Program Overview
Introduction to the Botany Program
The Department of Botany at the University of WisconsinMadison provides an introduction to the living world, covering the diversity of organisms, their historical origins through evolution, principles of structure, function, and ecology, and interactions with the nonliving world. Botany is the science of plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria, which are essential for life on earth, driving global water and carbon cycles.
How to Get in
Prospective Botany majors should consult with the general undergraduate botany advisor by the beginning of the junior year to outline a course of study appropriate to the student's needs. Major Declaration may occur by meeting with the undergraduate advisor in the major. To be accepted as a major in Botany, a student must have a grade point average of 2.500 for all science courses taken prior to declaration.
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. These requirements include:
- BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
- BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits
- BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
- Communication Part A & Part B
- Ethnic Studies
- Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science curriculum. Requirements include:
- Mathematics: Complete the University General Education Requirements for Quantitative Reasoning A (QR-A) and Quantitative Reasoning B (QR-B) coursework.
- Language: Complete the fourth unit of a language other than English, or complete the third unit of a language and the second unit of an additional language other than English.
- L&S Breadth: 12 credits of Humanities, 12 credits of Social Science, and 12 credits of Natural Science.
- Liberal Arts and Science Coursework: Complete at least 108 credits.
- Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work: Complete at least 60 credits at the intermediate or advanced level.
- Major: Declare and complete at least one major.
- Total Credits: Complete at least 120 credits.
- UW-Madison Experience: 30 credits in residence, overall, and 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit.
- Quality of Work: 2.000 in all coursework at UWMadison, and 2.000 in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UWMadison.
Requirements for the Major
The major in Botany requires:
- Math, Chemistry, and Physics courses, including Statistics, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics.
- Biology and Botany Requirements, including Introductory Biology, Botany Distribution courses, and an Independent Research Experience.
- A minimum of 30 credits from the Botany Distribution courses, with at least one course in each of the following areas: Cell, Molecular, Physiology; Ecology; Genetics, Evolution; and Diversity.
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all BOTANY and major courses
- 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level major credits, taken in residence
- 15 credits in BOTANY, taken on the UWMadison campus
Honors in the Major
To earn Honors in the Major in Botany, students must satisfy the requirements for the major and the following additional requirements:
- 3.300 University GPA
- 3.400 GPA in all BOTANY and major courses
- Complete 12 Honors credits from coursework listed in the "Botany Distribution" requirements or from Intermediate/Advanced Honors coursework in Biocore
- Conduct Senior Honors Thesis research in BOTANY 681 & BOTANY 682 for a total of 6 credits
Learning Outcomes
The program aims to achieve the following learning outcomes:
- Acquire and demonstrate foundational understanding of the basic properties of plant life from the subcellular to the ecosystem level of organization.
- Acquire and demonstrate basic understanding in chemistry, physics, and mathematics to interpret biological phenomena.
- Acquire and demonstrate detailed knowledge in at least five of the core areas of plant biology.
- Explore these core areas in the context of the laboratory and/or the field.
- Engage in plant biology research and develop hypotheses, acquire scientific information, and interpret results.
- Develop an appreciation of communicating scientific information, especially in written form.
Four-Year Plan
A sample four-year plan is provided to help students complete the major requirements and explore additional research experiences. The plan includes:
- First Year: General chemistry, introductory biology, communications, mathematics, and language requirement courses.
- Second Year: Organic chemistry, physics, introductory biology, and botany breadth courses.
- Third Year: Botany breadth courses, research experience, and electives.
- Fourth Year: Senior thesis, botany breadth courses, and electives.
Advising and Careers
The Department of Botany provides advising services to help students declare the major and plan their course of study. The SuccessWorks program at the College of Letters & Science also offers career advising, events, and resources to help students explore career options and secure jobs or admission to graduate school.
