CWRU faculty in math and natural sciences eagerly accept undergraduates, as early as their first year on campus, to join research teams and even to co-author scientific studies. Because of the exposure to an exceptional education and unparalleled opportunities for lab experience, you'll be particularly well-prepared for graduate or professional school and career success.
in the nation among private universities for federally funded research and development
National Center for Science and Engineering/ National Science Foundation/Higher Education Research and Development Survey
in the U.S. for commercialization of research
Brookings Institution
in the world for contributions to innovation
Nature Index
consecutive years placing first in the MAA mathematics competitions
Nobel Prize winners in physics, chemistry, physiology, medicine and economic science in the CWRU community
booths of student work showcased at CES (2019)—more than any other university in the country
Programs
Majors and minors
- Applied Mathematics
- Astronomy
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemical Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Engineering Physics
- Environmental Geology
- Environmental Studies
- Evolutionary Biology
- Geological Sciences
- History and Philosophy of Science
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Physics
- Natural Sciences
- Neuroscience
- Nutrition
- Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism
- Origins Science
- Physics
- Statistics
- Systems Biology
- Teacher Education
Minor only
- Artificial Intelligence
- Electronics
- Environmental Nutrition
- Sports Medicine
Research
Well-funded research opportunities take students around the world. More than half of math and science majors are involved in multiple experiential learning and research opportunities, such as:
Chris Carr: Physics and Astronomy
- Conducted research with Dr. Glenn Starkman, physics, searching for a theorized form of dark matter using Martian seismology.
- While reviewing deep-field images taken from CWRU’s Burrell Schmidt Telescope, he discovered one of the faintest galaxies ever detected via integrated light. Conducting this research with Dr. Chris Mihos, astronomy, Carr's work was published in the Astrophysical Journal as an undergraduate.
Diane Bernardoni: Evolutionary Biology, Mathematics and Physical Anthropology / Studio Art minor
- Spent five weeks at the Koobi Fora Field School in Kenya doing running trials with the Daasanach people and learning about field techniques in anthropology.
- Spent 10 weeks in Ethiopia with anthropology faculty member Yohannes Haile-Selassie, PhD, participating in paleontological surveying and excavating for his ongoing Woranso-Mille project.
Each Case Western Reserve University student brings their own background and interests to our campus, creating a culture that’s dynamic, diverse and inclusive.
Some recent award-winning research funded by CWRU’s SOURCE* office
- Investigating the Mechanisms of Oligodendrocyte Damage in Hypoxia-Induced White Matter Injury
- Evaluating the Effects of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in the Growth, Biomass, and Chlorophyll Production of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum)
- Selective, Reversible Inhibition of Small-Diameter Axons Using Glucose
- Extradomain-B Fibronectin as a Biomarker for Invasive Prostate Cancer
*Support of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors
Facilities
On campus
Sears think[box]
- A complete ecosystem for innovation, including resources for design and ideation, prototyping and fabrication, as well as a business incubator where free legal and business expertise is available to entrepreneurs
- See think[box] in action.
bio[box]
- A molecular biology makerspace with tools and instrumentation to facilitate collaborative learning and research, including the most advanced equipment for measuring and analyzing DNA, RNA, proteins and live cells
University Farm
- Just a few miles off campus: 389 acres of woodlands, ponds and meadows for studying ecology, agriculture and sustainability, where species are inventoried and run through a computer model to predict population shifts and overall risk of extinction
In our University Circle neighborhood
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
- Home to the Shafran Planetarium & Mueller Observatory and the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection of more than 3,000 human and primate skeletons
Cleveland Clinic
- Consistently ranked a top-5 hospital and the #1 heart program* by U.S. News & World Report for 25 consecutive years
University Hospitals
- A top 20 biomedical research center with nationally ranked pediatric and adult specialties
Outcomes
Nearly 90% of recent math and science grads are employed or attending graduate/professional school within six months.
Some recent grad school acceptances
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Case Western Reserve University
- Cornell University
- Dartmouth College
- Duke University
- Georgetown University
- New York University
- Northwestern University
- The Ohio State University
- Stanford University
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Michigan
Some recent job placements
-
Amazon
- Cleveland Clinic
- Epic
- Lubrizol
- Microsoft
- NASA
- National Institutes of Health
- Progressive
- Quality Electrodynamics
- Sherwin-Williams
Events math & science students love
Pumpkin Drop
- Test gravity and eat pie—pumpkin, of course! Pumpkins of various sizes are dropped at the same time from Strosacker Auditorium in honor of Galileo’s experiment at the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Biology Student/Faculty Trivia Night
- An evening of shared fun, food and board games culminates in teams of students against faculty in biology-themed trivia written completely by students.
Humans vs. Zombies
- Hosted by the Big Games Club, a 10-day long, campus-wide zombie apocalypse simulation. All students are invited to grab a Nerf blaster and join a group of humans or zombies for some intense play—and to raise money for a good cause.
Do you have your goals set squarely on medical or dental school? CWRU's highly competitive Pre-Professional Scholars Program (PPSP) grants undergraduate admission and conditional admission to Case Western Reserve's School of Medicine or School of Dental Medicine.
Clubs and organizations for math & science students
With clubs and organizations ranging from Acts of Random Kindness to IMPROVment to the Scuba Club, you’ll find all kinds of ways to pursue your academic goals and personal passions.
A few to check out
- Big Games Club (Nerf Wars, large-scale snowball fights and the like)
- Case Amateur Radio Club
- Cognitive Science Student Organization
- CWRU Developer Student Club
- CWRU Electrochemical Society Student Chapter
- CWRU Geological Society
- CWRU Science Olympiad Organization
- CWRU Undergraduate Biochemistry Society
- Esports Club
- Math Club
- Origins Club (evolution, cosmology, astronomy and other origins topics)
- Physics and Astronomy Club
- Puzzle Club (jigsaw, word, logic, mechanical, riddles…all kinds!)
- Robotics Club
- Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
- Tabletop Empire (tabletop games like Dominion, Coup, Settlers of Catan, etc.)
- Women in Physics and Astronomy Club
- Women in Science and Engineering Roundtable
- ...and dozens more!