the I-CAAN Scholars Program website.
All Natural Sciences students are required to complete a senior research project for their final year at LTU. Students identify their faculty mentors and design their research projects during the Leadership in Scientific Research (PSC 3002) class in their junior year. However, interested students are encouraged to get involved in research even earlier.
Current research areas and the faculty involved are listed on the College of Arts and Sciences research page. You can find if a research lab has opportunities by reaching out directly to a research-active faculty member. You can also ask your faculty advisor for suggestions on current research projects.
Quest is a co-curricular experiential learning program for College of Arts and Sciences students who are passionate about research. This program provides funding for students to work alongside a faculty mentor on an independent research project and present their work at LTU’s Research Day event. Learn more about Quest and how to apply on the Quest Program webpage.
Yes! The Department of Natural Sciences works closely with coaches and LTU Athletics staff to ensure students are supported both on the field and in the classroom through one-on-one advising, time management/study skill workshops, and tutoring resources. About 40% of current Natural Sciences students are student-athletes.
Yes! Many Natural Sciences students choose to participate in internships, clinical care roles, or job shadowing experiences during their time at LTU. The Department periodically sends students information on these opportunities through Canvas. Additionally, LTU’s Office of Career Services helps students locate co-ops, internships, and job positions. If you are a pre-health student seeking clinical care hours, reach out to pre-health advisor Dr. Jeff Morrissette (jmorrissette@ltu.edu).
Yes! Prospective LTU students can arrange a personalized tour of our research labs, chat with faculty members, and discuss shadowing opportunities by contacting science outreach coordinator Ms. Erika Forest (eforest@ltu.edu).
Yes! We welcome high school groups to visit LTU for a fun day of hands-on science discovery. Encourage your teacher to explore our high school outreach opportunities.
In Humanities, Social Sciences, and Communication, we explore what makes us uniquely human. Through ancient and modern texts, social norms, and communication, we uncover how these fields are essential to all careers and human endeavors.
In a world of programming, proofs, and unending figures and unfeeling facts, is there room for a touch of magic? Data drives discovery, innovation redefines intelligence, and when curiosity meets logic, mathematics can be miraculous.
Curiosity drives discovery in biology, chemistry, and physics, guiding us from molecular interactions to chemical reactions and the fundamental laws of nature. Explore what makes you curious.
