Life Sciences Communication, BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Wisconsin Madison

Program Overview

The Life Sciences Communication, BS at the University of Wisconsin–Madison prepares students to communicate complex scientific topics across print, audio, video, and web platforms, with applications in areas such as health, agriculture, environment, natural resources, and emerging technologies. The program suits students who want to combine science, communication, media, and strategic thinking while learning to create effective messages for diverse audiences.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their communication and academic foundations through courses such as LSC 100: Science and Storytelling and LSC 212: Introduction to Scientific Communication, while beginning mathematics, chemistry, general education, and first-year seminar requirements. LSC 212 develops skills in creating science digests, proposals, newsletters, and articles for agriculture, natural resources, health, and science-related topics.

Year 2: Students explore the relationship between science, society, media, and research through LSC 251: Science, Media and Society and LSC 250: Research Methods in the Communication Industry, alongside statistics and broader university coursework. They also begin selecting LSC core electives that can introduce areas such as marketing communication, digital video, media design, misinformation, visual communication, or podcasting.

Year 3: Students deepen their communication expertise through an LSC core elective and begin a chosen concentration in either Communication Strategy or Communication Skills and Technologies. Depending on their interests, courses can include LSC 435: Brand Strategy for the Sciences, LSC 432: Social Media for the Sciences, LSC 450: Documentary Photography for the Sciences, or LSC 460: Social Media Analytics.

Year 4: Students complete advanced concentration coursework and finish with LSC 515: Social Marketing Campaigns in Science, Health and the Environment or LSC 640: Case Studies in the Communication of Science and Technology as the capstone experience. These courses bring together communication theory, research, data, and practical problem-solving to address real societal or organizational challenges.

Focus Areas

Communication Strategy; Communication Skills and Technologies — students can develop strategic expertise in areas such as brand strategy, digital media, health and risk communication, or data analysis, or build practical skills in narrative, social media, photography, web design, and video production.

Learning Outcomes

Specialized science communication knowledge; critical and creative thinking; effective communication across media and audiences; global perspective; teamwork and civic responsibility; professional and ethical communication.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

University accreditation: UW–Madison is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), providing the degree with recognized institutional accreditation. The Life Sciences Communication BS itself is presented by UW–Madison as a university degree program rather than as a separately professionally accredited program.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Global reputation: UW–Madison was ranked 30th worldwide and 20th in the U.S. in the 2025 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) Global 2000, with the university placing 115th worldwide for employability. UW–Madison also reports a 50th-place national ranking and 10th-place ranking among public universities in LinkedIn's 2025 ranking for long-term career success.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Life Sciences Communication, BS gain practical experience by working across print, audio, video, web, social media, and strategic communication. The program combines state-of-the-art computer labs, radio labs, and video production equipment with capstone projects, real-world clients, internships, and opportunities to participate in science communication research. Students can also develop hands-on skills through courses such as Digital and Print Media Design, Digital Video Production, Social Media for the Sciences, Social Media Analytics, Web Design for the Sciences, and Advanced Video Production.

The program connects classroom learning with professional practice through:

Real-world client projects: Capstone students can work with a real-life client on a social marketing campaign designed to influence behavioral change, giving them experience developing and presenting communication strategies for an actual organization.
Team-based campaigns: In LSC 515: Social Marketing Campaigns in Science, Health and the Environment, students develop strategic communication campaigns; previous students worked in teams on the “Clean the Stream” campaign for Union South, presenting their final strategies to university stakeholders.
Digital media production: Students can build practical production skills through LSC 314: Introduction to Digital Video Production, LSC 332: Digital and Print Media Design, LSC 360: Science Podcasting & Radio, and LSC 532: Web Design for the Sciences.
Social media tools and analytics: LSC 432: Social Media for the Sciences and LSC 460: Social Media Analytics develop skills in planning social media communication and evaluating its impact, while the department provides computer and media-production facilities for hands-on learning.
Video and communication equipment: Students have access to video production equipment, radio labs, and state-of-the-art computer labs, supporting multimedia communication projects and professional preparation.
Internships: Most LSC students participate in internships, with opportunities in marketing agencies, environmental and sustainability organizations, healthcare agencies, and agricultural agencies.
Professional internship experience: Recent students have interned with organizations including Milwaukee Tool, Wisconsin Land + Water, and the UW–Madison Geology Museum, applying skills such as Adobe InDesign, graphic design, social media planning, website management, video production, and public outreach.
Research opportunities: Students interested in science communication research can participate in research projects with professors leading the field of science communication, providing an opportunity to explore research alongside faculty.
Study abroad: LSC students can gain international experience through study-abroad opportunities in locations including Spain, Uganda, Denmark, England, and Ecuador, with programs ranging from two weeks to an academic year.
Professional networks: The department hosts career panels, publishes alumni profiles, and maintains a LinkedIn group that shares job opportunities and facilitates connections between current students and alumni.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BA in Biological Sciences with a Microbiology Specialization can prepare students for careers across life sciences, healthcare, clinical research, biotechnology, and scientific research. The University of Chicago specifically highlights research, healthcare, industry, education, and health-related policy as possible directions for Biological Sciences graduates.

Typical Job Roles: Research Assistant, Clinical Research Coordinator, Biologist, Laboratory Manager.

Career Support & Employer Access:

Career Advancement: Provides personalized career advising, resume and interview support, networking guidance, internships, treks, and job opportunities to help students transition from university to employment.
Biological Sciences Advising: Students can receive specialized career advising through UChicago Handshake and access biological-sciences career resources, internships, and professional-development opportunities.
Industry Recruiting: The Life Sciences Employer Expo and STEM Career Fair connect students with employers across life sciences, biotechnology, healthcare, and related STEM industries.
Employer Network: UChicago's Biological Sciences career programs identify employers such as AbbVie, Biogen, Genentech, Ginkgo Bioworks, Illumina, Moderna, NIH, Pfizer, and Tempus.

Employment & Salary Outcomes:

Post-College Offers: 98% of the UChicago Class of 2026 was expected to receive a post-college offer by graduation, including employment and graduate-school opportunities.
Employment Offers: For the Class of 2025, 71% of students receiving post-college offers received employment offers, while 29% received graduate-school offers.
Biologist Salary: UChicago Career Advancement lists a median entry-level salary of $42,320 for Biologist positions.
Research Assistant Salary: The university lists a median entry-level salary of $50,902 for Research Assistant positions.
Laboratory Manager Salary: The university lists a median entry-level salary of $49,523 for Laboratory Manager positions.
Research Scientist Salary: UChicago lists a median entry-level salary of $75,735 for Research Scientist positions, while noting that advanced degrees may be required for some research-science pathways.

University–Industry Connections: UChicago's Biological Sciences career programs provide access to life-sciences employers including AbbVie, Biogen, Genentech, Ginkgo Bioworks, Illumina, Moderna, Pfizer, and Tempus, while Career Advancement partners with employers ranging from nonprofits to multinational organizations.

Microbiology Experience: Students following the Microbiology Specialization can combine focused biological-science study with UChicago research and internship opportunities. The Biological Sciences curriculum emphasizes scientific reasoning, research, and discovery, providing preparation for careers in academic or industry research and healthcare.

Accreditation Value: The University of Chicago's official Biological Sciences materials do not state a separate professional accreditation specifically for the BA in Biological Sciences – Microbiology Specialization. The specialization is recognized on the student's transcript as part of the Biological Sciences major.

Graduation Outcomes: UChicago graduates progress into employment, graduate study, professional schools, and research-oriented careers. For the Class of 2026, the university reports offers from organizations including the National Institutes of Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Argonne National Laboratory, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BA, students can continue into graduate and professional education in areas such as biological sciences, microbiology, biomedical sciences, public health, medicine, and other life-science disciplines. UChicago reports that its Biological Sciences students use research and internship experiences to prepare for graduate programs and professional schools, and its Class of 2026 graduates received offers from institutions including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Chicago.