Mathematical Biology program
Use math and statistics to understand life
What if you could use mathematics to predict whether an animal population might become extinct? Or use statistics and computer models to understand how traits are passed from parents to offspring?
Mathematical biology brings mathematics, statistics and biology together to answer questions like these. In UW-La Crosse’s Mathematical Biology minor, you’ll learn how to use mathematical modeling, statistics and computational tools to describe biological processes, analyze complex systems and make predictions.
The minor is an excellent complement to a STEM major, giving you quantitative and analytical skills you can apply within your primary area of study. You’ll build a foundation in mathematical modeling and statistics while exploring applications in areas such as biology, biochemistry and ecology.
What is mathematical biology?
Mathematical biology uses mathematics and statistics to understand and predict how living systems work.
Rather than simply observing a biological process, researchers can use equations, statistical methods and computer models to represent what is happening and explore what might happen next. These approaches can help scientists study everything from population growth and disease spread to genetics, ecosystems and other complex biological systems.
Careers in mathematical biology
Mathematical biology has a long history, but advances in biology, computing and data science have expanded the field and created new opportunities for using mathematics to solve biological problems.
Mathematical biology is an interdisciplinary field that can prepare you to apply quantitative skills to problems in the life sciences. The field is growing in importance due to enormous amounts of genetic and biological data that has come with the genomics revolution. Also, with greater computing power and computer-based experimentation, more complex questions can be answered through mathematical approaches and researchers can now understand more complex and nonlinear biological processes.
The Mathematical Biology minor is designed primarily for students majoring in STEM fields and can be especially valuable if you’re interested in careers or graduate study involving public health, medical research, environmental studies, and others.
What makes UWL's Mathematical Biology program distinct?
The Mathematical Biology minor combines core mathematics courses in mathematical modeling and statistics coursework with biology, biochemistry, and ecology. By combining these disciplines, you’ll learn to approach biological questions from multiple perspectives and use quantitative tools to better understand living systems.
Your mathematical biology minor coursework can complement your major and help you develop skills that employers and graduate programs value such as the ability to analyze data, build mathematical models and use computational approaches.
Students can participate in local, regional and international mathematics or statistics modeling contests.
Sample courses
