The Department of Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences (CoAS) at Lawrence Technological University (LTU) is debuting two in-demand concentrations in the fall 2026 semester.
These concentrations—biomedical sciences and engineering physics—are designed to align with growing student interest and industry needs.
Preparing Tomorrow’s Medical Professionals
The biomedical sciences concentration was designed for students who want to pursue health-related career paths, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, medical research, and more. Science Outreach Coordinator Erika Forest explained, “A lot of people are either interested in exploring medical careers or definitely know that they want to pursue a medical track.” This new concentration will cover topics such as “medical terminology” and “healthcare ethics” along with the required core classes in biology, chemistry, and physics.
Natural Sciences Department Chair Shannon Timmons, PhD, said, “We established the biomedical sciences concentration within our biology degree because today’s healthcare and research landscapes demand graduates who go beyond foundational science to truly understand human health and disease.
“Our students gain targeted coursework, real-world lab experience, and tailored mentorship that both fulfill professional school prerequisites and build the critical thinking needed for success in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, and translational research. This concentration not only gives our students a competitive edge in applications to health-related professional programs but also strengthens LTU’s mission of preparing innovators who can translate scientific knowledge into tangible improvements in patient care and biomedical discovery.”
Alongside biomedical sciences, LTU is also introducing a second concentration focused on the intersection of physics and engineering.
Physics and Engineering: A Necessary Combination
Forest said, “There’s a lot of physics in engineering. To be successful, you need a strong math and physics background.” In collaboration with LTU’s College of Engineering, the new engineering physics concentration teaches future engineers the fundamentals of physics while exploring several engineering careers.
George Moschelli, PhD, associate chair of Natural Sciences, said, “Physics and engineering are deeply intertwined. Core physics ideas like electricity and magnetism, light, forces and torques, materials, fluids, and thermodynamics all underpin modern technologies. Each engineering field applies different combinations of these concepts. Physics has also driven major advances in computing and programming. Because of this broad technical experience, physicists often grow into engineering team leaders. Engineering physics is ideal for students who want flexibility: it is a springboard toward a master’s degree in any engineering specialty while building the wide-ranging expertise needed for leadership. Quantum technologies are one of the next frontiers. Someday soon, new engineers are going to need to study quantum mechanics. We want our students to be ahead of that curve.”
One of the exciting benefits of an LTU education is that “all of our students are heavily participating in important research as undergrads,” Forest said. “They’re making the LTU motto of ‘Theory and Practice’ come alive in a meaningful way.”
Since their announcement in fall 2025, both programs have generated strong interest among prospective and current LTU students.
By: Renée Ahee
