Program Overview

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Biology, BS (CALS)

The Biology Major is designed for students with broad interests in the biological sciences. It is intended primarily to:

1. prepare undergraduates for graduate studies in diverse areas of biology;
2. prepare certain pre-professional students (e.g., medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry) for advanced study in the health professions;
3. provide a broad exposure to biology for students who want a general science education as biologists, and
4. serve as initial preparation for students who later choose a more specialized major.

The major is offered by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Letters & Science.

How to Get in

• No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare.
• Courses required to get in: None
• GPA requirements to get in: None
• Credits required to get in: Must have fewer than 86 credits.
• Other: Students who do not meet the requirements above or are not in good academic standing should schedule a meeting with CALS Dean on Call to discuss exceptions.

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. The requirements for some programs may exceed these minimums.

• BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
• BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
• BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
• Communication Part A & Part B
• Ethnic Studies
• Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements

In addition to the University General Education Requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements.

• Quality of Work: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 to remain in good standing and be eligible for graduation.
• Residency: Students must complete 30 degree credits in residence at UWMadison after earning 86 credits toward their undergraduate degree.
• First-year seminar: 1 credit
• International studies: 3 credits
• Physical science fundamentals: 4-5 credits
• Biological science: 5 credits
• Additional science (biological, physical, or natural): 3 credits
• Science breadth (biological, physical, natural, or social): 3 credits
• CALS Capstone Learning Experience: included in the requirements for each CALS major

Requirements for the Major

A minimum of 15 credits must be completed in the major that are not used elsewhere. Students must complete a minimum of 31 credits of biological science courses within the introductory biology, foundation course, upper-level breadth in the major, and capstone requirements.

Core Requirements

Mathematics and Statistics

• Complete one of the following: 4-10 credits
  • MATH 221: Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1
  • MATH 211: Survey of Calculus 1
  • MATH 171 & MATH 217: Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry I and Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II
• Complete one of the following: 3-4 credits
  • STAT 240: Data Science Modeling I
  • STAT 301: Introduction to Statistical Methods
  • STAT 324: Introduction to Statistics for Science and Engineering
  • STAT 371: Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences
• Total Credits: 7-14

Chemistry

• General Chemistry (Complete one of the following): 5-10 credits
  • CHEM 103 & CHEM 104: General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 109: Advanced General Chemistry
  • CHEM 115 & CHEM 116: Chemical Principles I and Chemical Principles II
• Organic Chemistry:
  • CHEM 343: Organic Chemistry I: 3 credits
  • CHEM 344: Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory: 2 credits
  • CHEM 345: Organic Chemistry II: 3 credits
• Total Credits: 13-18

Physics

• First Semester Physics (complete one of the following): 4-5 credits
  • PHYSICS 103: General Physics
  • PHYSICS 201: General Physics
  • PHYSICS 207: General Physics
• Second Semester Physics (complete one of the following): 4-5 credits
  • PHYSICS 104: General Physics
  • PHYSICS 202: General Physics
  • PHYSICS 208: General Physics
• Total Credits: 8-10

Introductory Biology

• Select one of the following options: 10-13 credits
  • Option A:
    • BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151: Introductory Biology
    • BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152: Introductory Biology
  • Option B:
    • BIOCORE 381: Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics
    • BIOCORE 382: Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory
    • BIOCORE 383: Cellular Biology
    • BIOCORE 384: Cellular Biology Laboratory
    • BIOCORE 485: Principles of Physiology
  • Option C:
    • ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101: Animal Biology
    • ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 102: Animal Biology Laboratory
    • BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130: General Botany
• Total Credits: 10-13

Foundation Course

• Complete one of the following:
  • BIOCHEM 501: Introduction to Biochemistry: 3 credits
  • BIOCHEM 508: General Biochemistry II: 3-4 credits
  • BIOCORE 381 & BIOCORE 383: Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics and Cellular Biology: 6 credits
  • GENETICS 466: Principles of Genetics: 3 credits
  • GENETICS 468: General Genetics 2: 3 credits
  • MICROBIO 470: Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines: 3 credits

Upper-Level Breadth in the Major

Minimum of 13 credits required and must include one approved lab course.

• Complete at least two credits from either category A or B.
• Complete at least two credits from either category C or D.
• Complete at least two credits from an unused category (A, B, C, D, or E).

A. Cellular and Subcellular Biology

• List of courses (e.g., AN SCI 336, BIOCHEM 501, etc.)

B. Organismal Biology

• List of courses (e.g., AN SCI 373, ANAT&PHY 335, etc.)

C. Ecology

• List of courses (e.g., AGROECOL 370, BOTANY 455, etc.)

D. Evolution and Systematics

• List of courses (e.g., ANTHRO 302, BOTANY 305, etc.)

E. Applied Biology, Agriculture and Natural Resources

• List of courses (e.g., A A E/NUTR SCI 350, AGROECOL 377, etc.)

Capstone Requirement

Two credits minimum required. With advisor approval, directed study or research-based senior thesis in a biological science discipline can also count.

• List of approved capstone courses (e.g., ANAT&PHY 435, BIOCORE 486, etc.)

Biology Named Option

Instead of completing the requirements above, students may choose to select the named option below.

Biology: Evolutionary Biology

Honors in the Major

Students admitted to the university and to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences are invited to apply to be considered for admission to the CALS Honors Program.

• Admission Criteria for New First-Year Students: Complete program application including essay questions
• Admission Criteria for Transfer and Continuing UW-Madison Students: UW-Madison cumulative GPA of at least 3.25, complete program application including essay questions
• Requirements:
  • Earn at least a cumulative 3.25 GPA at UW-Madison
  • Complete the program-specific requirements listed below
  • Submit completed thesis documentation to CALS Academic Affairs
• Honors in the Major in Biology: Requirements
  • Earn a 3.300 overall university GPA
  • Complete a two-semester senior honors thesis for 6 credits total and present research in a public forum
  • Complete at least 20 credits of honors coursework from the following sections of the Biology curriculum

Footnotes

1. Course also approved for lab credit
2. To count BIOCORE 486 Principles of Physiology Laboratory for capstone, students must also complete BIOCORE 382 Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory and BIOCORE 384 Cellular Biology Laboratory.

University Degree Requirements

• Total Degree: To receive a bachelor's degree from UWMadison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits.
• Residency: Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UWMadison.
• Quality of Work: Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing.

Learning Outcomes

1. Know and understand core concepts that unify the breadth of biological sciences including: evolution; structure and function; information flow, exchange, and storage; pathways for transformations of energy and matter; and systems.
2. Demonstrate practical skills of a professional biologist including: problemsolving by engaging the process of science; written and verbal proficiency; laboratory skills; quantitative analysis skills; and teamwork skills.
3. Graduates will be able to engage and make broader connections to other scientific disciplines and society.

Four-Year Plan

Four-year plans for the biology major are designed to support biological science major exploration.

• Sample Biology Four-Year Plan:
  • First Year:
    • Fall: CHEM 103 or 109, Math Course, Communication A or Breadth Courses
    • Spring: CHEM 104, Math or Statistics, Communication A or Breadth Courses
  • Second Year:
    • Fall: CHEM 343, Math or Statistics, Intro Biology Courses
    • Spring: CHEM 344, CHEM 345, Intro Biology Courses, Breadth Course
  • Third Year:
    • Fall: PHYSICS 103 or 207, Foundational or Biocore, Elective Courses
    • Spring: PHYSICS 104 or 208, Biocore or Upper-Level Breadth in the Major, Elective Courses
  • Fourth Year:
    • Fall: Upper-Level Breadth in the Major, Capstone or Research Course, Elective Courses
    • Spring: Upper-Level Breadth in the Major, Capstone or Research Course, Elective Courses

Advising and Careers

• Advising: Your advisor is here to guide you through the Biology Major.
• Careers: The Biology Major encourages students to begin working on their career exploration and preparation soon after arriving on campus.
• Career Resources:
  • Schedule a Career Advising appointment
  • Explore CALS Career Services for Students

Wisconsin Experience

• Many study abroad programs offer a plethora of excellent upper-level biological science courses.
• Students are encouraged to get involved in research in any life science department.