Undergraduate Programs

The Department of Biology offers six majors and two certificates across a range of biological sciences. Explore each of our programs below.

Programs

Advising

Scholarships

Career Planning

Programs

A lush prairie in spring time with a dramatic sky and double rainbow.

Biology Major

Designed for students with broad interest in biological sciences, this is also a great option for students preparing for graduate school or professional schools.

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A young adult in a red jacket and pink baseball cap smiles at the fist full of fluffy seeds she holds up to be caught in and carried by the wind. They stand in a field of short green-brown grass that is patched with burn marks from a previous prescribed burn.

Biology Core Curriculum Honors, Certificate

This four semester certificate curriculum gives students a broad, in-depth, and integrated background in biological sciences. In addition to the certificate, BioCore fulfills introductory requirements for many biological science majors.

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Hands holds a plant in one hand while probing the dirt around it with another, inspecting it. Behind it are other potted plants in a greenhouse.

Botany Major

Botany majors learn the principles of modern biology by studying organism diversity, evolution, ecology and more through plants, fungi, algae and bacteria.

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A pair of hands wearing gardening gloves stretch into the frame to reach and clip a purple flower from the green understory of a forest.

Conservation Biology Major

Designed to provide students broad training in biological and ecological disciplines relevant to conservation, this major emphasizes basic knowledge of natural history, whole organism biology, ecological interactions, and field biology.

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Two people wearing hats and slim life vests stand on a small aluminum boat floating the a lake. They both maneuver and guide a long stretch of net with cylindrical framing into the water alongside the boat.

Freshwater and Marine Sciences Certificate

This certificate emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the aquatic sciences and incorporates courses that span the physical and biological sciences and their application to real-world problems.

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Gloved hands prepare a sample in a petri dish for visualization under a microscope.

Molecular and Cell Biology Major

Focusing on the basic science behind biological processes, this major builds students’ understanding of the properties and functions of the molecules that make up living cells before going on to study evolution, gene expression and development.

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Gloved hands examine a preserved human brain.

Neurobiology Major

Providing a rigorous education in neuroscience principles, this major gives students a solid foundation in basic biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics before going on to study neuroscience at the molecular, cellular, systems, and cognitive levels.

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An aerial view of a black top lab table as three sets of hands reach for shells of various sizes shapes and shades of brown orange and white kept in individual boxes lined with styrofoam. There are worksheets and spiral notebooks with notes along the table too.

Zoology Major

With a focus on animal biology, this major provides a foundation in genetic, cellular, physiological, ecological, and evolutionary principles to foster an understanding of biological complexity and the interrelationships among humans and natural systems.

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Advising and Declaring

Our experienced team of advisors is here to help you plan and track your progress towards a successful graduation.

Prospective Students

Interested in Biology at UW–Madison but not sure where to go next? Reach out to our advisor Pang Zoo Lee.

Current Students

Each program has different advisors. Click on a program above to contact or schedule an appointment with the correct advisor.

Scholarships

More information coming soon.

Career Planning

Our academic programs are designed to prepare students to hit the ground running when they graduate. Graduates from the Department of Biology pursue careers in areas like healthcare, conservation, natural resource management, biotechnology and often continue their education in graduate or professional school.

You can schedule an appointment with your advisor to discuss careers you can build with your major.

SuccessWorks is the College of Letters and Science’s office dedicated to helping students develop their careers before they graduate. Explore their extensive resources and schedule an appointment to develop your career.

Start developing your career