School of Natural Science and Mathematics
Brian Nelms, Ph.D., Dean
The School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics includes two departments: Life and Physical Sciences, and Mathematics and Computer Science. The School also hosts several partnership programs including our dual-degree programs in engineering with Vanderbilt University and Case Western Reserve University, our Pathway to Nursing accelerated BS to BSN partnership with Galen College of Nursing, and others.
Major fields are available for the bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB), Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, and Physics
Programs leading to the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree are available in each academic discipline. Also, multidisciplinary programs leading to a baccalaureate degree are available.
Each of the major programs provides a broadly based, rich, and in-depth study of subject matter, designed to offer the student a variety of options upon completion of the program. These options include graduate study, employment with the public or private sector, entrepreneurial opportunities industry or government, and independent or associated research. In the case of each of the major programs, the student may elect a teaching career upon completion of the program. Many prepare for this work by taking the required professional education courses offered through Fisk’s Teacher Education Program.
Undergraduate and graduate students have opportunities to participate in faculty-mentored research in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, and many aspects of business administration.
Fisk University also hosts M.A. programs (described in the Graduate Studies Bulletin) in biology, chemistry, and physics, and there are opportunities in all of these programs for students to apply for participation in the Fisk- Vanderbilt Masters to PhD Bridge Programs.
Partnership Programs
The school includes several interdisciplinary research centers/laboratories funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Defense (DOD). One focus of the research funded in these centers is the development and characterization of new materials for use in sustainable energy and biomedical application.