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Neurobiology Option
The Neurobiology Option 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 taking this option students will be able to fulfill their intermediate/advanced biology requirement with courses that emphasize neuroscience, ranging from 2 required courses in fundamental neuroscience to more advanced optional courses that cover a wide range of neuroscience topics. They will also get to take a 1 credit seminar course in which different neuroscience faculty from the campus present their work in an informal setting.
Who should enroll in this Major?
Students with broad interest in the biological sciences who want to:
- Prepare for graduate study in Neurobiology or related field
- Prepare for professional studies (e.g. medical school, veterinary school, dentistry)
- Concentrate their biological studies in neurobiology
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 a Neurobiology Option
In addition to fulfilling all University and College requirements, students must fulfill the following major requirements.
Neurobiology 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
Math 222: Calculus and Analytic Geometry (5 cr) OR Stat 301: Introduction to Statistical Methods (3 cr) OR Stat 371: Introduction to Statistics for the Life Sciences (3 cr)
(Some biological sciences majors require Math 222.) Chemistry
a. General Chemistry:
Chem 103 and 104: General Chemistry (4 cr, 5 cr) OR Chem 109: General and Analytical Chemistry (5 cr)
(Some medical schools require two semesters of inorganic chemistry.)
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)
(Some biological science majors require calculus-based physics courses.) 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) plus one foundational course.
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 two of the following laboratory courses:
Biocore/ Biology 302: Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Lab (2 cr), Biocore/ Biology 304: Cellular Biology Lab (2 cr), 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.)
Option C:
Biology/ Zoology 101: Animal Biology (3 cr), Biology/ Zoology 102: Animal Biology Lab (2 cr), Biology/ Botany 130: General Botany (5 cr) plus one foundational course. Foundational Courses
(The course used to satisfy this requirment does not count toward requirement 5):
(Students are best prepared for graduate study or professional school by taking both a genetics course and a biochemistry course.)
Intermediate/advanced courses (13 credits minimum)
Required:
Neuroscience/Psychology/Zoology 523: Neurobiology I AND Neuroscience/Psychology/Zoology 524: Neurobiology II
(It is very useful to take Physics 208 or its equivalent prior to, or concurrent with, Neurobiology I.)
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 catagory “b” and one from categories “c” or “d”. The course or courses used to satisfy any category must be at least, or add up to, 2 credits. At least three hours per week of laboratory/field instruction from a course or courses in a) through f) must be taken. Additional courses taken from a-f can be taken to fulfill the 31 credit requirement.
NOTE: The following lists of courses are subject to modification. Please consult with your advisor.
a. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
b. Systems Neurobiology
c. Ecology
d. Evolution and Systematics
e. Applied Biology, Agriculture and Natural Resources
f. Other Lab Courses
Intermediate/Advanced Courses for the Biology Breadth Requirement (see requirement #5). In accumulating other biology credits toward the total credits required for their degrees (120 in L&S and 124 in CALS), students, in consultation with their advisors, will have the opportunity to take many biology electives of interest to them. All courses listed below have prerequisites that would be satisfied by the general requirements of the Biology major. Other courses may also be appropriate and can be approved on a case-by-case basis. Many courses are given in alternate years. Also, new courses are regularly added to the curriculum so you should always consult the website (Student Resources) to see what is actually available in any particular semester.
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. Alternatively it 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. We expect 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, we strongly urge all concentrators to do a senior thesis or independent research. However, we recognize that not all students will want to do research. Hence the requirement can also be fulfilled by one of the courses listed below. With advisor approval, this requirement also meets the CALS capstone experience.
| Department | Number | Credits | Lab hours/week | Course Title |
| Bmolchem | 504 | 2 | 4 | Human Biochemistry Laboratory |
| Neurosci/ Physiol | 625 | 2 | 4 | Brain Cell Cultures Lab Courses |
| Zoology | 430 | 5 | 6 | Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates |
| Zoology | 555 | 3 | 6 | Developmental Biology Laboratory |
| Zoology | 572 | 3 | 6 | Cell Biology Laboratory |
| Zoology | 612 | 2 | 4 | Comparative Physiology Laboratory |
Neurosci 500: Undergraduate Neurobiology Seminar (1 credit)
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 Option 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 your junior year or first semester of your senior year.
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