Biology, BA (L&S)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Wisconsin Madison

Program Overview

The Biology, B.A. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison gives students a broad understanding of how living organisms work, from cells and molecules to whole ecosystems. It is a flexible choice for students interested in areas such as medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, graduate study, research, or careers where a strong foundation in biology is valuable.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students start by building a strong foundation in science and mathematics. Courses such as CHEM 103 – General Chemistry I, MATH 221 – Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1, and STAT 371 – Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences help students develop the scientific and quantitative skills needed for more advanced biology study.

Year 2: Students move into core biology while continuing to develop their chemistry knowledge. Courses such as BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 – Introductory Biology, BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152 – Introductory Biology, and CHEM 343 – Organic Chemistry I introduce students to fundamental biological processes and the chemistry behind living systems.

Year 3: Students begin more advanced study within the Biology major and can start exploring areas that match their interests. Alongside PHYSICS 103 – General Physics and PHYSICS 104 – General Physics, students complete foundation and upper-level breadth courses covering areas such as cellular and molecular biology, organismal biology, ecology, evolution, and applied biology.

Year 4: The final year gives students greater flexibility to explore advanced biological topics and gain practical experience through laboratory or field research. Depending on their interests, students can study subjects such as Concepts in Genomics, Principles of Human Disease and Biotechnology, Plant Genome Engineering and Editing, Conservation Biology, Molecular Ecology, and Phylogenetic Analysis of Molecular Data.

Focus Areas

Cellular and Molecular Biology, Organismal Biology, Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, Applied Biology, Agriculture and Natural Resources, with an optional named option in Evolutionary Biology.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop a strong understanding of major biological concepts, including evolution, structure and function, biological information, energy and matter, and interactions within biological systems. They also build practical skills in scientific problem-solving, laboratory work, quantitative analysis, research, communication, teamwork, and applying biological knowledge to real-world challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Biology, B.A. is a broad biological sciences degree rather than a professionally accredited engineering program. It provides a strong academic foundation for graduate and professional pathways, including medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, biological research, and other careers that require knowledge of the life sciences.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

UW–Madison provides students with opportunities to connect their Biology studies with research, internships, graduate education, and employment. Students can also use university career services such as SuccessWorks for career advising, internship guidance, career events, research opportunities, and connections with employers and alumni.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biology, B.A. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison gives students opportunities to develop practical skills through laboratory work, field research, independent study, and faculty-led research. The program includes a specific laboratory or field research requirement, so students can gain experience collecting and analyzing data, conducting scientific investigations, and communicating research findings rather than relying only on classroom-based learning.

Students can also explore research areas that match their interests, from genetics and microbiology to ecology, evolution, and computational biology. These opportunities allow students to build confidence with scientific methods, quantitative analysis, teamwork, and independent research through a range of hands-on experiences:

Introductory Biology Laboratories: BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151–152 provide hands-on laboratory experience where students develop hypotheses, design investigations, conduct experiments, collect and analyze data, and communicate their findings.
Laboratory or Field Research: Students complete a laboratory or field research component as part of the Biology major. This can be fulfilled through an additional laboratory course, directed biological science study, or a two-semester biological science thesis.
Directed Research: Students can take BIOLOGY 699 – Directed Studies and other approved independent research courses in areas including biochemistry, botany, genetics, microbiology, anatomy, and computational biology.
Faculty Research: Students can work with UW–Madison faculty on biological research projects. Depending on the opportunity, research can be completed for academic credit or as a paid experience.
Senior Thesis: Students interested in deeper research can complete an approved two-semester Senior Honors Thesis, giving them substantial experience in independent scientific investigation.
Computational and Data Skills: Students can develop quantitative and data-analysis skills through courses such as STAT 240 – Data Science Modeling I, STAT 301 – Introduction to Statistical Methods, STAT 324 – Introduction to Statistics for Science and Engineering, and STAT 371 – Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences. Students may also pursue COMP BIO 699 – Directed Study.
Advanced Laboratory Experience: Upper-level courses allow students to gain practical experience in areas such as cellular and molecular biology, genetics, genomics, biochemistry, ecology, evolution, and organismal biology.
Teamwork and Collaboration: Teamwork is an important part of the program's learning outcomes, giving students opportunities to collaborate with classmates and develop skills for working effectively in scientific environments.
Study Abroad: Biology students can take part in UW–Madison study-abroad opportunities and gain international academic experience that can complement their Biology studies.
Research Environment: The Department of Integrative Biology includes more than 40 faculty and affiliated faculty members whose research covers areas ranging from molecular biology to ecosystems. This provides students with access to a broad research environment and opportunities to explore different areas of biology.
Teaching Laboratories: UW–Madison's introductory biology laboratories are designed around authentic scientific investigation, allowing students to work through the process of asking questions, developing methods, conducting experiments, analyzing results, and communicating scientific conclusions.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biology, B.A. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison gives students a strong and flexible foundation for careers in biological science, research, healthcare, education, and environmental fields. It is particularly well suited to students who want to continue into graduate or professional education, including pathways such as medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry.

Typical career paths include:

Biological Research Assistant
Laboratory Technician
Environmental or Conservation Specialist
Biology or Science Educator

Career development and professional opportunities:

Career support: UW–Madison provides career and academic resources that can help students explore career options, find internships and research opportunities, connect with employers and alumni, and prepare for their next step after graduation.
Research experience: Students can complete laboratory or field research through an additional lab course, directed study, or a two-semester thesis. These experiences can strengthen practical research skills and provide valuable preparation for employment or graduate applications.
Specialized knowledge: Students can shape their degree around areas such as genomics, biotechnology, genetics, microbiology, ecology, conservation biology, molecular ecology, and computational biology. This flexibility allows students to develop knowledge that matches their career interests.
Healthcare preparation: The university specifically identifies medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry as preprofessional pathways supported by the Biology major. The degree can therefore provide a strong academic foundation for students planning to pursue professional healthcare education.
Graduate opportunities: The program is designed in part to prepare students for graduate study in diverse areas of biology. Research, laboratory, fieldwork, and advanced coursework can help students build a stronger profile for master's and doctoral applications.
Accreditation value: The Biology B.A. is not a professionally accredited engineering degree, so it does not carry an engineering accreditation such as ABET. Its long-term value comes from its broad biological-science education and preparation for graduate, research, and professional pathways.
Graduation outcomes: After graduation, students can enter biology-related employment, gain further research experience, or continue into graduate and professional programs. The flexibility of the degree allows graduates to pursue different directions depending on the biological area and career path they choose.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Biology, B.A., students can continue into master's or doctoral programs in areas such as biology, genetics, microbiology, ecology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, biotechnology, conservation biology, and other life-science disciplines. Students interested in healthcare can also progress toward professional programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, or dentistry, while those interested in scientific research can build on their laboratory, fieldwork, and independent research experience through advanced study.