The UW-Madison Department of Life Sciences Communication offers a number of online courses that are excellent professional development opportunities for those in the life science industries.
Those who are not current UW-Madison students will need to apply as a “special student” in order to enroll in courses at the university. Visit our Non-degree Professionals page for more information.
The following courses are offered online in summer 2019:
LSC 560: Scientific Writing
LSC 560 is a five-week online course focuses on helping professionals, scientists, and researchers become better writers and communicators of scientific information, whether writing for scientific journals or general publications aimed at lay audiences.
The course is structured to build skills in three key areas: bringing clarity and simplicity to language; recognizing and using storytelling elements to better communicate complex science; and learning how to use tools such as analogy and definition to make scientific information more accessible. Throughout the course, students will monitor current media coverage to explore the subject of science and society and the growing importance of clear, accurate communication for scientific information in fields ranging from medicine, to chemistry and physics.
LSC 432: Social Media for the Life Sciences
LSC 432 will be offered online in summer 2018. This five-week online course that focuses on communicating effectively with social media that takes a close look at how social media shape modern interactions. Students will learn to create a social media/digital marketing strategy, understand and leverage various online platforms to create meaningful connections, and measure the impact of their social media practice.
By the end of this course, students will have experience using social media and content marketing to promote their brand and add value to other businesses and organizations in their field.
LSC 350: Visualizing Science and Technology
LSC 350: A five-week online course that explores the emerging field of neuro-aesthetics and its implications for understanding visual communication in the media, sciences, and visual arts.
Students will learn to understand the power of the visual brain, expand visual critical thinking skills to analyze how images attract audiences, articulate visual theory, and create effective visual messages.