Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences

at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee USA

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. Students of linguistics do not necessarily seek fluency in a second or third language. Instead, they study the components that make up any given language - the syntax, the grammar, the regional differences, the slang, the pronunciations, the symbols, the changes over time, how people learn a language, and more.

At UWM, Linguistics students can opt for a broad linguistics major which will touch on all aspects of language development and learning. Or, students can choose an applied linguistics major which will focus more on using the principles of linguistics in a business setting such as in the classroom to help students learn a second language, in a social service agency that deals with illiteracy, or at a software company working on search engine optimization terms.

This concentration is designed for the music student who wishes to concentrate primarily on the major performing skill. The student may specialize in either classical, finger-style, or jazz guitar. A student must successfully pass an audition at an advanced level of performance to qualify for admission to the program.

Applicant proposing concentration in Music Performance Guitar must demonstrate outstanding performance skills. An on-site audition is required; in extreme cases, recorded examples of an applicant’s performance may be accepted in lieu of an in-person audition. Applicant should contact faculty in the appropriate performance area to inquire about specific audition repertoire and procedures.

Economics is the study of choice and decision-making in the face of scarce resources, both at the individual and group levels. Economists examine tradeoffs between different actions and behaviors; analyze different scenarios such as a change in prices, cultural values, or law; and seek to explain and predict human behavior.

Students often ask what the difference is between Economics and Finance. The areas are interrelated and inform and influence each other. Professionally, there is also crossover, with economists working in financial markets and financial experts working on economic policy. In broad terms, economics focuses on concepts related to overall markets, government policy, and decision-making influences. Finance tends to focus on individual businesses and individual people, including the study of assets and liabilities, and financial statements and reporting.

At UWM, students of economics have access to faculty members who are internationally recognized experts in their field. Focus areas for students to choose from include economic theory, quantitative methods including econometrics, public policy, law and the economy, labor economics, and international economic relations.

Students of history do not just memorize the past. They ask questions about the past in order to solve problems of the present.

History is an original liberal arts field and is designed to prepare students for any type of profession that emphasizes critical analysis, reading of dense texts, creative problem-solving, and oral and written communication. History majors collect and analyze evidence to construct arguments, propose new interpretations, formulate conclusions, test hypotheses, and communicate new ideas.

There is no typical job for a history major. Our graduates can be found in all types of companies and in all types of roles, as well as graduate programs in history and other related humanities and social science fields. A student's career choices after college is often guided by how they applied their coursework to real world applications during college. Internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer experiences will help a student network during college and shape their career choices after graduation. The possibilities are numerous, and all students are encouraged to gain practical experience that complements the major.

At UWM, undergraduates can work on research projects such as the Encyclopedia of Milwaukee. The opportunity to participate in research as an undergraduate is a distinct advantage for UWM students. At most large, research universities, research opportunities for undergraduates are limited; there are fewer of them and they often are reserved for juniors or seniors. At UWM, you can get involved as early as freshman year. Students work directly with faculty and graduate students on their current research projects, and sometimes find themselves published in a peer-reviewed journal right alongside the faculty member. Participating in undergraduate research is an excellent way to enhance your resume for graduate school or employment.

The Master of Science degree in Kinesiology provides students with an understanding of how physical activity (including sport and exercise) impact and are affected by various physiological, mechanical, and psychosocial aspects of human health and performance.

The degree prepares students for careers in higher-education, research, and practice through didactic coursework in the areas of Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Motor Behavior, Rehabilitation, Sport& Exercise Psychology, and Psychosocial Aspects of Health Behavior.

Knowledge and skills in research-related and discipline-specific coursework helps prepare students to address complex real-world health and performance issues and utilize critical thinking skills to generate knowledge and make sound decisions to support continued personal and professional development.

Biomedical engineering (BME) students at UWM will learn to translate engineering principles into clinical methods. Students will also engage in collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects with labs in the College of Engineering & Applied Science, College of Letters & Science, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, School of Public Health, and with local industry.

The BME undergraduate program emphasizes engineering design in preparation for employment in biomedical industries or launching startups in this fast-growing field. Freshmen and sophomores take a core curriculum that provides a foundation of engineering principles and tools, software application, anatomy and physiology, and communication skills. Juniors take courses on sensors and actuators, biomedical signal processing and medical devices. Seniors also work on capstone design projects and the Product Realization course in multidisciplinary teams. A wide variety of elective courses allow juniors and seniors to specialize in the area of their choice.

Political science is the study of governments, political processes, public policies and political behavior by groups or individuals and is an ideal major for students with a passion for current events.

At UWM, students take coursework from four broad areas of political science in order to obtain a well-rounded education in the field: American politics, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory. Along with exploring these substantive areas, students strengthen their research, writing, and critical thinking skills.  With this background, students leave UWM ready to enter graduate school or the world of work in government, international organizations, campaigns, business, consulting, nonprofits, and many other industries. This broad major is available entirely online, or students can mix-and-match and take a some online and some traditional classes.

Actuarial science is the quantitative analysis of risk. In addition to mathematics and statistics courses, students in actuarial science take classes in finance, economics, and computer programming.  

What Do Actuaries Do?
Actuaries help individuals, businesses and society manage risk by evaluating the likelihood of future events and creating plans to reduce the negative financial or emotional impact of undesirable events. Some of the questions that actuaries address on a daily basis include:

• What price best balances an insurance company’s risk tolerance with various risk parameters such as age of the insured, health status, place of residence, and other risk characteristics?
• What would be the economic loss in the event of a flood, and how can these costs be covered?
• How large a fund is needed for a company to provide pensions for its employees?
• How likely is it for someone to be hospitalized? What is the average duration of a hospital stay, and how can the costs associated with each day of hospitalization be provided for?
• In the event of a merger, how can the employee benefits plans of the different organizations be reconciled?
• How should an investment portfolio be balanced to maximize return and minimize risk?
• Actuaries also must take this information and convey it to their companies and customers clearly and concisely through written reports, graphs, charts, or other visual or oral presentation formats.

This concentration is designed primarily for the student with an undergraduate degree in music education or performance who wishes to pursue advanced training in Conducting: Instrumental plus related studies in music performance and allied areas. A student must successfully pass an audition that demonstrates an advanced level of conducting skill to qualify for admission to the program.  Students may also have to pass other audition(s) in performance area(s), depending on their focus.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Dance prepares students to teach participatory movement traditions in community settings, and to lead community groups in creating and performing their own dances and movement rituals. Community-based service-learning experiences provide many opportunities to realize these goals. Many Dance BA students pursue a double major at UWM; the service-learning component provides an opportunity to integrate the content of the two areas of study.