UW-Whitewater at Rock County launches medical sciences program, first-ever bachelor’s degree
May 12, 2025
Written by Kristine Zaballos | Photos by Craig Schreiner
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Rock County has launched a Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences program offering two specialized emphases — diagnostic sonography and radiologic technology — that prepare students for careers in medical imaging. Intended to meet a regional workforce demand for medical imaging professionals, the program is the first Bachelor of Science in the college’s history.
In the program students will earn an associate of arts with a pre-health emphasis on the Rock County campus and then apply to complete their final two full years of clinical instruction at Mercyhealth — a regional health care system with more than 85 facilities serving a total of 55 communities throughout southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois — in either their diagnostic sonography or radiologic technology program. Eligible students can receive financial aid during the full four years of the program.
“UW-Whitewater’s Rock County campus continues to collaborate with area businesses to create innovative programs that serve regional needs,” says Robin Fox, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Like the collaborative nursing program launched in 2023 and expanded with state-of-the-art lab spaces in 2024, the medical sciences B.S. offers an affordable regional option for those looking to enter the health care field, with the bonus that they will graduate with a degree that gives them the flexibility to pursue a master’s degree in the future.”
Amanda McCann, senior system director at Mercyhealth, says the need for medical imaging professionals in the region drove the collaboration that led to the program.
“The joining of forces between UW-Whitewater at Rock County and Mercyhealth’s long-standing diagnostic imaging clinical programs is a project that has long been in the making,” said McCann. “It represents the collaborative efforts of both organizations to enrich the academic and clinical/practical educational experience locally available to our community members. This partnership not only fosters innovative teaching methods but also aligns curriculum with the real-world clinical practices available to our future health care professionals.”
The two degree programs are ideal for students who are interested in these more technical aspects of health care. Diagnostic sonographers and radiologic technologists work in fast-paced professional environments and have direct contact with patients, physicians and nurses.
The program, which has been in development since 2023, will draw upon the strength of the pre-professional pathways at URock, including small class sizes and affordable tuition.
"These new medical science bachelor's degree programs build on the expertise already provided by the faculty and staff at the Rock County campus," said Kim Kostka, associate dean. "And academic advisors provide support every step of the way, working with students to design a custom learning path to reach their goals. Students prepare for admission to the upper-level clinical courses by completing their studies in core disciplines such as biology, chemistry, mathematics, psychology, and physics. Our health sciences students have created a lively community of learners that collaborate with each other and with their instructors. It's a great time to join us at URock."
Students can enroll now in the medical sciences program on the Rock County campus. After earning their AAS, those accepted to complete their final two years of hands-on clinical instruction at Mercyhealth will have options at clinics in Janesville and Williams Bay in southeastern Wisconsin and Crystal Lake, Harvard, and Rockford in northern Illinois.
For questions about the Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences, contact uwwrockinfo@uww.edu or 608-758-6541.
