Four Exciting Programs

Lawrence Tech offers four undergraduate programs in the life sciences: biomedical engineering, chemical biology, molecular and cell biology, and psychology. Lawrence Tech’s life sciences programs provide not only rigorous classroom and laboratory learning, but also opportunities to experience practical applications throughinternships, co-operative work/study arrangements, applied research with faculty, and focused independent study.

Biomedical Engineering
A biomedical engineer uses cutting-edge engineering expertise to analyze and solve problems in biology and medicine, leading to an overall enhancement of health care and medical research. Students choose the biomedical engineering field to be of service to people, to experience the excitement of working with living systems, and to apply advanced technology to the complex problems of modern medicine. Biomedical engineers are called upon in a wide range of capacities: to design instruments, devices, and software; to bring together knowledge from varied technical sources to develop new procedures; or to conduct cutting-edge research needed to solve clinical problems.

Students in Lawrence Tech’s biomedical engineering program will choose from one of three concentrations: biochemical, bioelectrical, or biomechanical. An important aspect of the biomedical engineering program is its interdisciplinary curriculum. Students complete course work in several engineering disciplines as well as numerous classes and laboratories in other areas central to the life sciences.

Chemical Biology
Chemical biology focuses on understanding biological systems at the molecular level and employs techniques and ideas from all fields of chemistry. The essence of any organism is encoded in its DNA, and its continuing existence and functional development depend on a delicate molecular ballet. With newly developed technologies, it is now possible to investigate and to work directly with the most basic components of life in ways that were once thought impossible. Graduates of Lawrence Tech’s chemical biology program are prepared to begin careers in biotechnology upon graduation, to pursue graduate studies in chemistry, molecular biology, or chemical biology, or to enter medical school or other professional programs.

The chemical biology undergraduate program at Lawrence Tech is the first in the Midwest and one of only a handful in the United States. Its curriculum provides a balance of rich theoretical instruction and extensive laboratory experience, ensuring that ideas developed in the classroom are brought into practical focus.

Molecular and Cell Biology
The biotechnology revolution is under way, making molecular and cell biology one of the fastest-growing fields in all of biology. Molecular and cell biologists study cells and molecules but always with a view to understanding how these crucial components are integrated into the biological whole.

As the first of its kind in southeastern Michigan, Lawrence Tech’s undergraduate molecular and cell biology degree is a comprehensive program with an emphasis on understanding how individual cells and molecules influence the biology of organisms, populations, and communities. Students receive hands-on research experience using state-of-the-art equipment in Lawrence Tech’s modern biology laboratories. The bachelor of science degree in molecular and cell biology can prepare students for the ever-expanding job market in the life sciences industry or for future study in graduate or professional schools.

Psychology
Few things are as fascinating as human behavior. At Lawrence Tech, an interest in psychology can be transformed into a rewarding and fulfilling career. The occupational outlook for psychologists is bright, with a wide range of career tracks at all degree levels. Lawrence Tech’s major in psychology can be preparation for immediate entry into a variety of careers based on understanding human motivation and interaction. The degree also can provide a solid foundation for advanced and professional degrees.

Psychology is among the fastest-growing professional areas, and Lawrence Tech offers three pathways into this exciting field: clinical psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and pre-medical/biobehavioral psychology. Students working toward a bachelor’s degree in psychology begin with a core of foundational course work and finish with interdisciplinary course work and electives in the individual concentrations. Each concentration requires students to participate in basic and applied behavioral research, including cuttingedge laboratory experience, and offers hands-on experience in the workplace through internships.