Faculty advisors: Professor James Stewart, 226C Teacher Education Building, 263-4638, jhstewar@facstaff.wisc.edu; Professor John Rudolph, 226A Teacher Education, 265-3431, jlrudolp@facstaff.wisc.edu. Students not yet admitted to this program should consult with advising staff at Education Academic Services (EAS), Rust-Schreiner Halls, 115 North Orchard Street, 262-1651.
In addition to the Biology major outlined here, UW-Madison offers many other specialized and broad-based biological science majors. Students who wish to learn more about these options may consult Which Biology Major? Students may also wish to consult with the Undergraduate Biology Advisor, Room 118c, 445 Henry Mall, 262-6836.
Complete a minimum of 34 credits. Students complete one of two Biology major options. The credits required for program admission must be chosen from this course work. A minimum of 15 credits of upper-level major course work (numbered 300-699) must be taken in residence on the UW-Madison campus.
Students may also complete the Biology licensing program through participation in the Biology Core (Biocore) Curriculum. The completion of this sequence requires more course work than Option A, and most students enter Biocore in the fall of their sophomore year. Students interested in Biocore should talk with an advisor early in their program to discuss how the Biocore program fits with eligibility requirements for the Secondary Education program. The Biocore program is a four-semester, interdepartmental course sequence providing undergraduates with a broad, solid background for further work in any biologically oriented field of study.
Admission to the Biocore sequence is limited and competitive. For more information, visit the Biocore office, 361 Noland Hall, or the Biocore Web site.
New students planning to follow the Biocore sequence should not take other introductory biology courses. There is extensive overlap in content of the various introductory courses, and students who take more than one such course may lose credit. Students planning to take the Biocore sequence should take Chem 103-104, 109, or 115 and Math in their freshman year. Math 221 and Chem 104/109/115 and concurrent (fall) or previous registration in Chem 343 (Organic Chemistry) are prerequisites for the first course in the sequence. The entire Biocore sequence and related course work is listed under the heading Biology Core Curriculum in the Letters and Science section of this catalog.
The elements of this program that lead to Biology licensure include:
Students complete additional elective course work to reach a minimum of 34 credits. Courses must be numbered 300 and above and include at least one course (2-credit minimum) from each of three areas, (1) ecology, evolution, and genetics, (2) cell and molecular biology, and (3) physiology. At least one of these electives must be a lab (this could be the third Biocore lab) or a field course. A list of appropriate courses is provided below.
Choose one from each area. Starred (*) courses are lab or field courses. Additional courses may, with consent of a science education advisor, be selected to meet the elective requirements.
The Biology minor may be completed by students in Secondary Education Science or Elementary Education licensing programs. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 is required, based on all Biology minor course work taken on the UW-Madison campus. The graduation grade point average may be modified by the last 60 credits rule (see Science Education Application and Admissions Information).
Secondary Education students may select this minor only if completing a major in another Science certification area. It is not possible to be certified only in a minor area. Interested Secondary Education students must apply and be admitted to the Science program. Admission is limited and competitive. See additional information under the major of choice.
All Secondary students, whether completing their first degree or adding on a teaching minor to a prior certification, should expect to complete a methods course, participate in practicum and student teaching experience, and earn passing scores on a content exam to be recommended for certification. Students wishing to complete a minor must consult with the faculty advisor/program coordinator to discuss its field experience component.
Must complete a minimum of 24 credits, including the following: