Graduate students in Botany work with faculty and staff on a range of projects in plant biology at all levels of organization — from molecules, through cells and organs, to populations, communities, and lineages of organisms. Major research areas include evolution and systematics; molecular, cellular, and developmental biology; plant biology; biochemistry; and ecology. We also provide advanced instruction and opportunities for research in phycology, bryology, mycology, ethnobotany, paleoecology, conservation and restoration ecology, taxonomy, genetics, and physiology. Increasingly, graduate student projects encompass two or more of these categories.
Students interested in fields bordering botany will find rich opportunities for coursework, collaborative research, and seminars in many other departments and schools such as Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Engineering, Entomology, Forest and Wildlife Ecology, Genetics, Geography, Geoscience, Integrative Biology, Physics, Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, Plant Breeding/Plant Genetics, Plant Pathology, Statistics, Soil Science, and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Interdisciplinary work is encouraged.
Graduate study in the Department of Botany requires a combination of advanced coursework, participation in seminars, and original research. Course requirements follow one of four pathways: general botany; ecology; evolution; or molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. The department encourages students to pursue independent research soon after arriving. In consultation with the faculty advisor, each student selects a pathway that includes courses and research topics related to their interests as well as training in the array of techniques and approaches needed to pursue research.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | December 1 |
| Spring Deadline | The program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | The program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | The GRE subject test in Biology or in Cell and Molecular Biology is not required. |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Please submit all your application materials before the fall deadline to ensure full review of your application. Applications submitted after the above deadline through April 15 will be considered if space is still available. Space for students is typically limited by the department’s ability to provide financial support. To check if space is available, please email: gradinfo@botany.wisc.edu or contact faculty with whom you are interested in working to ask if they have graduate student funding available.
The Department of Botany considers applicants for graduate degrees who surpass the minimum admissions requirements of the Graduate School. Neither the general Graduate Record Exam (GRE) nor the Graduate Record Exam subject test in Biology or in Cell and Molecular Biology is required. Admission is based on the applicant's statement of purpose, undergraduate record, letters of recommendation, experience in research, and the interests they share with one or more potential faculty advisors.
Courses may be required to address deficiencies in the following: GENETICS 466 Principles of Genetics or equivalent;CHEM 103 General Chemistry I and CHEM 104 General Chemistry II or equivalent; CHEM 341 Elementary Organic Chemistry or equivalent; a physics course including electricity and light; one semester of statistics; one semester of calculus. Contact the department for more information.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Resources
Financial support is available to qualified graduate students in the form of teaching, research, and project assistantships and fellowships. Typically, there are approximately 35 graduate students who hold assistantships or fellowships in the botany department. In addition, graduate students are eligible for a number of intradepartmental awards and grants.
Graduate students who have a teaching, research, or project assistantship of at least a 33.3% appointment (approximately 13.3 hours per week) for a fall or spring term are eligible to receive remission of full tuition. Fellowships or traineeships that are payrolled through the university and that carry stipends equivalent to at least a 33.3% research assistantship also qualify for remission of nonresident tuition. Tuition remission is conditionally awarded at the start of the semester based on the expectation that actual earnings during the semester will be at least 33.3% of the full-time rate. All students pay segregated fees. The only exception is that fellowships paid through the Graduate School have segregated fees waived in addition to tuition.
Assistantships and fellowships also provide eligibility for an excellent health insurance program, an extremely valuable benefit that provides single or family coverage that is more comprehensive than individuals can usually purchase on their own.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | Students must earn a B or above in all pathway coursework. |
| Assessments and Examinations | A written thesis or research report based on work conducted in a formal research course and a final oral exam are required of all students who expect to continue for the PhD degree. All master’s theses must be deposited at Memorial Library. Students who wish to terminate their graduate studies at the master’s level may submit a literature review instead of a thesis. |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Botany 1 | 6 | |
A minimum of 6 credits in graduate-level BOTANY courses must be completed at UW–Madison. 1 | ||
| Seminar | ||
Two (2) seminar courses (at least one in BOTANY; see full list of seminars below). | ||
| Committee Assigned | ||
Courses assigned by the Academic Advisory Committee and/or the student’s MS committee. | ||
| Research | ||
See full list of research courses below. | ||
| Pathway 2 | ||
Courses required for their selected pathway (see below). | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Seminars and research credits do not count toward the 6 credits in botany (BOTANY).
- 2
These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
A minimum of 30 credits in natural sciences (undergraduate and graduate program courses combined) is required.
Each graduate student in botany selects one of the following pathways:
General Botany Pathway1
Complete one course from at least six of the seven.
- genetics,
- biochemistry, cell or molecular biology,
- plant physiology or plant developmental biology,
- cryptogamic botany,
- plant anatomy or morphology,
- ecology, and
- evolution or systematics
- 1
These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
Ecology Pathway1
Complete a minimum of five courses as follows:
- at least three courses (minimum of 9 credits) in ecology,
- one course in evolution, and
- one course in any of the following: systematics; cryptogamic botany; biochemistry, cell or molecular biology; plant physiology or plant developmental biology; plant anatomy or morphology; or genetics
- 1
These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
Evolution Pathway1
Complete a minimum of five courses, at least one from each of the following:
- evolution,
- systematics or cryptogamic botany,
- population or quantitative genetics,
- ecology, and
- one course in any of the following: biochemistry, cell or molecular biology; plant physiology or plant developmental biology; or plant anatomy or morphology
- 1
These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) Pathway1
Complete a minimum of five courses, at least one from each of the following:
- plant anatomy or morphology,
- biochemistry, cell or molecular biology,
- plant physiology,
- plant developmental biology or genetics, and
- one course in any of the following: ecology; systematics; evolution; or cryptogamic botany
- 1
These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
Seminar Course Options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BOTANY/ATM OCN/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST/GEOSCI/ZOOLOGY 911 | Limnology and Marine Science Seminar | 1 |
| BOTANY 920 | Seminar in Algology: Fresh Water Algae | 1 |
| BOTANY/PL PATH 930 | Seminar-Mycology | 1 |
| BOTANY 940 | Seminar in Plant Systematics and Evolution | 1 |
| BOTANY 950 | Seminar-Plant Ecology | 1 |
| BOTANY 960 | Seminar-Plant Physiology | 1 |
| BOTANY/ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/GEOG/GEOSCI/ZOOLOGY 980 | Earth System Science Seminar | 1 |
| ENTOM 601 | Seminar in Methods of Scientific Oral Presentations | 1 |
| ENTOM 901 | Seminar in Organismal Entomology | 1 |
| GENETICS 670 | Seminar in Clinical Cytogenetics | 1 |
| GENETICS 672 | Seminar in Laboratory Operations and Quality Control | 1 |
| GENETICS 673 | Seminar in Clinical Cytology | 1 |
| GENETICS/AN SCI/DY SCI 951 | Seminar in Animal Breeding | 1 |
| GENETICS/AGRONOMY/HORT 957 | Seminar-Plant Breeding | 1 |
| GENETICS 993 | Seminar in Genetics | 0-1 |
| GEOG 900 | Seminar in Geography | 1-3 |
| GEOG 901 | Seminar in Cultural Geography | 2-3 |
| GEOG 918 | Seminar in Political Geography | 2-3 |
| GEOG 920 | Seminar in Physical Geography | 1-3 |
| GEOG 930 | Seminar in People-Environment Geography | 2-3 |
| GEOG/HISTORY 932 | Seminar in American Environmental History | 3 |
| GEOG 970 | Seminar in Geographic Information Science | 1-3 |
| GEOG/ATM OCN/BOTANY/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/GEOSCI/ZOOLOGY 980 | Earth System Science Seminar | 1 |
| GEOG/A A E/ANTHRO/C&E SOC/HISTORY/LACIS/POLI SCI/PORTUG/SOC/SPANISH 982 | Interdepartmental Seminar in the Latin-American Area | 1-3 |
| GEOG/AFRICAN/ANTHRO/ECON/HISTORY/POLI SCI 983 | Interdepartmental Seminar in African Studies Topics | 3 |
| HORT 910 | Seminar | 1 |
| HORT/AGRONOMY/GENETICS 957 | Seminar-Plant Breeding | 1 |
| SOIL SCI 728 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| ZOOLOGY/ATM OCN/BOTANY/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST/GEOSCI 911 | Limnology and Marine Science Seminar | 1 |
| ZOOLOGY/AN SCI/OBS&GYN 954 | Seminar in Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology | 0-1 |
| ZOOLOGY 955 | Seminar-Limnology | 1 |
| ZOOLOGY 956 | Seminar-Ecology | 1 |
| ZOOLOGY 957 | Seminar-Evolution | 1 |
| ZOOLOGY 958 | Seminar-Biophysical and Physiological Ecology | 1 |
| ZOOLOGY 960 | Seminar in Cellular Biology | 1 |
| ZOOLOGY/ATM OCN/BOTANY/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/GEOG/GEOSCI 980 | Earth System Science Seminar | 1 |
| ENVIR ST/PUB AFFR/URB R PL 810 | Energy Analysis and Policy Capstone | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 900 | Seminar | 1-3 |
| ENVIR ST/URB R PL 923 | Seminar-Land Problems: Institutional Development | 2-3 |
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN 925 | Seminar-Climatology | 1-2 |
| ENVIR ST 950 | Environmental Monitoring Seminar | 2 |
| F&W ECOL/AGRONOMY/ATM OCN/BOTANY/ENTOM/ENVIR ST/GEOG/ZOOLOGY 953 | Introduction to Ecology Research at UW-Madison | 1-2 |
| F&W ECOL 961 | Wildlife Seminar | 1 |
| GEOSCI 920 | Seminar in Glacial and Pleistocene Geology | 1-3 |
| GEOSCI 929 | Seminar-Hydrogeology | 1-2 |
| GEOSCI 940 | Seminar in Paleontology | 1 |
| GEOSCI 970 | Seminar-Geochemistry | 2 |
| GEOSCI 991 | Seminar: Geophysics | 1-3 |
| AGRONOMY 920 | Seminar | 1 |
| AGRONOMY/GENETICS/HORT 957 | Seminar-Plant Breeding | 1 |
| ATM OCN 900 | Seminar-Meteorology | 1-2 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 925 | Seminar-Climatology | 1-2 |
| ATM OCN 965 | Seminar-Oceanography | 1-2 |
| M S & E 900 | Materials Research Seminar | 1 |
| M&ENVTOX 800 | Seminar | 1 |
Research Course Options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BOTANY 699 | Directed Study | 1-4 |
| BOTANY 698 | Directed Study | 1-4 |
| BOTANY 990 | Research-Phycology | 1-12 |
| BOTANY 993 | Research: Fungal Biology | 1-12 |
| BOTANY 994 | Research-Plant Systematics | 1-12 |
| BOTANY 995 | Research-Plant Ecology | 1-12 |
| BOTANY 996 | Research-Plant Physiology | 1-12 |
| BOTANY 999 | Independent Work | 1-3 |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
No credits from other institutions are allowed to transfer toward the minimum credit requirement and the minimum graduate coursework requirement.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
No credits from an undergraduate degree are allowed to transfer toward the minimum graduate degree credit requirement and the minimum graduate coursework requirement.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
No credits from a UW-Madison professional degree are allowed to transfer toward the minimum credit requirement and the minimum graduate coursework requirement.
Credits Earned as a University Special student at UW–Madison
No credits earned as a UW–Madison University Special student are allowed to transfer toward the minimum residence credit requirement, the minimum credit requirement, or the minimum graduate coursework requirement.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
Advisor / Committee
A major professor must be chosen as soon as possible after beginning graduate study and in all cases by the end of the first year. A vice major professor is required.
Students meet with an advisory committee before their first semester and with their MS committee by the end of their first year to plan their coursework.
Students meet with their advisor on a regular basis to assess progress.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credits
Time Limits
The master’s degree should be completed within two and one-half years of study.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances. They may also contact the L&S Academic Divisional Associate Deans, the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning Administration, or the L&S Director of Human Resources.
Other
Assistantships are only available for thesis MS and PhD degrees.
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- Acquire and demonstrate fundamental understanding of the basic properties of plant life from the subcellular to the ecosystem level of organization.
- Use critical elements of the methodological or theoretical framework in a specialized botanical subdiscipline to develop hypotheses, acquire scientific information, and interpret results in the context of the historical scientific literature.
- Develop the skills of communicating scientific information, especially in written form.
- Engage in the critical evaluation of botanical scientific data and its interpretation.
- Recognize and apply ethical conduct in the collection, analysis, and presentation of scientific data.
- Develop the skills essential to critical debate, discussion, and exchange of scientific information among peers and audiences of diverse intellectual and personal backgrounds.