Biotechnology
Preparation for Professional Careers in Veterinary Medicine and Medicine
Medical Scholars Program
International Study Opportunities
Farm and Industry Short Course
Special Short Courses
Simultaneous Course Completion for Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, and Natural Sciences Degrees
Biotechnology—the science of applying technology to basic life functions—involves many disciplines within the arena of natural sciences.
Scientists investigate biotechnological applications in the basic sciences, animal sciences, plant sciences, food and nutritional sciences. Currently, CALS investigations include antibiotic-producing bacteria, synthetic bovine growth hormone, embryo cloning, wildlife diseases, genetic engineering, insect pest control, and environmental toxicants.
There is not a degree or major called Biotechnology, however, students can get a head start on their future biotechnological career by pursuing a major under the Natural Sciences degree program. This route provides a strong foundation in the biological and physical sciences needed for a career in science. The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science-Natural Sciences in 15 major departments. For more information, contact the Office of Undergraduate Programs and Services, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences students preparing for a career in the professional fields of veterinary medicine or medicine should enroll in a major leading to completion of the Natural Sciences degree. This allows them to simultaneously fulfill the requirements necessary to apply for admission into most veterinary schools and medical schools of their choice. (Professional schools vary in their requirements and students should check with prospective schools for their specific requirements.) At the same time, course work will provide alternative career options in the event that students choose not to pursue veterinary or human medicine.
Prospective applicants for admission to the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine should complete specific academic requirements to be eligible for admission to the school. The pre-professional student is encouraged to consult the School of Veterinary Medicine advising staff early in their academic career for current information regarding admission to the School of Veterinary Medicine. A college degree is not necessary to be eligible for admission to the professional program. However, most schools of veterinary medicine require a minimum of two to three years of pre-professional study before considering a student for admission.
Students interested in future application to the School of Veterinary Medicine are encouraged to pursue an academic major of their choice while completing the course requirements for admission. Because only 80 students can be admitted each year, their interests are best served by selecting a major that will provide career alternatives while meeting the entrance requirements for the school. One major will not have an advantage over another with respect to admission to the school.
Completion of the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the professional program. The school receives many more applications than there are positions available in each entering class and consequently, admission is competitive.
The prospective applicant should be aware that grades in all college-level courses are important for the applicant to be competitive for selection for admission to the school. In addition, the most competitive applications will include documentation of animal and veterinary medical experience. Questions about admission requirements should be addressed to the Office of Academic Affairs in the School of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706; 608/263-2525.
Academic requirements. The following information is provided by the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine (www.vetmed.wisc.edu): Applicants for admission to the School of Veterinary Medicine must have completed a total of 60 semester credits of college course work and are required to take the Graduate Record Examination General Test.
The 60 credits of necessary college course work include 40-43 credits of required course work (see below), plus a minimum of 17 credits of elective course work left to the student's discretion. The 17 elective credits allow students to meet personal and academic goals and objectives (for example, to focus on course work of interest to them, to work toward a chosen major, to broaden their education) while preparing for admission to veterinary medical school. All course work must be completed no later than the end of spring term prior to enrollment in the program. Required courses completed after application must have a grade of C (2.0) or better to fulfill the requirement.
Required courses must be taken from an accredited college or university and must be graded on an A-F basis. In the unique circumstance whereby courses can be taken on a pass/fail basis, the campus must provide an evaluation of courses and a grade conversion. If no verification is provided, a letter grade of C (2.0) will be assigned to calculate grade point averages. Course requirements are not met if a grade point average of "F" or its equivalent is received. While all of the required course work must be completed before the student may enroll in the professional program, the student may complete selected required courses during the fall, winter, and spring terms prior to anticipated enrollment.
Prospective applicants should be sure their selected college course work fulfills the school's published course content requirements. A list of UW-Madison courses that fulfill the admission requirements for the school is available from the Office of Academic Affairs in the school. Courses taken on other campuses should be equivalent in scope and content to the courses identified at UW-Madison that fulfill the admission requirements. Course requirements are listed below using semester credits. Course equivalency information is available through college counselors or the Office of Academic Affairs in the School of Veterinary Medicine, UW-Madison, and the Office of Undergraduate Programs and Services, CALS, 116 Agricultural Hall.
Students interested in applying for possible admission into the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison should complete, as minimum, the following course work, along with a conventional major and degree program.
Three credits fulfilled by satisfactory college English Placement Exam or an intro English composition course and three credits of an English composition or journalism course or evidence that writing skills were included in the grading of a specific college-level course.
An introductory course, 3 cr
(UW-Madison students may substitute Biocore courses for biology or zoology; genetics or animal breeding; microbiology)
General Biology or Zoology (lecture and lab), 5 cr
Genetics or Animal Breeding (must include principles of heredity and their application), 3 cr
General and Qualitative (must include lab), 8 cr Organic (a one-semester lecture), 3 cr
Biochemistry 501, 3 cr
Two-semester lecture series, 6 cr
Electives, 6 cr
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences students who wish to prepare for a career in medicine should enroll in courses that lead to the completion of a major in the Natural Science degree which will simultaneously fulfill the premedical requirements of the medical school of their choice.
The premedical professional area of interest is not a classification, a major, or a formal academic program you are obligated to pursue. It is an area of intended interest that can be pursued simultaneously with the completion of a major and regular degree requirements within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
It is important to note that, with very few exceptions, any student who is enrolled in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences pursuing a major leading toward the baccalaureate degree under the Natural Sciences degree program will simultaneously meet premedical course requirements currently in effect at the UW-Madison.
Students interested in the pre-professional medical area should indicate their intent to meet requirements for preparation and admission into the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Students are encouraged to obtain the publication entitled Pre-Medicine at the UW-Madison published by the College of Letters and Science. It is available in Room B18 Bascom Hall or at 116 Agricultural Hall.
In addition, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences advisors can help students program premedical requirements simultaneously with major and degree requirements of the College. Advisors in the College and the School of Medicine and Public Health can also provide information and materials that might be helpful to students in their premedical preparation.
It should be noted that requirements of schools of medicine do vary from one institution to another. For this reason, any student interested in applying to medical school should secure handbooks that give details pertaining to the specific admission requirements of each school.
The following courses are required for UW-Madison students interested in applying to the UW-Madison Medical School (www.med.wisc.edu).
As prescribed by school/college for academic major.
A minimum of Math 112 Algebra, and 113 Trigonometry; OR Math 114
Algebra and Trigonometry; OR equivalent.
At least two semesters with labs. This requirement may be satisfied according to one or the other of course tracks below:
1. Biology Core Curriculum: Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics (Biocore 301); Cellular Biology (Biocore 303); Organismal Biology (Biocore 323), and Biological Interactions (Biocore 333).
Premeds may elect two, three, or four of these courses, and at least two of them must be accompanied by the corresponding laboratory. Students planning to enter the
Biocore curriculum should not take Zoology 101-102 or 151-152. See the Letters and Science section in this catalog.
2. General: Animal Biology (Zool 101 lecture and 102 laboratory); or a year course, Introductory Biology (Zoology 151-152); plus
Advanced: One or more courses that include a corresponding lab from Developmental Biology (Zoology 470-555) or Comparative Anatomy (Zoology 430) or Cellular
Biology (Zoology 570-572) or Comparative Physiology (Zoology 611-612); or Genetics (Genetics 466, Genetics 466 is the only course on the Madison campus that will
be accepted without a lab). These courses may require specific prerequisites.
See the Letters and Science section in this catalog.
At least four or five semesters, depending on options chosen. Both general chemistry and organic chemistry are required.
General Chemistry. Including organic, qualitative analysis, and quantitative laboratory techniques. Choose one of these options: Chem 103-104 or Chem 109 Chemistry 327 or 329 (Qualitative Analysis) is recommended, not required. (Chemistry 327 or 329 is not required by dental schools.)
Organic Chemistry. Treating both aliphatic and aromatic compounds, to include lab work. Chem 343 followed by 344 and 345
Two semesters of general physics (Physics 103-104, or 201-202, or 207-208).
The 201-202 and 207-208 sequences require calculus; the 103-104 sequence does not.
The Medical Scholars Program (MSP) provides conditional admission to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health for highly qualified high school seniors. Each year, a maximum of 40 Wisconsin students are selected to enroll in the program. These undergraduates may select any major of their choice and are encouraged to take advantage of the diversity and many opportunities the UW-Madison campus offers.
During their undergraduate years, Medical Scholars are part of the medical school community. They may participate in medically related seminars, demonstrations, summer research programs and other special events under the direction of medical school faculty.
For more information: Medical Scholars Program, 2142 Health Sciences Learning Center, 750 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705; 608/263-7561.
Today's college graduates must be prepared for the international world in which they will live and work. CALS study abroad programs offer students unique opportunities which cannot be replicated on the UW-Madison campus.
CALS offers study abroad programs in 16 different countries and has a program to fit every student's budget. Students can study for an academic year, semester, summer, or over winter break. All but one CALS study abroad programs are in English and many cost less, the same, or only slightly more than studying on the UW-Madison campus. Many programs can be arranged to meet the international experience requirement for the International B.S. degree.
CALS has semester or academic year programs in Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and Trinidad/Tobago. Except for Chile which requires Spanish proficiency, all the other programs offer courses in English! Want to learn Spanish? The study abroad immersion program in Mexico offers six levels (beginning to advanced) of Spanish classes. While learning Spanish, CALS students can take classes on Mexican culture, business and history in English.
Summer programs are available in France and Germany. These programs include four weeks of in-classroom instruction followed by a four-week internship. Students interested in learning about China can participate in the four-week summer study tour focusing on agriculture, business and biodiversity issues. For students who cannot study abroad for an academic year, semester or summer, winter break programs are available in Uganda, Mexico, and Costa Rica. A fall semester seminar series followed by a winter break field experience in Uganda gives students the opportunity to learn about health and nutrition issues in developing countries. Students interested in tropical agriculture can enroll in a fall semester seminar followed by a ten day, winter break field study tour in Costa Rica. A 10-day winter break program in Mexico follows a fall semester seminar on dairy and dairying issues in Mexico.
All programs are continuously reviewed and may be updated or changed. New programs may be added to ensure that the needs of CALS students are being met.
For more information on studying abroad stop by the CALS Study Abroad Office, 240 Agricultural Hall, call 608/262-1271, or e-mail studyabroad@cals.wisc.edu.
Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC) is a non-degree course of instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison especially for students who expect to farm or who may be interested in positions in the agribusiness field. The 17-week session is offered once each year, starting in mid-November and ending in mid-March. There are two 6-week terms, one 3-week term, and two 1-week terms in each session. Students may attend any one or any combination of the terms, although most students attend all 17 weeks.
More than 45 courses are offered during a session. A separate set of courses, usually about five, is taken by each student during each term. Many students return for an additional 17-week session and earn advanced certificates. Even though this is a nondegree course, all students are graded and permanent records are filed. Students pay the same proportionate fees as do undergraduates and they have the same privileges on campus.
The Short Course instructors also teach degree students. The regular College of Agricultural and Life Sciences shops, laboratories, classrooms, and livestock facilities are used.
Students in the program need not choose a major or specialty area within the curriculum. Instead, students may simply choose those courses that they feel will benefit them the most for the kind of farming or kind of agribusiness position in which they are most interested. However, six specialties are available. To earn a specialty certificate, a student must complete a stated number of required courses with a total of 20 credits. The specialty areas are: (1) crop and soil management; (2) dairy farm management; (3) farm mechanics; (4) farm service and supply; (5) meat animal/poultry; and (6) grass-based dairying. A list of courses can be obtained in 116 Agricultural Hall.
For those students who have graduated from, or have attended, the Short Course, and who decide to continue their work toward a B.S. degree in agricultural and life sciences, there will be transfer credit for each course in which the students earn a grade of B or above—up to a maximum of 15 elective credits. Many students in Short Course find this transition to the degree course a natural one.
Graduates of the Short Course may find that there are agricultural job opportunities available to them both on the farm and in nonfarm jobs. The College's Career Services Office maintains a file of such job opportunities. Students may also obtain summer internships if they plan to attend Short Course for two years.
There are many scholarships available to students of the Farm and Industry Short Course. More than 20 scholarship sponsors offer over 100 individual scholarships annually. Most of these scholarships range from $200 to $1500 per session and approximately 70 separate student awards are made. Information on all aspects of the Short Course program is available from the Director of Short Course, 116 Agricultural Hall at 608/263-3918.
The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, largely through University of Wisconsin-Extension, sponsors and conducts many special short courses for specific training or retraining in various phases of agriculture and agribusiness. There are institutes, conferences, and workshops that vary in length from one day to two weeks. Many are held on campus; others are held at various locations around the state.
The CALS Outreach Services Office, 620 Babcock Drive, 608/263-1672, has information about these special sessions.