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Evolutionary Biology Option
The evolutionary biology option allows Biology majors to concentrate their studies in evolution and to have this reflected on their transcript. Since there is no Evolutionary Biology major available at UW-Madison, this is the only mechanism to indicate specialization in this rapidly growing and popular field. In taking this option students will be able to fulfill their intermediate/advanced biology requirement with courses that emphasize evolutionary biology, ranging from a required courses in fundamental evolutionary biology to more advanced optional courses that cover a wide range of evolutionary biology topics. They will also get to take a 1 credit seminar course in evolutionary biology.
Who should enroll in this Major?
Students with broad interest in the biological sciences who want to:
- Prepare for graduate study in evolutionary biology or related fields
- Prepare for professional studies (e.g. medical school, veterinary school, dentistry)
- Concentrate their biological studies in evolutionary biology
Students majoring in Biology must complete 31 credits of biological coursework plus the college requirements for a B.S. degree in either the College of Agricultural (CALS), or the College of Letters and Science (L&S).
Students are advised by professors from many biological departments based on interests. Those expressing no college preference are assigned to L&S but are advised to keep track of CALS requirements as well in order to keep options open.
Curriculum for the Biology Major with an Evolutionary Biology Option
In addition to fulfilling all University and College requirements, students must fulfill the following major requirements.
Evolutionary Biology Brochure PDF
Mathematics
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
Stat 301: Introduction to Statistical Methods (3 cr) OR Stat 371: Introduction to Statistics for the Life Sciences (3 cr)
(Because some graduate programs require a second semester of Calculus, Math 222 is recommended, as an additional course) Chemistry
a. General Chemistry:
Chem 103 and 104: General Chemistry (4 cr, 5 cr) OR Chem 109: General and Analytical Chemistry (5 cr)
b. Organic Chemistry:
Chem 343: Intro Organic Chemistry (3 cr) and Chem 344: Intro Organic Chemistry Lab (2 cr) and Chem 345: Intermediate Chemistry (3 cr)
Physics
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)
BIOLOGY COURSES
(The total number of credits in sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 below must equal at least 31.)
Introductory Biology Courses
Option A:
Biology/ Botany/ Zoology 151 and 152: Introductory Biology (5 cr)
Option B:
Biocore/ Biology 301: Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics (3 cr), Biocore/ Biology 303: Cellular Biology (3 cr), Biocore/ Biology 323: Organismal Biology (3 cr), Biocore/ Biology 333: Biological Interactions (3 cr)
AND the laboratory course Biocore/ Biology 302: Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Lab (2 cr) AND Biocore/ Biology 304: Cellular Biology Lab (2 cr) OR Biocore/ Biology 324: Organismal Biology Lab (2 cr)
(Students who use Biocore/ Biology 302 and 304 to fulfill the introductory biology requirement can use Biocore/ Biology 324 to fulfill the intermediate lab or field course requirement described in part 5 below. Biocore courses fulfill both introductory and foundational course requirements.)
Option C:
Biology/ Zoology 101: Animal Biology (3 cr), Biology/ Zoology 102: Animal Biology Lab (2 cr), Biology/ Botany 130: General Botany (5 cr) Foundational Course
(Does not count toward requirement 5; course not required for those taking Option B to satisfy Introductory Biology)
Botany/Genetics/Zoology 466: General Genetics
(Because some graduate programs require biochemistry, either Biochem 501: Intro to Biochemistry or Biochem 503: Human Biochemistry is recommended as an additional course and will count towards category "a" of requirement 5.)
Intermediate/advanced courses (13 credits minimum)
Required:
Anthro/Botany/Zoology 410: Evolutionary Biology (3 cr)
A minimum of three additional courses at the intermediate/advanced level, selected from the areas listed below, are needed to satisfy the evolutionary 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 categories "a" or "b", one must be from category "c" (Botany/Zoology 460: Ecology is recommended), and one must be from category "d". The courses satisfying these areas are the same as those accepted by the general biology major.
In accumulating other biology credits toward the 31 credit Biology requirement, students, in consultation with their advisors, will be encouraged to take additional intermediate/advanced courses from categories "a" through "e" related to evolutionary biology.
a. Cellular and Subcellular Biology
b. Organismal Biology
c. Ecology
d. Evolution and Systematics
e. Applied Biology, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Independent research or laboratory experience (2 credits, minimum)
Additional laboratory or field research experience is required. Any directed study or research-based senior thesis in a biological science discipline can count, but at least two credits must be taken after completing one year of college biology. We expect that most students who choose to concentrate in evolutionary biology will be interested in an independent research experience in one of the many laboratories on campus. Indeed, we strongly urge all concentrators to do a senior thesis or independent research. Alternatively this requirement may be fulfilled with one or more intermediate/advanced laboratory courses involving a total of at least 3 hours/week of lab instruction beyond that done for requirement 5. This requirement can be fulfilled by courses listed below that explore biological diversity through an explicitly evolutionary/phylogenetic perspective. With advisor approval, this requirement meets the CALS capstone experience. The credits taken for requirements 5 and 6 must equal at least 15.
| Department | Number | Credits | Lab hours/week | Course Title |
| AN SCI | 521 | 3 | 3 | Birds of Southern Wisconsin |
| BOTANY | 330 | 3 | 4 | Algae |
| BOTANY | 332 | 4 | 4 | Fungi |
| BOTANY | 400 | 4 | 3 | Plant Systematics |
| BOTANY | 563 | 3 | 2 | Phylogenetic Analysis of Molecular Data |
| ENTOM | 302 | 4 | 3 | Introduction to Entomology |
| ENTOM | 331 | 4 | 6 | Taxonomy of Mature Insects |
| MICROBIO | 304 | 2 | 4 | Prokaryotic Microbiology |
| ZOOLOGY | 430 | 5 | 6 | Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates |
| ZOOLOGY | 612 | 2 | 4 | Comparative Physiology Laboratory |
Biology 675: Undergraduate Evolutionary Biology Seminar (1 credit)
This seminar will involved attending the weekly research seminar given in the Evolution Seminar Series and then participating in a roundtable discussion. It will give those Biology Majors who choose the Evolutionary Biology Option an orientation to the range of research questions and methods used in Evolutionary Biology, as well as providing a weekly social gathering. This seminar is best taken in the second semester of your junior year or in your senior year.
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