University of Wisconsin–Madison

Major Advising Page – Life Sciences Communication

Students majoring in Life Sciences Communication or completing the Science Communication Certificate are encouraged to complement their coursework with out-of-classroom experiences such as study abroad. Studying abroad exposes you to a wide array of opportunities that will strengthen your understanding of science communication issues throughout the world. In addition, the international experience gained from studying abroad is highly attractive to potential graduate programs and employers.

Most students with a major in Life Sciences Communication or the Science Communication Certificate are able to study abroad but should plan to complete their LSC major/certificate requirements here at UW-Madison. It is rare to find an exact LSC course equivalent on a study abroad program. While abroad, students are encouraged to complete general education requirements, elective credit or credit towards other non-LSC majors or certificates. Find all Major Advising Pages for recommended programs and times to study abroad.

LSC majors and certificate students have ample opportunity to study abroad with proper advance planning from their academic advisors.

Prospective Life Sciences Communication Students

Life Sciences Communication (LSC) at UW-Madison is a global leader in the field of science communication and is one of the only bachelor’s degree-granting programs in science communication worldwide. Due to the unique focus of our program, most study abroad locations will unlikely offer courses that are equivalent to those offered in LSC. Therefore, you are encouraged to plan to take all LSC requirements on campus at UW-Madison and focus study abroad credits on general education requirements, electives, or courses for other majors or certificates.

To study abroad, ensure you are familiar with Life Sciences Communication requirements and work with your advisor on developing a 4-year plan. Your 4-year plan will provide a sense of how and when studying abroad will best complement your major and degree. Although the LSC curriculum does not have a lot of sequencing requirements, it is important to take into consideration that the foundation and core courses are required to be completed prior to taking the LSC capstone course in your final semester. Additionally, some courses are only offered once per year. This is why you are strongly encouraged to talk with the advisor about your interest in studying abroad as early as possible.

Many LSC students also choose to pursue an additional major and/or certificate(s) during their time on campus. If you are a student pursuing additional majors/certificates, you should consult with all of your academic advisors to confirm program requirements and options for receiving study abroad credit for each academic program.

To gain background information about study abroad and the various programs available:

Science Communication certificate students

The Science Communication Certificate teaches students how to understand the way we all make sense of increasingly complex scientific breakthroughs.

Students in the Science Communication Certificate have only four required courses and should plan to complete those at UW-Madison. It is rare to find an exact LSC course equivalent in a study abroad program. While abroad, students are encouraged to complete general education credit, elective credit, or credit towards other majors or certificates. Find all Major Advising Pages for recommended programs and times to study abroad.

While it is rare to receive LSC credit on a study abroad program, Science Communication Certificate students are still encouraged to consider taking communications courses while abroad. A list of recommended programs with communications courses can be found at the bottom of this page.

Life Sciences Communication course considerations abroad

As noted above, students in LSC are unlikely to fulfill major or certificate credit requirements during a study abroad program. LSC majors and Science Communication Certificate students typically receive the following kinds of credit:

  • General Education Requirements

  • Credit towards other majors or certificates

  • Elective credit

You should also work with advisors for any other major(s) and certificate(s) to determine if courses from study abroad programs could count towards those academic programs.

Mapping your study abroad experience as a Life Sciences Communication major

  • Freshman year
    During freshman year, many students take general education requirements, including introductory communications, math, and science courses. Freshman students in LSC often enroll in LSC 100: Science and Storytelling to complete the Communication A requirement, and may begin enrolling in LSC core courses. Students interested in studying abroad earlier during their time at UW-Madison may consider short-term programs offered during winter intersessions, spring break, or summer.
  • Sophomore year
    During sophomore year, LSC majors continue to satisfy their general education requirements as well as some of the introductory coursework for the major. For students who have started completing some LSC requirements and campus general education requirements, the sophomore year could be a great time to study abroad during either semester or during winter break, spring break, or summer
  • Junior year
    Junior year is another time that LSC students may study abroad because they have likely completed foundational coursework in the major and the foundational courses in math and science. Courses that fulfill LSC core elective and depth requirements are offered at least once per year, which adds flexibility for moving those to one semester in junior year or taking them in the senior year. You can study abroad at any point in junior year with appropriate planning, including during either semester or during winter break, spring break, or summer.
  • Senior year
    Seniors in LSC will likely be taking upper-level LSC courses as well as completing additional majors or certificates and their LSC capstone in their final semester. It may be possible to study abroad for a semester during senior year with advance planning with the LSC advisor. Short-term programs during winter intersession or spring break are a good option to consider.

Example Four-Year Plan for Life Science communication major studying abroad for a semester

Many LSC students choose to use elective spaces like those indicated in the four-year plan below to complete an additional major or certificate(s). Other students choose to take more LSC courses than the minimum required, and others will fill those electives with pre-requisite coursework for graduate and professional school.

YearFallSpring
1st YearMath 112*
LSC 100 (Only if you need a Comm A course)
Ethnic Studies
Electives
First Year Seminar		LSC 212 (Comm B)
LSC Depth Elective
Chemistry
Humanities Elective
Social Sciences Elective
2nd YearLSC 251 (*Fulfills CALS International Studies)
LSC Core Elective
Statistics
Electives		LSC Core Elective
Science Elective
Humanities Elective
Electives
3rd YearLSC 250
Biological Sci Elective
Electives		Study Abroad
Science Elective
Electives
4th YearLSC Depth Course
Science Elective
Electives		LSC 515 or 640
Biological Science Elective
Electives

Questions to ask

Yourself

  • What am I looking for in a study abroad program? Specific location or length of time? Internship or research opportunities? Ability to live with a host family or live in a dorm or apartment?

  • How does studying abroad align with my academic and career goals?

  • What are my personal goals for a study abroad experience?

Your Academic Advisor

  • What classes must I complete for my degree (breadth/depth, major requirements, etc.)?

  • Do I need to be on UW-Madison’s campus for any courses in my major?

    How many electives do/can I have outside of my major?

Your Study Abroad Advisor

  • What classes can I take abroad?

  • How and when do I select courses for my program?

  • When will I know course equivalents for my program?

  • What is the class structure like abroad?

Hear from Students in Your Major

Explore student blogs and reflections to see how your peers have connected international experiences to their studies. Discover real stories about the skills, challenges, and professional insights gained through our programs.

Identifying Programs That are Right for You

There are many different study abroad programs available to students in LSC. Programs vary in their course offerings, language of instruction, duration, and cost. The list below provides a small sample of programs that may be of interest to LSC students.

This list is not exhaustive, and we encourage you to research all UW-Madison study abroad programs as well as talk with your academic advisor(s) and study abroad staff to find the best program for your individual goals and interests.

Semester and/or Academic Year Programs

Short Term and Summer Programs

International Internships

International internships are another way to gain valuable professional experience abroad while earning course credit. While you can often participate in a part-time internship as part of your study abroad program, it is also possible to participate in an Internship-focused program or a UW Signature Internship.

Search all programs

Research all programs using the Program Search page. The above is not an exhaustive list of all programs. There may be other programs that are a better fit for your individual needs or interests.

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