Natural Sciences Division | UW College of Arts & Sciences

Why study the Natural Sciences?

In the Natural Sciences Division, students can study everything from nanoparticles to living organisms to galaxies to differential equations, with opportunities to participate in cutting-edge research that advances science and technology. Through a broad Arts & Sciences education, students connect ideas across disciplines and tap into their creativity and curiosity.

Research

Through the natural sciences, we investigate and understand ourselves, our world, and the universe. We also come to understand our place as individuals and as a species. Discoveries in the natural sciences, often emerging from basic research, transform society as they address everything from disease to global warming. Research plays a critical role in the division, with more than 400 natural sciences students participating in the University’s annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. Natural sciences researchers generate more than $90 million in research grants annually.

More About Art & Sciences Research

Close up of underside of octopus, showing suckers on limbs

A Sucker for Octopuses

Biology and psychology major Joey Ullmann’s three passions — marine biology, the neural basis of behavior, and scuba diving — all came together in the UW Department of Psychology octopus lab, where he studied the behaviors of the elusive Pacific red octopus.

What do Natural Sciences students do after graduating?

The natural sciences prepare the next generation of strategic and inquisitive thinkers. Alumni pursue a broad range of careers — from health care to conservation to education to finance.

Faculty and student working on a research project.

In psychology, the universe of possibilities is endless. I wanted to pursue a psychology degree to go into the field of behavioral economics, analyzing consumer trends and investment.

Tim Tiasevanakul BS, Psychology and BA, Law, Societies and Justice, 2020

Alumni Career Paths

Research technician
Clinical program director
Portfolio analyst
Entrepreneur
Mental health counselor
Nonprofit director
Educator
Physician
Nurse practitioner
Physical therapist
Statistician
Environmental analyst

Natural Sciences programs

Whatever your interest, there’s a program in the Natural Sciences Division for you.

Department of Applied Mathematics
- B.S., Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences
- B.S., Applied Mathematics
- B.S., Applied Mathematics: Data Science Option
- B.S., Computational Finance and Risk Management
- B.S., Computational Finance and Risk Management: Data Science Option
- M.S., Applied and Computational Mathematics
- M.S., Applied Mathematics
- M.S., Computational Finance and Risk Management
- PhD, Applied Mathematics
- PhD, Applied Mathematics: Advanced Data Science
Department of Astronomy
- B.S., Astronomy
- M.S., Astronomy
- PhD, Astronomy
Department of Biology
- B.A., Biology
- B.S., Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
- B.S., Biology: General
- B.S., Biology: Molecular, Cellular, and Develpmental
- B.S., Biology: Physiology
- B.S., Biology: Plant Biology
- M.S., Biology
- PhD, Biology
Department of Chemistry
- B.A., Biochemistry
- B.A., Chemistry
- B.S., Biochemistry
- B.S., Chemistry
- B.S., Chemistry: ACS Certified
- M.S., Applied Chemical Science and Technology
- PhD, Chemistry
Department of Mathematics
- B.A., Mathematics
- B.A., Mathematics: Philosophy
- B.A., Mathematics: Teacher Preparation
- B.S., Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences
- B.S., Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences: Data Science and Statistics
- B.S., Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences: Discrete Mathematics and Algorithms
- B.S., Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences: Mathematical Economics and Quantitative Finance
- B.S., Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences: Scientific Computing and Numerical Analysis
- B.S., Mathematics
- M.A., Mathematics
- M.S., Mathematics
- PhD, Mathematics
- PhD, Mathematics: Advanced Data Science
Department of Physics
- B.S., Physics
- M.S., Physics
- PhD, Physics
Department of Psychology
- B.A., Psychology
- B.S., Psychology
- M.A., Applied Child & Adolescent Psychology: Prevention & Treatment
- PhD, Psychology
- PhD, Psychology: Advanced Data Science Option
- PhD, Psychology: Clinical Psychology
- PhD, Psychology: Data Science Option
Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences
- B.S., Speech and Hearing Sciences
- M.S., Clinical Research Speech-Language Pathology
- M.S., Educational Speech-Language Pathology
- M.S., Medical Speech-Language Pathology
- PhD, Speech and Hearing Sciences
Department of Statistics
- B.S., Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences
- B.S., Statistics: Applied Statistics
- B.S., Statistics: Data Science
- B.S., Statistics: Mathematical Statistics
- M.S., Data Science
- M.S., Statistics
- PhD, Statistics

Cool Courses

Dive into some of the exciting courses offered in the Natural Sciences. Faculty often develop classes that cross disciplines and apply a scientific lens to significant societal questions.