There are many hands-on experiences in the biochemistry curricula that emphasize laboratory work, where students learn to use equipment and instrumentation, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography (GC) and GC-Mass Spectrometry, UV-Vis Absorbance, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Fluorescence, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

IWU Division of Natural Sciences offers dedicated pre-healthcare advising and a pre-healthcare designation, a curriculum of coursework that prepares students for medical, dental, physician assistant, and other healthcare graduate programs. This coursework ensures you meet all prerequisites for medical (MCAT-focused), dental school, and other healthcare graduate programs with specialized seminars for first-year and third-year. In the first year, students are introduced to a Christian perspective of careers in the health care sciences. In the third year, they continue to develop critical thinking and reasoning skills by studying and analyzing cross-disciplinary problems, such as applying principles of physics and chemistry to the human body, which are highly valued in graduate admissions. Students will be prepared for national tests such as the MCAT, DAT, OAT, and GRE, which emphasize "critical thinking" and "data analysis" skills.

The IWU Division of Natural Sciences offers opportunities to conduct research mentored by IWU STEM faculty both during the semester and during the summer.  Each student will participate in a faculty-led research project in his/her area of interest, receiving course credit.

Separation & Purification Tools: Centrifuges, Chromatography Systems (HPLC, FPLC) and Gel Electrophoresis Systems

Analytical & Identification Tools: Spectrophotometers (UV-Vis, Fluorescence), Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS, LC-MS), and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) Spectrometers

Other Specialized Tools include: Microscopes (Light, Fluorescence, Phase-Contrast,  PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Machines, Microplate Readers and Environmental Control: pH meters, analytical balances, autoclaves (for sterilization), and CO2 incubators (for cell culture).

It is foundational to a career in either of these fields.

Dr. Warren Rogers: Endowed Chair of Physics, conducts research in nuclear physics, investigating and detecting neutrons arising from the decay of exotic nuclei.

Dr. Dan Jones: Professor of Biology, conducts research on dental osteonecrosis treatments.

Dr. Stephen Leonard, Associate Professor of Chemistry, conducts research on selective and potent inhibitors of the oncogenic tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2.

SCI 110 and PMD 110 are both first-year seminar courses that introduce students to areas of medicine and fields in STEM and the different career opportunities that are available within these fields. They learn about medical, dental, physician assistant and graduate school opportunities in research and medicine. Later through PMD 310 and BIO 490/CHE 490 they continue to explore career paths, participate in professional development (resumes, cover letters, interviews and LinkedIN).  IWU offers HRI research fellowship opportunities for students to gain hands on experience mentored by IWU STEM faculty, IWU Wildcat Farm offers horticulture internships and we promote many local and national research and internship opportunities to students throughout the year.  Faculty also provide guidance and mentorship to help discern next steps through advising and 1-1 mentor relationships, providing advice, expertise and letters of recommendation.

Our program provides preparation for a range of career professional career paths from science education to medicine to research in all areas of STEM. Specifically in the following areas these are paths students pursue:

Biology & Biochemistry

Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Research: Developing new drugs, gene therapies, and vaccines. Roles include process development scientists, pharmacologists, and clinical trial coordinators.

Genetics & Bioinformatics Data Analysis: Analyzing genomic data to understand diseases or evolutionary history.

Healthcare & Medicine: Beyond becoming a physician, these degrees are essential for roles in diagnostic medical imaging, clinical laboratory science, and public health administration.

Chemistry

Material Science: Developing new polymers, batteries, or semiconductors. This is a massive field for chemistry majors interested in hardware and manufacturing.

Analytical Chemistry: Ensuring quality and safety in industries ranging from food and beverage to cosmetics and government regulatory agencies (FDA, USDA or EPA).

Chemical Engineering: Moving beyond the lab to scale up chemical processes for industrial production.

Physics

Data Science & Quant Finance: The mathematical modeling skills physicists develop are highly sought after by banks for risk assessment and algorithm development.

Aerospace & Defense: Working on propulsion systems, guidance software, and complex satellite communications.

Medical Physics: Designing and maintaining high-tech medical equipment like MRI, CT, and radiotherapy machines.

Environmental Science

Field Research and Biology: Conducts research on plants, animals, microbes etc.

Sustainability Consulting: Helping corporations reduce their carbon footprint, manage waste, and comply with environmental regulations.

Environmental Engineering: Designing water treatment plants, air filtration systems, and sustainable infrastructure.

Conservation & Policy: Working with NGOs or government agencies to influence land-use policy, manage ecosystems, and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Foundational courses such as BIO 125, CHE 125 and PHY 111.

Lucas Thomas, Medical School

Alec Foster, Medical School

Olivia Lucas, Graduate School

Entering the field as a STEM major, graduates can pursue research labs, working for zoos, botanical gardens, the government. Or graduates can pursue advanced degrees in graduate or medicine to become doctors or research scientists.

We have a strong community of students, faculty, and staff with many opportunities to gain hands-on experience and develop mentor-mentee relationships. We offer opportunities in research, to serves as a teaching assistant, lab prep assistant and horticulture internships.

This varies widely but for students wanting to pursue healthcare and medicine 1-3000 hours of patient contact hours is often required for graduate/medical schools.

Student have access to Student Thriving, Life Calling, IT, career services and tutoring.

Students can apply to intern at Wildcat Farm through an application and selection process supervised by Dr. Jennifer Noseworthy and Professor Jacob Buck. Otherwise students pursue many intership opportunities off campus both locally and nationally.

If so, how many credits may transfer, and what does the transfer evaluation process involve?

Often they can depending on the program and there is course transfer evaluation form students can fill out and it will be reviewed by the division chair.

Not usually, however if a student participates in an internship they can research credit for their experience if they arrange it in advance of the internship experience.

None are required but many conduct research and participate in IWU HRI Colloquium and Celebration of Scholarship presenting oral and poster presentations.

We have state of the art facilities in STEM, a campus farm, robust research opportunities and students are exceptionally prepared for medical and graduate school