The Department of Botany provides an introduction to the living world: the diversity of its organisms; its historical origins through evolution; its principles of structure, function, and ecology; and its interactions, relationships, and effects on the nonliving world. Botany is the science of plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria—all living organisms except animals. Green plants and algae provide the photosynthetic energy for fueling all other life on earth and drive global water and carbon cycles. Fungi and bacteria are the fundamental recyclers of the earth.
The study of botany provides a broad background in the principles of modern biology and gives a solid foundation for careers in environmental studies, conservation biology, ecology, systematics, evolution, genetics, physiology, biotechnology, agriculture, and horticulture. Jobs requiring such preparation include teaching in secondary schools and colleges, research and development in industry and medicine, stewardship of our natural world through private and governmental programs, and research and teaching in academia.
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. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
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.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
| Mathematics | Complete the University General Education Requirements for Quantitative Reasoning A (QR-A) and Quantitative Reasoning B (QR-B) coursework. |
| Language |
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| LS Breadth |
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| 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 |
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| Quality of Work |
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Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
Math, Chemistry, and Physics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics/Mathematics (One course from the following): 1 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistical Methods | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for Engineers | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
| General Chemistry (One of the following): | 5-9 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| Chemical Principles I and Chemical Principles II | ||
| Advanced General Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry 2 | 3 | |
| Elementary Organic Chemistry | ||
or CHEM 343 | Organic Chemistry I | |
| Physics (One course from the following): 3 | 3-5 | |
| Energy and Climate (preferred) | ||
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| A Modern Introduction to Physics | ||
| A Modern Introduction to Physics | ||
| A Modern Introduction to Physics | ||
| Total Credits | 14-20 | |
Biology and Botany Requirements
30 credits from:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Biology (Complete one option): | 5-10 | |
Option A, Recommended | ||
| General Botany 4 | ||
Option B: Introductory Biology | ||
| Introductory Biology | ||
| Introductory Biology | ||
Option C: BIOCORE | ||
| Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics | ||
| Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Cellular Biology | ||
| Cellular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Physiology | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Botany Distribution - Five courses, to include at least one course in these areas: | 15 | |
Cell, Molecular, Physiology (1 course required): | ||
| Plant Anatomy | ||
or BOTANY 500 | Plant Physiology | |
Ecology (1 course required): | ||
| The Vegetation of Wisconsin | ||
| General Ecology | ||
Genetics, Evolution (1 course required): 5 | ||
| Evolutionary Biology | ||
| Plant Breeding and Biotechnology | ||
| Principles of Genetics 2 | ||
| General Genetics 1 | ||
| General Genetics 2 | ||
Diversity | ||
| Plant Morphology and Evolution | ||
| Algae | ||
| Fungi | ||
| Plant Systematics | ||
| Vascular Flora of Wisconsin | ||
Optionally, 1 of the 5 required courses may come from this list, or students may take a second course from any area listed above: | ||
| Environmental Biogeography | ||
| Plant Biotechnology: Principles and Techniques I | ||
| Grassland Ecology | ||
| Dendrology: Woody Plant Identification and Ecology | ||
| Field Collections and Identification | ||
| Plant Geography | ||
| Midwestern Ecological Issues: A Case Study Approach | ||
| Plant-Insect Interactions | ||
| Ethnobotany | ||
| Plant-Microbe Interactions: Molecular and Ecological Aspects | ||
| Phylogenetic Analysis of Molecular Data | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Introduction to Biochemistry | ||
| Principles of Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Biological Interactions | ||
| Tree Physiology | ||
| Biology of Microorganisms | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Research Experience—choose one: 6 | 3-6 | |
| BOTANY 691 & BOTANY 692 | Senior Thesis and Senior Thesis | 4 |
| BOTANY 681 & BOTANY 682 | Senior Honors Thesis and Senior Honors Thesis | 6 |
| BOTANY 699 | Directed Study | 3-4 |
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 residence7
- 15 credits in BOTANY, taken on the UW–Madison campus
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Botany Major in consultation with the Botany undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the Major in Botany: Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major in Botany, students must satisfy the requirements for the major (above) 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" requirements8 or from Intermediate/Advanced Honors coursework in Biocore
- Conduct Senior Honors Thesis research in BOTANY 681 & BOTANY 682 for a total of 6 credits
Footnotes
- 1
STAT 371, MATH 211, or MATH 221 are strongly recommended for students preparing for graduate school, as these usually are required for entry into post-undergraduate programs.
- 2
CHEM 341 is the best option for organic chemistry if only one course is to be taken. However, for students who are preparing for graduate school, the three-course organic chemistry sequence (CHEM 343, CHEM 344, & CHEM 345) is strongly recommended instead of CHEM 341, as some graduate programs may require a sequence of organic chemistry courses.
- 3
PHYSICS 115 is the best choice if one course is to be taken. It is recommended that two semesters of PHYSICS be taken (PHYSICS 103-PHYSICS 104 or PHYSICS 201-PHYSICS 202 or PHYSICS 207-PHYSICS 208).
- 4
In addition to BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130, ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 and/or ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 102 will count towards 30 credits of Botany major.
- 5
Completion of the BIOCORE sequence also satisfies the Genetics, Evolution area (BIOCORE 381 & BIOCORE 382 & BIOCORE 383 & BIOCORE 384 & BIOCORE 485).
- 6
Students nearing completion of the major should seek out research opportunities with their advisor or faculty supervisor, and register for their project at the end of the junior year.
- 7
BOTANY 300–BOTANY 699 are considered upper-level in the major.
- 8
Excluding BOTANY 681 and BOTANY 682.
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| 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. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
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 these core areas of plant biology: Genetics, Physiology, Structural biology, Ecology, Systematics, Evolution, Cryptogamic biology.
- Explore these core areas in the context of the laboratory and/or the field.
- Engage in plant biology research (to include algae, photosynthetic bacteria, and fungi): develop hypotheses, acquire scientific information, and interpret results in the context of the historical scientific literature in one or more specialized botanical subdisciplines.
- Develop an appreciation of communicating scientific information, especially in written form.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
This plan shown focuses on completing major requirements early enough to be able to pursue advanced interests later. It also includes additional research experiences beyond the minimum, since many students find it helpful to begin research earlier than their senior year. Students interested in graduate school would be advised to take additional courses in the biological, physical, and/or data science fields. Students seeking honors in the Major might want to consult the sample 4-year plans provided by the Biocore program
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| General chemistry (choose one)1 | 4-5 | CHEM 104 (or Elective) | 5 |
| Introductory Biology First Semester (choose one) | 5 | ||
| Communications A (complete during your first year) | 3 | ||
| MATH 2212 | 5 | Humanities Breadth | 3 |
| Language Requirement Course | 3-4 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 3413 | 3 | PHYSICS 115 | 3 |
| Introductory Biology First Semester (choose one) | 5 | STAT 371 | 3 |
| BOTANY/AMER IND/ANTHRO 474 (or an alternate Ethnic Studies course) | 3-4 | ||
| Botany Breadth (I/A) | 4 | ||
| Comm B (if not taking BIOLOGY 152) or Elective | 3-4 | ||
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | ||
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BOTANY 499 (or Botany Breadth (I/A)) | 1-3 | Botany Breadth (I/A) Course(s) or Elective(s) | 9 |
| Botany Breadth (I/A) Courses | 6-7 | Literature Breadth (I/A) | 3 |
| Humanities Breadth | 3 | I/A COMP SCI/MATH/STAT Course (not needed if MATH 221 and STAT 371 taken) | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BOTANY 691 | 2-3 | BOTANY 692 | 3 |
| Botany Breadth (I/A) Course(s) or Elective(s) | 9 | Botany Breadth (I/A) Course(s) or Elective(s) | 12 |
| Literature Breadth | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
Advising
Students can find information about declaring the major at declaration and advising.
The Department of Botany encourages our majors to begin working on their career exploration and preparation soon after arriving on campus. We partner with SuccessWorks in the College of Letters & Science. L&S graduates are in high demand by employers and graduate programs. It is important to us that our students are career ready at the time of graduation, and we are committed to your success.
L&S Career Resources
Every L&S major opens a world of possibilities. SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students turn the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and other coursework into fulfilling lives after graduation, whether that means jobs, public service, graduate school or other career pursuits.
In addition to providing basic support like resume reviews and interview practice, SuccessWorks offers ways to explore interests and build career skills from their very first semester/term at UW all the way through graduation and beyond.
Students can explore careers in one-on-one advising, try out different career paths, complete internships, prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications, and connect with supportive alumni and even employers in the fields that inspire them.
- SuccessWorks
- Set up a career advising appointment
- Enroll in a Career Course - a great idea for first- and second-year students:
- INTER-LS 210 L&S Career Development: Taking Initiative (1 credit)
- INTER-LS 215 Communicating About Careers (3 credits, fulfills Comm B General Education Requirement)
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- INTER-LS 260 Internship in the Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Activate your Handshake account to apply for jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers recruiting UW-Madison students
- Learn about the impact SuccessWorks has on students' lives