College of Letters & Science
Molecular Biology
Requirements for the Major
Honors in the Major
Courses
445 Henry Mall, Room 118, Madison, WI 53706-1574; 608-262-9690; molecularbiologymajor@icbe.wisc.edu; www.biology.wisc.edu/academic_programs/molecular_biology
Committee of Advisors: Ahmad (Dermatology), Amann (Zoology), Bertics (Biomolecular Chemistry), Fabry (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine), Filutowicz (Bacteriology), Malter (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine), Martin (Biochemistry), McMahon (Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering), Schuler (Comparative Biosciences), Skop (Genetics)
Molecular biology is the basic science that seeks an understanding of life processes in terms of the properties and functions of molecules that make up living cells. The scope of questions addressed in molecular biology ranges from evolution to development to the regulation of gene expression. A career in molecular biology requires a strong background in biology as well as in chemistry, mathematics, and physics.
The molecular biology major has been designed for three groups of students: (a) those who plan to enter a research career in molecular biology or related areas such as biochemistry, genetics, oncology, microbiology, cell biology or developmental biology; (b) pre-professional students who plan to enter either a research or clinical career in medicine, or allied health fields; (c) students who plan to teach biology at the college or secondary-school levels. Students with other interests are also welcome, of course. Career opportunities for students with an undergraduate degree in molecular biology are amazingly diverse. Graduates of our program have gone into patent law, science reporting, forensics, philosophy, genetic counseling, veterinary medicine, anthropology, archeology, marine biology, and religion.
Major requirements have been set to assure a satisfactory level of competence in the various areas specified while still allowing as much flexibility as possible for students to plan their programs. This major uniquely provides access for the undergraduate interested in life sciences to the extraordinary scope and strength of biology courses and laboratories on the Madison campus. We hope that students will take advantage of the advising service available to make a judicious choice of courses, as well as to gain scholarly experience outside the classroom that will further their career goals.
Students who wish to obtain further information about the program or to declare a molecular biology major should contact the molecular biology office. Advisors are assigned through the program office and are located in many related departments throughout campus. Molecular biology advisors are especially competent to provide counsel regarding the major and career opportunities in molecular biology.
Requirements for the Major
MATHEMATICS
Math 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry or Math 211
AND Math 222 Calculus and Analytic Geometry or Math 213 Calculus and Introduction to Differential Equations or Stat 301 Introduction to Statistical Methods or Stat 371 Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences
CHEMISTRY
a. General and Analytic Chemistry
Choose one of three options:
Chemistry 109 General Analytical Chemistry AND one semester of Analytical Chemistry: Chemistry 327 or Chemistry 329
OR
Chemistry 115 and 116 Chemical Principles (enrollment in Chemistry 115 is by consent of instructor only)
OR
Chemistry 103 and 104: General Chemistry AND one semester of Analytical Chemistry: Chemistry 327 OR Chemistry 329
b. Organic Chemistry
Chemistry 343 Introductory Organic Chemistry
AND Chemistry 344 Introductory Organic Chemistry Lab
AND Chemistry 345 Intermediate Organic Chemistry
PHYSICS
Physics 201 and 202 General Physics
OR Physics 207 and 208 General Physics
BIOLOGY
a. General and Genetics
Choose from one of two options. Biocore is highly selective and is based upon applications due in mid-March. Students should consult their advisor and the Biocore office in 345 Noland Hall. Students may find an application online or call 608-262-5979 for more information.
Biocore/Biology 301 Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics
Biocore/Biology 302 Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory
Biocore/Biology 303 Cellular Biology
Biocore/Biology 304 Cellular Biology Laboratory
Biocore/Biology 323 Organismal Biology
OR
Biology/Botany/Zoology 151 Introductory Biology
Biology/Botany/Zoology 152 Introductory Biology
Botany/Genetics/Zoology 466 General Genetics
b. Biochemistry
Choose one of the three options below. If students take Biochem 507 and 508, 3 credits count toward meeting the biochemistry requirement under Biology and the remaining 3 count toward meeting the Advanced Courses requirement in area E.
Biochem 501 Introduction to Biochemistry
BMolChem 503 Human Biochemistry
Biochem 507 and 508 General Biochemistry
c. Molecular Biology
Minimum 3 credits. Choose from the list of approved courses below. Please note that no course substitutions will be authorized for this requirement.
Agronomy/Hort 339 Plant Biotechnology Principles and Techniques I
Agronomy/Hort 340 Plant Biotechnology Principles and Techniques II
Biochem/Genetics/Microbio 612 Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics*
Biochem/Genetics 620 Eukaryotic Molecular Biology*
Biochem/Genetics 703 Topics in Eukaryotic Regulation* (2 credits)
Biochem 711 & 712 Sequence Analysis Lecture and Laboratory (must take both)
Genetics 545 Genetics Laboratory (2 credits)
Hort 500 Molecular Biology Techniques
Hort 550 Molecular Approaches for Crop Improvement*
ADVANCED COURSES
Minimum of two courses, one each from two areas, required. Minimum of 6 credits required. Laboratory courses or research in this category fulfill the laboratory/independent research requirement, see below.
a. Development
Botany 500 Plant Physiology*
Zool 470 Introduction to Animal Development*
Zool 555 Laboratory in Developmental Biology
Zool 625 Development of the Nervous System
b. Microbiology
Botany/Pl Path 505 Plant-Microbe Interactions: Molecular and Ecological Aspects*
Microbio 303 Biology or Microorganisms
Microbio 304 Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory
Microbio 330 Host-Parasite Interactions
Microbio/Pl Path 622 Plant Bacterial Interactions*
Microbio/Oncology/Pl Path 640: General Virology-Multiplication of Viruses*
MM&I 575 Biology of Viruses (2 credits)
c. Genetics
Agron/Hort 338 Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Genetics/Botany/Hort 561 Introductory Cytogenetics*
Genetics/Med Genet 565 Human Genetics*
Genetics 566 Advanced Genetics
Microbio 470 Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines
Microbio/Genetics 607 Advanced Microbial Genetics*
d. Cell Biology (Endocrinology, Neurobiology, Immunology)
Biochem/Phmacol-M/Zool 630 Cellular Signal Transduction Mechanisms*
Biocore 333 Biological Interactions
Human Onc 640 Biochemical Mechanisms of Tumor Promotion and Progression*
Microbio/MM&I 528 Immunology
MM&I 341 Immunology
Neurosci/Zool 523 Neurobiology*
Oncology 401 Introduction to Experimental Oncology
Path 750 Cellular and Molecular Biology/Pathology
Zoology 570 Cell Biology*
Zoology 572 Laboratory in Cell Biology
e. Biochemistry and Physical Chemistry
Biochem/Nutr Sci 510 Biochemical Principles of Human and Animal Nutrition
Biochem 550 Topics in Medical Biochemistry*
Biochem/Botany 621 Plant Biochemistry*
Biochem 651 Biochemical Methods*
Chem 561 Physical Chemistry*
Chem 565 Biophysical Chemistry*
Physiol 533 Molecular Physiology
f. Quantitative and Computational Sciences
BMI/Comp Sci 576 Introduction to Bioinformatics*
BMI/Comp Sci 776 Advanced Bioinformatics*
Comp Sci/I Sy E/Math 425 Introduction to Combinatorial Optimization*
F&W Ecol/Hort/Stat 571 Statistical Methods for Bioscience I*
F&W Ecol/Hort/Stat 572 Statistical Methods for Bioscience II*
Stat 333 Applied Regression Analysis
Stat 541 Introduction to Biostatistics*
*Courses so designated may be used to satisfy the requirements for Honors in Molecular Biology.
LABORATORY AND INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
There are several ways to complete the requirement for a laboratory experience in molecular biology. These include laboratory courses as well as research experience offered either in the form of an independent study project or a research thesis. Although research experience is not required for the nonhonors major, students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity UW-Madison's research community offers. Those who wish to complete a research thesis or project are invited to take Molecular Biology Senior Thesis 691-692 (681-682 for Honors Students) or Directed Studies 699 in Molecular Biology. Students intending to enroll in Molecular Biology 681 & 682, 691 & 692, or 699 can down load forms from the website.
Hilldale and honors fellowships are available for summer research usually between the junior and senior years. Honors fellowship information is available at the College of Letters and Science Honors Office in 420 South Hall. HIlldale information is available at the Undergraduate Academic Awards Office in 271 Bascom Hall.
At least one course from the Biology 4c selections listed or from the Advanced Courses menu must be a laboratory course or provide independent, laboratory-based research experience (minimum 2 credits). Choose from the list of approved courses below. If a Senior Thesis or Directed Studies project is not a laboratory-based research experience, the student must meet this requirement by completing a laboratory course.
Bmolchem 504 Human Biochemistry Laboratory
Biochem 651 Bochemical Methods
Hort 500 Molecular Biology Techniques
Microbio 304 Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory
Mol Biol 681 and 682 Senior Honors Thesis
Mol Biol 691 and 692 Senior Thesis
Mol Biol 699 Directed Studies
Zool 572 Lab in Cell Biology
Honors in the Major
The honors student in molecular biology is one who wishes to prepare for graduate or professional school in the most rigorous and challenging ways available on this campus. For the honors student in molecular biology, faculty endeavor to provide enriching academic opportunities: these include a selection from the list of advanced courses that represent some of the most challenging courses the UW-Madison campus has to offer, opportunities to interact directly with faculty in both research and other scholarly ways, and student-driven opportunities to share experiences and intellectual stimulation with other honors students. Typically, honors students will seek admission to Honors in Molecular Biology during the sophomore or early in the junior year. Students will be awarded their degree with Honors in Molecular Biology if they:
- complete all requirements for the major with a GPA in the major of 3.5 and an overall GPA of 3.3 in all courses taken at UW-Madison;
- complete the requirement for molecular biology and advanced courses from a list of courses approved for honors (approved courses are designated above by *);
- register for Molecular Biology 681 and 682 for two semesters between the completion of the second semester as a junior and the end of the semester of graduation and during this period complete an acceptable senior honors thesis in molecular biology; and
- complete one semester of a Senior Honors Seminar in Molecular Biology or an approved graduate seminar.