Requirements for the Major
Neurobiology Option
118 Genetics Building, 445 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706; 608/262-9690; biologymajor@icbe.wisc.edu; www.biology.wisc.edu
The biology major is designed for students with broad interests in the biological sciences. It is intended primarily to: (1) prepare undergraduates for graduate studies in diverse areas of biology; (2) prepare certain pre-professional students (e.g., medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry) for advanced study in the health professions; (3) provide a broad exposure to biology for students who want a general science education as biologists, and (4) serve as initial preparation for students who later choose a more specialized major.
The major is offered by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Letters and Science. A similar major offered by the School of Education leads to certification in secondary education for students who want to become biology teachers.
In addition to fulfilling all university and college requirements, students must fulfill the following requirements for the biology major.
Math 171 Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry I, 5 cr and
Math 217 Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II, 5 cr OR
Math 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry, 5 cr
AND
Math 222 Calculus and Analytic Geometry, 5 cr, OR
Stat 301 Introduction to Statistical Methods, 3 cr, OR
Stat 371 Introduction to Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences, 3 cr
a. General Chemistry
Chem 103-104 General Chemistry, 4 cr, 5 cr, OR
Chem 109 Advances General Chemistry, 5 cr
b. Organic Chemistry
Chem 343 Introductory Organic Chemistry, 3 cr, and
Chem 344 Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 2 cr, and
Chem 345 Intermediate Organic Chemistry, 3 cr
Physics 103 and 104 General Physics, 4 cr each, OR
Physics 201 and 202 General Physics, 5 cr each, OR
Physics 207 and 208 General Physics, 5 cr each
The total number of credits in sections 4, 5, and 6 must equal at least 31 credits.
Option A:
Botany/Zoology 151-152 Introductory Biology, 5 cr each, plus one foundational course
Option B:
Biocore 301 Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics, 3 cr
303 Cellular Biology, 3 cr
323 Organismal Biology, 3 cr
333 Biological Interactions, 3 cr
AND two of the following laboratory courses:
Biocore 302 Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory, 2 cr
304 Cellular Biology Laboratory, 2 cr
324 Organismal Biology Laboratory, 2 cr
Option C:
Zoology 101 Animal Biology, 3 cr
Zoology 102 Animal Biology Laboratory, 2 cr
Botany 130 General Botany, 5 cr
plus one foundational course
Foundational Courses:
Botany/Genetics/Zoology 466 General Genetics
Microbio 370 Bacterial Genetics
Biochem 501 Introduction to Biochemistry
Biochem 503 Human Biochemistry
A minimum of three courses (at least 13 credits) at the intermediate/advanced level, selected from three of the five areas listed below, is needed to satisfy the biology breadth requirement. These courses must include at least one lab or field course with 3 hours or more per week of laboratory/field instruction. At least one course must be from category "a" or "b" and at least one course must be from category "c" or "d." The third required course may be selected from any of the five categories not previously chosen. Overall, the courses taken should span plant, animal and microbial biology topics.
Appendix I provides a list of courses for meeting these requirements. Appendix II also lists courses that satisfy requirement 5. These courses have higher prerequisites than those in Appendix I. Appendix II is available online only. See http://www.biology.wisc.edu/Academic_Programs/Biology/Requirements/Curriculum.asp.
Additional laboratory or field research experience is required. Any directed study, independent study, or research-based senior thesis in a biological science discipline can count, but at least 2 credits must be taken after completing one year of college biology. This requirement can also be fulfilled with one or more intermediate/advanced laboratory or field biology courses involving a total of least 3 hours/week of lab or field instruction beyond that done for requirement 5. "Hours/week" refers to a normal 16-week semester and courses taken in other formats may be substituted where the total time commitment is equivalent. With advisor approval this requirement also meets the CALS capstone experience. The credits taken for requirements 5 and 6 must total at least 15 and satisfy college requirements for 15 course credits in the major in residence.
The option in neurobiology allows biology majors to concentrate their studies in neurobiology and to have this reflected on their transcript. Since there is no neurobiology major available at UW-Madison, this is the only mechanism to indicate specialization in this rapidly growing and popular field.
In addition to fulfilling all university and college requirements, students must fulfill the following requirements for the biology major with the neurobiology option.
Math 171 Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry I, 5 cr, and
Math 217 Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II, 5 cr, OR
Math 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry, 5 cr
AND
Math 222 Calculus and Analytic Geometry, 5 cr, OR
Stat 301 Introduction to Statistical Methods, 3 cr, OR
Stat 371 Introduction to Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences, 3 cr
a. General Chemistry
Chem 103-104 General Chemistry, 4 cr, 5 cr, OR
Chem 109 Advanced General Chemistry, 5 cr
b. Organic Chemistry
Chem 343 Introductory Organic Chemistry, 3 cr, and
Chem 344 Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 2 cr, and
Chem 345 Intermediate Organic Chemistry, 3 cr
Physics 103 and 104 General Physics, 4 cr each, OR
Physics 201 and 202 General Physics, 5 cr each, OR
Physics 207 and 208 General Physics, 5 cr each
The total number of credits in sections 4, 5, and 6 must equal at least 31 credits.
Option A:
Botany/Zoology 151-152 Introductory Biology, 5 cr each) plus one foundational course
Option B:
Biocore 301 Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics, 3 cr
303 Cellular Biology, 3 cr
323 Organismal Biology, 3 cr
333 Biological Interactions, 3 cr
AND two of the following laboratory courses:
Biocore 302 Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory, 2 cr
304 Cellular Biology Laboratory
324 Organismal Biology Laboratory, 2 cr
Option C:
Zoology 101 Animal Biology, 3 cr
Zoology 102 Animal Biology Laboratory, 2 cr
Botany 130 General Botany, 5 cr
plus one foundational course
Foundational Courses:
Botany/Genetics/Zoology 466 General Genetics
Microbio 370 Bacterial Genetics
Biochem 501 Introduction to Biochemistry
Biochem 503 Human Biochemistry
Required:
Neurosci/Psych/Zoology 523 Neurobiology I AND
Neurosci/Psych/Zoology 524 Neurobiology II
At least 13 intermediate/advanced level credits are needed to satisfy the biology breadth requirement. In addition to the above two required courses, students must take a minimum of three more courses: one from category "a," one from category "b" and one from categories "c" or "d." Three hours or more per week of laboratory/field instruction must be taken in intermediate/advanced courses taken from "a-f." Additional courses from "a-f" can be taken to fulfill the 31-credit requirement.
Appendix I provides a list of courses for meeting these requirements. It can be found at www.biology.wisc.edu/Academic_Programs/Biology/Requirements/Curriculum.asp. Appendix II also lists courses that satisfy requirement 5.
These courses have higher prerequisites than those in Appendix I. Appendix II is available online only, see www.biology.wisc.edu/Academic_Programs/Biology/Requirements/Appendix_II.asp.
Neurobiology students may not count classes from a or b of Appendix II toward requirement 5 with the exception of courses taken to satisfy the laboratory portion of requirement 5.
This requirement can be fulfilled with a research-based senior thesis/independent study in neurobiology or one or more intermediate/advanced laboratory courses involving a total of at least 3 hours of lab instruction beyond that done for requirement 5. It is expected that most students who choose to concentrate in neurobiology will be interested in an independent research experience in one of the many laboratories on campus. Indeed, all concentrators are strongly urged to do a senior thesis or independent research. Because not all students will want to do research, this requirement can be met by doing a senior thesis or independent research or by taking at least one course or pair of courses (lecture and lab) from the following list. With advisor approval, this requirement also meets the CALS capstone experience. The credits taken for requirements 5 and 6 must total at least 15 and satisfy college requirements for 15 course credits in the major in residence.
Neurosci/Physiol 625 Brain Cell Cultures Lab Course
Zoology 430 Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates
Zoology 570 Cell Biology
Zoology 572 Cell Biology Laboratory
Zoology 611 Comparative Physiology
Zoology 612 Comparative Physiology Laboratory
This seminar will provide a weekly research seminar given by UW-Madison faculty active in Neurobiology or by students in the major and directed specifically to undergraduates. It will give those biology majors who choose the neurobiology track an orientation to the wide range of research questions in modern neurobiology at UW-Madison as well as provide a weekly social gathering. This seminar is best taken in the second semester of the junior year.