Molecular and Cell Biology is the basic science that seeks an understanding of biological processes in terms of the properties and functions of the molecules that make up living cells. The scope of questions addressed in molecular and cell biology ranges from evolution to development to the regulation of gene expression. A career in molecular and cell biology requires a strong background in biology as well as a solid foundation in chemistry, mathematics, and physics.
The Molecular and Cell Biology major has been designed primarily for three groups of students:
- those who plan to enter a research career in molecular and cell biology or related areas such as biochemistry, genetics, oncology, microbiology, cell biology, or developmental biology;
- pre-professional students who plan to enter either a research or clinical career in medicine or allied health fields; and
- students who plan to pursue careers in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical science industries.
Students with other interests are also welcome, of course. Career opportunities for students with an undergraduate degree in molecular and cell biology are amazingly diverse. Graduates of the program have gone into patent law, science journalism, forensics, philosophy, nutrition, genetic counseling, veterinary medicine, anthropology, archeology, marine biology, theology, and much more.
Major requirements have been set to assure a high degree of proficiency in the various areas specified while still allowing as much flexibility as possible for students to individualize their programs. For the undergraduate interested in life sciences, this major uniquely provides access to the extraordinary scope and strength of biology courses and laboratories on the UW–Madison campus. Each student in the major is assigned a faculty advisor, and it is hoped that students will take advantage of both the staff and faculty advising service available to make a judicious choice of courses, as well as to gain scholarly experience outside the classroom that will further their academic and career goals.
Students who wish to obtain further information about the program or to declare a molecular biology major should contact the student services coordinator. Faculty advisors are assigned through the program office and are located in many related departments throughout campus. Molecular and Cell Biology faculty advisors are especially competent to provide counsel regarding the major and career opportunities in molecular biology.
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate Molecular and Cell Biology students at UW–Madison are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some of the world's leading researchers. Many opportunities for laboratory research experience are available on campus for undergraduate students, and this type of experience is strongly encouraged. Such an experience provides students the opportunity to apply what they're learning and complement their knowledge with practical skills. Research experience is highly valued by employers, graduate programs, and professional schools. See the major website for more information on how to get involved in undergraduate research.
How to Get in
To declare the Molecular and Cell Biology major, students must make an appointment with the Molecular and Cell Biology academic advising manager through Starfish.
Students who intend to major in Molecular and Cell Biology may not combine this major ("double major") with the Biology or Biochemistry majors in either the College of Letters and Science or the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS).
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
Mathematics, Chemistry & Physics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Statistics | 6-10 | |
| Complete one of the following: | ||
| MATH 221 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 | 5 |
| MATH 217 | Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II | 5 |
| Complete one of the following: | ||
| MATH 222 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2 | 4 |
| MATH 213 | Survey of Calculus 2 | 3 |
| STAT 240 | Data Science Modeling I | 4 |
| STAT 301 | Introduction to Statistical Methods | 3 |
| STAT 371 | Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | 3 |
| General Chemistry—complete one option: | 5-10 | |
| CHEM 103 & CHEM 104 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | 9 |
| CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 115 & CHEM 116 | Chemical Principles I and Chemical Principles II (by consent of instructor only) | 10 |
| Organic Chemistry -complete the sequence | 8 | |
| CHEM 343 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 344 | Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 345 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| Physics -Choose a first and a second calculus based physics option OR elementary based physics sequence with additional calculus | 10-12 | |
Calculus Based Physics: First Introductory Course— complete one class: | ||
| PHYSICS 207 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 201 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 247 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | 5 |
Calculus Based Physics: Second Introductory Course— complete one class: | ||
| PHYSICS 208 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 202 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 248 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | 5 |
Elementary Based Physics --complete three | ||
| PHYSICS 103 | General Physics | 4 |
| PHYSICS 104 | General Physics | 4 |
| MATH 234 | Calculus--Functions of Several Variables | 4 |
Introductory Biology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one option: | 10-13 | |
| Option A: | ||
| ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 151 | Introductory Biology | 5 |
| ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152 | Introductory Biology | 5 |
| Option B: 1 | ||
| BIOCORE 381 | Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics | 3 |
| BIOCORE 382 | Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOCORE 383 | Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIOCORE 384 | Cellular Biology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOCORE 485 | Principles of Physiology | 3 |
| Option C: | ||
| ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 | Animal Biology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 102 | Animal Biology Laboratory | 2 |
| BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 | General Botany | 5 |
Breadth Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry -complete one of the following: | ||
| BIOCHEM 501 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOCHEM 507 & BIOCHEM 508 | General Biochemistry I and General Biochemistry II | 6 |
| Cell Biology | ||
| ZOOLOGY 570 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| Molecular Biology and Genetics -complete one of the following: | ||
| BIOCORE 381 & BIOCORE 383 & BIOCORE 587 | Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics and Cellular Biology and Biological Interactions | 9 |
| GENETICS 466 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| GENETICS 467 & GENETICS 468 | General Genetics 1 and General Genetics 2 | 6 |
| MICROBIO 470 | Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9-18 | |
Depth Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete 6 unique credits of depth coursework. Courses may be concentrated in one area or distributed across multiple areas. 2 | ||
| Biochemistry and Biophysics (no minimum) | ||
| CHEM 575 | Advanced Topics in Chemistry | 1-4 |
| BIOCHEM/NUTR SCI 560 | Principles of Human Disease and Biotechnology | 2 |
| BIOCHEM 601 | Protein and Enzyme Structure and Function | 2 |
| BIOCHEM/GENETICS/MICROBIO 612 | Prokaryotic Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/GENETICS/MD GENET 620 | Eukaryotic Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/BOTANY 621 | Plant Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOCHEM 625 | Mechanisms of Action of Vitamins and Minerals | 2 |
| Cellular Systems (no minimum) | ||
| ZOOLOGY 470 | Introduction to Animal Development | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY/PSYCH 523 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 603 | Endocrinology | 3-4 |
| GENETICS 627 | Animal Developmental Genetics | 3 |
| ONCOLOGY 401 | Introduction to Experimental Oncology | 2 |
| PATH-BIO/M M & I 528 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOCORE 587 | Biological Interactions | 3 |
| NTP/NEURODPT 610 | Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | 4 |
| Genetics (no minimum) | ||
| AN SCI/DY SCI 361 | Introduction to Animal and Veterinary Genetics | 2 |
| AGRONOMY/HORT 338 | Plant Breeding and Biotechnology | 3 |
| GENETICS 520 | Neurogenetics | 3 |
| GENETICS/HORT 550 | Molecular Approaches for Potential Crop Improvement | 3 |
| GENETICS/MD GENET 565 | Human Genetics | 3 |
| HORT/AGRONOMY/BOTANY 340 | Plant Cell Culture and Genetic Engineering | 3 |
| MICROBIO 607 | Advanced Microbial Genetics | 3 |
| GENETICS/BIOCHEM/MICROBIO 612 | Prokaryotic Molecular Biology | 3 |
| GENETICS/BIOCHEM/MD GENET 620 | Eukaryotic Molecular Biology | 3 |
| GENETICS 627 | Animal Developmental Genetics | 3 |
| GENETICS/BIOCHEM 631 | Plant Genetics and Development | 3 |
| GENETICS/MD GENET 662 | Cancer Genetics | 3 |
| Microbiology and Virology (no minimum) | ||
| MICROBIO 303 | Biology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO/AN SCI/BOTANY 335 | The Microbiome of Plants, Animals, and Humans | 3 |
| MICROBIO/SOIL SCI 425 | Environmental Microbiology | 3 |
| MICROBIO/SOIL SCI 523 | Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry | 3 |
| MICROBIO 526 | Physiology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| PL PATH 622 | Plant-Bacterial Interactions | 2-3 |
| BOTANY/ENTOM/PL PATH 505 | Plant-Microbe Interactions: Molecular and Ecological Aspects | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/M M & I 575 | Biology of Viruses | 2 |
| ONCOLOGY/M M & I/PL PATH 640 | General Virology-Multiplication of Viruses | 3 |
| Quantitative Biology (no minimum) | ||
| MATH/COMP SCI 240 | Introduction to Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 340 | Elementary Matrix and Linear Algebra | 3 |
| STAT 303 | R for Statistics I | 1 |
| STAT 304 | R for Statistics II | 1 |
| STAT 305 | R for Statistics III | 1 |
| STAT 333 | Applied Regression Analysis | 3 |
| STAT 421 | Applied Categorical Data Analysis | 3 |
| B M E 556 | Systems Biology: Mammalian Signaling Networks | 3 |
| COMP SCI 300 | Programming II | 3 |
| COMP SCI 368 | Learning a Programming Language | 1 |
| COMP SCI 540 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| COMP SCI/B M I 567 | Medical Image Analysis | 3 |
| COMP SCI/B M I 576 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 3 |
| MICROBIO 657 | Bioinformatics for Microbiologists | 3 |
Laboratory Course
Complete 2 credits minimum:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Students who complete at least 4 credits of MOL BIOL 699 fulfill both the Laboratory Course and Directed/Independent Study requirements | ||
| CHEM 327 | Fundamentals of Analytical Science | 4 |
| CHEM 329 | Fundamentals of Analytical Science | 4 |
| COMP SCI 220 | Data Science Programming I | 4 |
| MICROBIO 304 | Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory | 2 |
| MICROBIO 657 | Bioinformatics for Microbiologists | 3 |
| MOL BIOL 681 | Senior Honors Thesis | 3 |
| MOL BIOL 691 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| MOL BIOL 699 | Directed Studies in Molecular Biology | 1-4 |
| ZOOLOGY 555 | Laboratory in Developmental Biology | 3 |
Directed/Independent Study
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Students who complete at least 4 credits of MOL BIOL 699 fulfill both the Laboratory Course and Directed/Independent Study requirements | ||
Complete two credits minimum: | ||
| Directed/Independent Research | ||
| MOL BIOL 699 | Directed Studies in Molecular Biology | 1-4 |
| Senior Thesis | ||
| MOL BIOL 682 | Senior Honors Thesis | 3 |
| MOL BIOL 692 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all MOL BIOL and major courses
- 2.000 GPA on at least 15 credits of upper-level in the major, taken in residence3
- 15 credits in MOL BIOL, taken on the UW–Madison campus
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Molecular Biology and Cell Biology major in consultation with the Molecular and Cell Biology undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the Molecular and Cell Biology Major Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major in Molecular and Cell Biology, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 overall university GPA
- Earn a 3.300 GPA for all courses accepted in the major
- Complete at least 15 credits of honors courses in the major while in residence at UW-Madison. This requirement can be broken down as indicated below:
- At least 9 credits from the Breadth and Depth course options in the Molecular and Cell Biology major
- Complete two semester Senior Honors Thesis, a piece of original research composition.
Course List Code Title Credits MOL BIOL 681 Senior Honors Thesis 3 MOL BIOL 682 Senior Honors Thesis 3 - Complete one semester of the Molecular Biology senior honors seminar course.
Course List Code Title Credits MOL BIOL 686 Senior Honors Seminar in Molecular Biology 1
Footnotes
- 1
BIOCORE is a competitive honors program and certificate.
- 2
Students are encouraged to see their advisor for assistance in choosing depth coursework.
- 3
Courses accepted in the major that are Intermediate or Advanced are considered upper-level in this major.
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
- Integrate the energetic and thermodynamic bases of life, with an emphasis on the molecular mechanisms underlying them
- Integrate the nature of genetic material and its roles in inheritance, evolution, and cellular function
- Summarize the fundamental relationship between the structure and function of biological macromolecules
- Summarize the principles of cell structure, function, and biological dynamics
- Appraise the molecular mechanisms and quantitative principles in biochemistry/physical chemistry, cellular systems, genetics, and microbiology.
- Develop skills to communicate scientific information in oral and written form
- Develop the ability to formulate hypotheses and plan, design, and carry out scientific experiments to test them
- Developing quantitative reasoning skills and the ability to use quantitative approaches to understand basic principles of life.
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.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication A | 3 | MATH 221 | 5 |
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 3-5 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | 4 | CHEM 104 | 5 |
| Foreign Language (if needed) | 3-4 | Humanities Breadth | 2 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 151 | 5 | ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152 | 5 |
| CHEM 343 | 3 | CHEM 344 | 2 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | CHEM 345 | 3 |
| Humanities Breadth | 3 | STAT 371 | 3 |
| INTER-LS 2101 | 1 | Elective | 2 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYSICS 207 | 5 | PHYSICS 208 | 5 |
| GENETICS 466 | 3 | BIOCHEM 501 | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 570 | 3 | Literature Breadth | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | MOL BIOL 699 or Elective | 3 |
| MOL BIOL 699 | 1-4 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Depth Coursework | 3 | Depth Coursework | 3 |
| Laboratory Course | 2-4 | MOL BIOL 699 or Elective | 3 |
| MOL BIOL 699 or Elective | 3 | Literature Breadth | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
- 1
INTER-LS 210 L&S Career Development: Taking Initiative is an option, but not required for students pursuing the Molecular and Cell Biology major.
Advising and Careers
The MCB Academic Advising Manager provides guidance specific to the discipline and also helps students with major declarations, course selection, registration, DARS, L&S degree and major requirements, and tracking progress toward graduation, as well as connecting students with important resources on campus.
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
People
MCB Steering Committee: Bement (Integrative Biology, Major Chair), Hoskins (Biochemistry) Grinblat (Integrative Biology), Otegui (Botany), Riters (Integrative Biology), Roy (Biostatics and Medical Informatics)
Resources and Scholarships
Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowship
The Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowships support undergraduate research done in collaboration with UW–Madison faculty or research/instructional academic staff. Approximately 97–100 Hilldale awards are available each year. The student researcher receives $3,000, and the faculty/staff research advisor receives $1,000 to help offset research costs (e.g., supplies, faculty or student travel related to the project).
Holstrom Environmental Research Fellowship
The Holstrom Environmental Research Fellowship supports undergraduate research done in collaboration with UW–Madison faculty or research/instructional academic staff. Research proposals must have an environmental focus, and applicants must have at least a junior standing at the time of application.
Sophomore Research Fellowship
Funded by grants from the Brittingham Fund and the Kemper K. Knapp Bequest, the Sophomore Research Fellowships support undergraduate research done in collaboration with UW–Madison faculty or research/instructional academic staff. Approximately 15 awards are available.
Undergraduate Research Scholars
The Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) program is dedicated to enhancing the academic experience of UW–Madison students by providing first- and second-year undergraduates with opportunities to earn credit for participating in research and creative work with UW–Madison faculty and staff. The program has been designed to include partnerships between students and mentors, seminars on research-relevant issues, and practice in research/artistic presentations. The many benefits of the program are found in the fluid interaction between these activities.
Undergraduate Symposium
The annual Undergraduate Symposium showcases undergraduate creativity, achievement, research, service-learning, and community-based research from all areas of study at UW–Madison, including the humanities, fine arts, biological sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences. This past year nearly 700 students presented, displayed, or performed their work for members of the university, the surrounding community, family, and friends.
University Book Store Award
Supported by a generous grant from the University Book Store, this award recognizes undergraduate students who have completed an outstanding independent project, such as a senior thesis, at UW–Madison. Projects in all academic fields are eligible.
Wisconsin Idea Fellowships
Wisconsin Idea Fellowships are awarded annually to undergraduate student projects working toward solving a challenge identified along with local or global community partners. Fellowships are awarded to semester-long or year-long projects designed by an undergraduate student (or group of students) in collaboration with a community organization and a UW–Madison faculty or academic staff member.