Biochemistry is a very broad science that studies the molecules and chemistry of life. Biochemistry focuses on the structure, properties, and interactions of molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, sugars and lipids. Biochemistry’s aim is to understand how these molecules participate in the processes that support the various functions of the living cell. These studies are therefore essential for understanding disease and finding cures, for improving agriculture and the production of food and biofuels, and to produce innovation in biotechnology.
Whereas other biological science majors may focus on cellular, organismal, or population-level biology, biochemistry focuses on processes that occur at the molecular to cellular levels. Therefore, this major has a greater focus on basic and quantitative sciences, such as math and, particularly, on chemistry.
Biochemistry graduates go on to a variety of careers in science and science-related fields. The major is designed to fit the needs of the student who wishes to achieve bachelor’s-level training as well as those planning to pursue graduate or professional study. The degree serves as an excellent background for medical school or veterinary school admission, as well as for graduate study in biochemistry or other allied fields (biology, bacteriology, genetics, molecular biology, or oncology).
How to Get in
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers. |
| Courses required to get in | None |
| GPA requirements to get in | None |
| Credits required to get in | Must have fewer than 86 credits. |
| Other | Students who do not meet the requirements above or are not in good academic standing should schedule a meeting with CALS Dean on Call (https://go.wisc.edu/g85h79) to discuss exceptions. |
Prospective UW-Madison Students
All prospective UW–Madison students must apply through the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
Students interested in this major should select it as the first choice major on their UW–Madison application. Admitted students who enroll at UW-Madison and attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have the option to declare this major at SOAR.
Additional Major in Biochemistry
Current UW-Madison students in other schools and colleges interested in completing an additional (“double”) major in Biochemistry should consult with a Biochemistry advisor. Advisor contact information is found on the advising and careers tab.
Students who intend to major in Biochemistry may not combine this major ("double major") with the Molecular and Cell Biology major.
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements
CALS Graduation Requirements
| Cumulative Credits |
|
| Quality of Work | Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 to remain in good standing and be eligible for graduation. |
| Residency | Students must complete 30 degree credits in residence at UW–Madison after earning 86 credits toward their undergraduate degree. |
In addition to the university's general requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. Courses may not double count within university requirements, CALS college requirements, or major requirements. A course may count toward university requirements and a college and/or a major requirement; similarly, a course counted toward college requirements may also be used to satisfy a university and/or a major requirement.
CALS College Requirements
| CALS First-Year Seminar | 1 credit. See the full list of eligible courses below or use this link: https://go.wisc.edu/calsfirstyearseminars |
| Ethnic Studies | 3 credits with the Ethnic Studies designation. |
| Communication A | Complete either:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning A | Complete either:
|
| Introductory Chemistry | Complete one: |
| CALS International Comparisons | 3 credits. See the full list of eligible courses below or use this link: https://go.wisc.edu/calsinternationalcomparisons |
| Communication B | 1 course with the Communication B designation. |
| Quantitative Reasoning B | 1 course with the Quantitative Reasoning B designation. |
| Biological Science | 5 credits with the Biological Science designation. |
| Additional Science | 3 credits with the Biological, Physical, or Natural Science designations. |
| Science Breadth | 3 credits with the Biological, Physical, Natural, or Social Science designations. |
| Humanities | 6 credits with the Humanities or Literature designation. |
| Social Sciences | 3 credits with the Social Sciences designation. |
| Capstone Learning Experience | Each major articulates the required capstone learning experience. |
CALS First-Year Seminars
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AN SCI 135 | Grand Challenges and Career Opportunities in Animal and Dairy Sciences | 1 |
| BIOCHEM 100 | Biochemistry First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| COUN PSY 125 | The Wisconsin Experience Seminar | 1 |
| F&W ECOL 101 | Orientation to Wildlife Ecology | 1 |
| F&W ECOL 105 | Environment, Pollutants, and You | 3 |
| GENETICS 155 | Freshman Seminar in Genetics | 1 |
| INTEGSCI 100 | Exploring Biology | 2 |
| INTEGSCI 140 | Exploring Service in STEM | 1 |
| INTER-AG 155 | Issues in Agriculture, Environment, and Life Sciences | 1 |
| LSC 155 | First-Year Seminar in Science Communication | 1 |
| MICROBIO 150 | Microbiomes and Microbiology - First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| PLANTSCI/AGROECOL 100 | First-Year Seminar in Agroecology and Plant Science | 1 |
| PL PATH 155 | Food Frontlines: Security, Sustainability, and Survival | 1 |
| SOIL SCI 155 | First-year Seminar in Soil and Environmental Sciences | 1 |
| Learning Community/Student Group Courses | ||
| The following learning community/student group courses are approved as CALS First-Year Seminars. | ||
| COUN PSY 117 | PEOPLE First Year Seminar | 1 |
| INTEGSCI 110 | BioHouse Seminar: Biology for the 21st Century | 1 |
| INTER-AG 117 | GreenHouse Roots Seminar | 1 |
| INTER-AG 140 | CALS QuickStart: Foundations | 1 |
| INTER-AG 175 | WISE Seminar | 1 |
CALS International Comparisons
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The 3 credit requirement may be fulfilled as either a stand-alone 3 credit course or as a set of courses as listed below. | ||
| A A E/ENVIR ST 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| A A E 319 | The International Agricultural Economy | 3 |
| A A E/NUTR SCI 350 | World Hunger and Malnutrition | 3 |
| A A E 352 | Global Health: Economics, Natural Systems, and Policy (approved for enrollments Summer 2021 and later) | 4 |
| A A E/INTL ST 373 | Globalization, Poverty and Development | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 374 | The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 473 | Economic Growth and Development in Southeast Asia | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/INTL BUS 462 | Latin American Economic Development | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 477 | Agricultural and Economic Development in Africa | 3 |
| AGROECOL 377 | Global Food Production and Health | 3 |
| AN SCI/DY SCI 370 | Livestock Production and Health in Agricultural Development | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY/POLI SCI 255 | Introduction to East Asian Civilizations (approved for enrollments Summer 2021 and later) | 3-4 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 341 | Labor in Global Food Systems (approved for enrollments Summer 2020 and later) | 3 |
| C&E SOC/ENVIR ST/SOC 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| CSCS 500 | Global Health and Communities: From Research to Praxis | 3 |
| DY SCI 471 | Food Production Systems and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENTOM/ENVIR ST 201 | Insects and Human Culture-a Survey Course in Entomology | 3 |
| ENTOM/ENVIR ST 205 | Our Planet, Our Health (approved for enrollments Fall 2026 and later) | 3 |
| ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 371 | Medical Entomology: Biology of Vector and Vector-borne Diseases | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST 100 | Forests of the World (approved for enrollments Summer 2020 and later) | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 | Extinction of Species | 3 |
| LSC 251 | Science, Media and Society (approved for enrollments Summer 2020 and later) | 3 |
| PL PATH/BOTANY 123 | Plants, Parasites, and People | 3 |
| PL PATH 311 | Global Food Security | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 370 | World Vegetable Crops | 3 |
| The following study abroad courses fulfill the CALS International Comparisons requirement. Only the specific course numbers and titles listed, including Topics titles (in parentheses), are approved to meet the CALS International Comparisons requirement. | ||
| BIOCHEM 307 | Study Abroad: Introduction to Biological Sciences Research in Japan (approved for enrollments Fall 2026 and later) | 3 |
| NUTR SCI/INTER-AG 421 | Global Health Field Experience (UW Mobile Clinics and Health Care in Uganda) | 3 |
| INTER-AG 321 & INTER-AG/NUTR SCI 421 | Study Abroad Pre-Departure Seminar and Global Health Field Experience (UW Global Health Community Health and Asset-Based Community Development in Sri Lanka) | 3 |
| INTER-AG 321 & INTER-AG/NUTR SCI 421 | Study Abroad Pre-Departure Seminar and Global Health Field Experience (UW Agriculture, Health and Nutrition in Uganda) | 3 |
| INTER-AG/NUTR SCI 421 | Global Health Field Experience (UW Health, Education and Tanzanian Culture) | 3 |
Requirements for the Major
Mathematics
Mathematics Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete all of the following options: | ||
| MATH 221 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 | 5 |
| MATH 222 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2 | 4 |
Chemistry
General Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following options: | ||
| CHEM 103 & CHEM 104 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | 9 |
| CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 115 & CHEM 116 | Chemical Principles I and Chemical Principles II (satisfies both general and analytical chemistry requirements) | 10 |
Organic Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete ALL of the following courses: | ||
| CHEM 343 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 345 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 344 | Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
Analytical Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following options: | ||
| CHEM 327 | Fundamentals of Analytical Science | 4 |
| CHEM 329 | Fundamentals of Analytical Science | 4 |
| CHEM 115 & CHEM 116 | Chemical Principles I and Chemical Principles II (satisfies both general and analytical chemistry requirements) | 10 |
Physical Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one: | ||
| CHEM 665 | Biophysical Chemistry (Recommended) | 3 |
| CHEM 561 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
Biology
Students must complete either Option A (introductory + upper-level biology), or Option B (biocore), for 16 total credits of biological science coursework.
Option A (Introductory and Upper-Level Biology)
Option A Introductory Biology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following introductory biology options: | ||
| BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 & BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152 | Introductory Biology and Introductory Biology (recommended) | 10 |
| BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 & BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102 & BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 | Animal Biology and Animal Biology Laboratory and General Botany | 10 |
And Option A Upper-Level Biology
At least 6 credits of upper-level biological science coursework are required (to achieve 16 total credits—more than 6 credits may be required if introductory biology totals less than 10 credits due to transfer credits). Select from the course list below. To see courses offered in specific upcoming semesters, please see the biochemistry website.
Important: A course may not double count in both the "upper-level biology" and the "biochemistry" requirements for the major. Biochemistry courses on this list can count only for "upper-level biology" if they are above-and-beyond what is needed to fulfill the "biochemistry" portion of the major. For example, if students have taken BIOCHEM 501, they will need one advanced biochemistry elective to fulfill the biochemistry requirement, and then any additional biochemistry courses taken can count for upper-level biology.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AGROECOL 370 | Grassland Ecology | 3 |
| AGROECOL 377 | Global Food Production and Health | 3 |
| ANAT&PHY 335 | Physiology | 5 |
| ANAT&PHY 337 | Human Anatomy | 3 |
| ANAT&PHY 435 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology | 5 |
| AN SCI/FOOD SCI 305 | Introduction to Meat Science and Technology | 4 |
| AN SCI/DY SCI/NUTR SCI 311 | Comparative Animal Nutrition | 3 |
| AN SCI/DY SCI 320 | Animal Health and Disease | 3 |
| AN SCI 361 | Breeding and Genetics of Livestock and Companion Animals | 3 |
| AN SCI 362 | Veterinary Genetics | 3 |
| AN SCI/DY SCI 370 | Livestock Production and Health in Agricultural Development | 3 |
| AN SCI/DY SCI 414 | Ruminant Nutrition & Metabolism | 3 |
| AN SCI 415 | Application of Monogastric Nutrition Principles | 3 |
| AN SCI/DY SCI 434 | Reproductive Physiology | 3 |
| AN SCI/FOOD SCI 515 | Commercial Meat Processing | 2 |
| AN SCI 610 | Quantitative Genetics | 3 |
| AN SCI/NUTR SCI 626 | Experimental Diet Design | 1 |
| B M E/MED PHYS/PHMCOL-M/PHYSICS/RADIOL 619 | Microscopy of Life | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/NUTR SCI 510 | Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/NUTR SCI 560 | Principles of Human Disease and Biotechnology | 2 |
| BIOCHEM/M M & I 575 | Biology of Viruses | 2 |
| BIOCHEM 601 | Protein and Enzyme Structure and Function | 2 |
| BIOCHEM/B M I/BMOLCHEM/MATH 609 | Mathematical Methods for Systems Biology | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/GENETICS/MICROBIO 612 | Prokaryotic Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/GENETICS/MD GENET 620 | Eukaryotic Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/BOTANY 621 | Plant Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOCHEM 625 | Mechanisms of Action of Vitamins and Minerals | 2 |
| BIOCHEM/GENETICS 631 | Plant Genetics and Development | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/NUTR SCI 645 | Molecular Control of Metabolism and Metabolic Disease | 3 |
| BSE 349 | Quantitative Techniques for Biological Systems | 3 |
| BSE 364 | Engineering Properties of Food and Biological Materials | 3 |
| BSE 365 | Measurements and Instrumentation for Biological Systems | 3 |
| BSE/ENVIR ST 367 | Renewable Energy Systems | 3 |
| BSE 460 | Biorefining: Energy and Products from Renewable Resources | 3 |
| BSE 461 | Food and Bioprocessing Operations | 3 |
| BSE 472 | Sediment and Bio-Nutrient Engineering and Management | 3 |
| BMOLCHEM/MICROBIO 668 | Microbiology at Atomic Resolution | 3 |
| B M E 430 | Biological Interactions with Materials | 3 |
| B M I/STAT 541 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| B M I/COMP SCI 576 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 3 |
| BOTANY 300 | Plant Anatomy | 4 |
| BOTANY 305 | Plant Morphology and Evolution | 4 |
| BOTANY 330 | Algae | 3 |
| BOTANY/PL PATH 332 | Fungi | 4 |
| BOTANY 400 | Plant Systematics | 4 |
| BOTANY 401 | Vascular Flora of Wisconsin | 4 |
| BOTANY/F&W ECOL 402 | Dendrology: Woody Plant Identification and Ecology | 3 |
| BOTANY/ANTHRO/ZOOLOGY 410 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| BOTANY 422 | Plant Geography | 3 |
| BOTANY 455 | The Vegetation of Wisconsin | 4 |
| BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 460 | General Ecology | 4 |
| BOTANY/ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 473 | Plant-Insect Interactions | 3 |
| BOTANY/AMER IND/ANTHRO 474 | Ethnobotany | 3-4 |
| BOTANY 500 | Plant Physiology | 3-4 |
| BOTANY/ENTOM/PL PATH 505 | Plant-Microbe Interactions: Molecular and Ecological Aspects | 3 |
| BOTANY/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 516 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| BOTANY/PL PATH 563 | Phylogenetic Analysis of Molecular Data | 3 |
| BOTANY/GENETICS/M M & I/PL PATH 655 | Biology and Genetics of Fungi | 3 |
| CHEM 575 | Advanced Topics in Chemistry (Topics in Chemical Biology) | 1-4 |
| CRB 625 | Stem Cell Seminar | 1 |
| CRB 640 | Fundamentals of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology | 3 |
| CRB 675 | Topics in Cell and Regenerative Biology | 1-3 |
| DY SCI 378 | Lactation Physiology | 3 |
| DY SCI 535 | Dairy Farm Management Practicum | 3 |
| ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 302 | Introduction to Entomology | 4 |
| ENTOM 321 | Physiology of Insects | 3 |
| ENTOM 331 | Taxonomy of Mature Insects | 4 |
| ENTOM 351 | Principles of Economic Entomology | 3 |
| ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 371 | Medical Entomology: Biology of Vector and Vector-borne Diseases | 3 |
| ENTOM 432 | Taxonomy and Bionomics of Immature Insects | 4 |
| ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 540 | Theoretical Ecology | 3 |
| ENTOM/GENETICS/ZOOLOGY 624 | Molecular Ecology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/LAND ARC 361 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/POP HLTH 471 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/POP HLTH 502 | Air Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL 515 | Natural Resources Policy | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN 520 | Bioclimatology | 3 |
| FOOD SCI/MICROBIO 324 | Food Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| FOOD SCI/MICROBIO 325 | Food Microbiology | 3 |
| FOOD SCI 410 | Food Chemistry | 3 |
| FOOD SCI 440 | Principles of Food Engineering | 3 |
| FOOD SCI 511 | Chemistry and Technology of Dairy Products | 3 |
| FOOD SCI 514 | Integrated Food Functionality | 4 |
| FOOD SCI 550 | Fermented Foods and Beverages | 2 |
| FOOD SCI 611 | Chemistry and Technology of Dairy Products | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 300 | Forest Measurements | 4 |
| F&W ECOL 306 | Terrestrial Vertebrates: Life History and Ecology | 4 |
| F&W ECOL 318 | Principles of Wildlife Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 | Extinction of Species | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 379 | Principles of Wildlife Management | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 410 | Silviculture: Applied Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/A A E 430 | Decision Methods for Natural Resource Managers | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 520 | Ornithology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 521 | Birds of Southern Wisconsin | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/SURG SCI 548 | Diseases of Wildlife | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 550 | Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 561 | Wildlife Management Techniques | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/LAND ARC/ZOOLOGY 565 | Principles of Landscape Ecology | 2 |
| F&W ECOL 590 | Integrated Resource Management | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 655 | Animal Population Dynamics | 3 |
| GEN&WS 533 | Special Topics in Gender and Biology | 3 |
| GENETICS 466 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| GENETICS 467 | General Genetics 1 | 3 |
| GENETICS 468 | General Genetics 2 | 3 |
| GENETICS 525 | Epigenetics | 3 |
| GENETICS 545 | Genetics Laboratory | 2 |
| GENETICS/MD GENET 565 | Human Genetics | 3 |
| GENETICS 566 | Advanced Genetics | 3 |
| M M & I 301 | Pathogenic Bacteriology | 2 |
| M M & I 341 | Immunology | 3 |
| M M & I/ENTOM/PATH-BIO/ZOOLOGY 350 | Parasitology | 3 |
| M M & I/PATH-BIO 528 | Immunology | 3 |
| M M & I 554 | Emerging Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism | 2 |
| MED PHYS/H ONCOL 410 | Radiobiology | 2-3 |
| MED PHYS/B M E/H ONCOL/PHYSICS 501 | Radiation Physics and Dosimetry | 3 |
| MICROBIO 303 | Biology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO 304 | Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory | 2 |
| MICROBIO 305 | Critical Analyses in Microbiology | 1 |
| MICROBIO/BOTANY 335 | The Microbiome of Plants, Animals, and Humans | 3 |
| MICROBIO 345 | Introduction to Disease Biology | 3 |
| MICROBIO 357 | General Bioinformatics for Microbiologists | 3 |
| MICROBIO/SOIL SCI 425 | Environmental Microbiology | 3 |
| MICROBIO 450 | Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO 470 | Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines | 3 |
| MICROBIO 520 | Planetary Microbiology: What Life Here Tells Us About Life Out There | 3 |
| MICROBIO/SOIL SCI 523 | Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry | 3 |
| MICROBIO 525 | Field Studies of Planetary Microbiology and Life in the Universe | 3 |
| MICROBIO 526 | Physiology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO 527 | Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Microbiology | 2 |
| MICROBIO 551 | Capstone Research Project in Microbiology | 2 |
| MICROBIO 626 | Microbial and Cellular Metabolomics | 3 |
| NEURODPT 629 | Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Memory | 3 |
| NTP/NEURODPT 610 | Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | 4 |
| NTP/NEURODPT/PSYCH 611 | Systems Neuroscience | 4 |
| NUTR SCI 332 | Human Nutritional Needs | 3 |
| NUTR SCI/A A E 350 | World Hunger and Malnutrition | 3 |
| NUTR SCI 379 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 3 |
| NUTR SCI 431 | Nutrition in the Life Span | 3 |
| ONCOLOGY 401 | Introduction to Experimental Oncology | 2 |
| ONCOLOGY/M&ENVTOX/PHM SCI/PHMCOL-M/POP HLTH 625 | Toxicology I | 3 |
| PHM SCI 310 | Drugs and Their Actions | 2 |
| PL PATH 300 | Introduction to Plant Pathology | 4 |
| PL PATH 517 | Plant Disease Resistance | 2-3 |
| PL PATH 559 | Diseases of Economic Plants | 3 |
| PL PATH 602 | Ecology, Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases | 3 |
| PL PATH 622 | Plant-Bacterial Interactions | 2-3 |
| PL PATH/M M & I/ONCOLOGY 640 | General Virology-Multiplication of Viruses | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 300 | Cropping Systems | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 302 | Forage Management and Utilization | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 320 | Environment of Cultivated Plants | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 338 | Plant Breeding and Biotechnology | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 340 | Plant Genome Engineering and Editing | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 501 | Principles of Plant Breeding | 3 |
| PLANTSCI/ATM OCN 532 | Environmental Biophysics | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 550 | Molecular Approaches for Crop Improvement | 3 |
| PSYCH 454 | Behavioral Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSYCH 513 | Hormones, Brain, and Behavior | 4 |
| PSYCH 612 | Neuropharmacology | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 323 | Soil Biology | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 326 | Plant Nutrition Management | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/F&W ECOL 451 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/CIV ENGR/M&ENVTOX 631 | Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 300 | Invertebrate Biology and Evolution | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 301 | Invertebrate Biology and Evolution Lab | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY 303 | Aquatic Invertebrate Biology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 304 | Marine Biology | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY/ENVIR ST 315 | Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY 316 | Laboratory for Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2-3 |
| ZOOLOGY 335 | Human/Animal Relationships: Biological and Philosophical Issues | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 403 | Endocrinology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 425 | Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 430 | Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates | 5 |
| ZOOLOGY 470 | Introduction to Animal Development | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY/ENVIR ST 510 | Ecology of Fishes | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY/ENVIR ST 511 | Ecology of Fishes Lab | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY/PSYCH 523 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY/GEOSCI 542 | Invertebrate Paleontology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 555 | Laboratory in Developmental Biology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 570 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 611 | Comparative and Evolutionary Physiology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 612 | Comparative Physiology Laboratory | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY/ANTHRO/PSYCH 619 | Biology of Mind | 3 |
Option B (Biocore)
Biocore is an honors-level, integrated sequence of lecture and lab courses that covers introductory and intermediate biology topics. Students must apply and be accepted to the program to take BIOCORE classes.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete these lecture courses: | ||
| BIOCORE 381 | Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics | 3 |
| BIOCORE 383 | Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIOCORE 485 | Principles of Physiology | 3 |
| BIOCORE 587 | Biological Interactions | 3 |
| Complete two of these lab classes: | 4 | |
| Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Cellular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Physics (Calculus-Based)
Physics Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following options. Students should consult with their advisor if they have credit for PHYSICS 103 and PHYSICS 104 to discuss options. | ||
| PHYSICS 207 & PHYSICS 208 | General Physics and General Physics (recommended) | 10 |
| PHYSICS 201 & PHYSICS 202 | General Physics and General Physics | 10 |
Biochemistry
One set of introductory coursework and the capstone course are required, for a total of three BIOCHEM courses.
Introductory Courses
Complete one of the following options:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Option 1 | ||
| BIOCHEM 507 & BIOCHEM 508 | General Biochemistry I and General Biochemistry II (recommended) | 6 |
| Option 2 | ||
| BIOCHEM 501 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 3 |
AND one of the following advanced biochemistry electives: | ||
| Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism | ||
| Principles of Human Disease and Biotechnology | ||
| Biology of Viruses | ||
| Protein and Enzyme Structure and Function | ||
| Mathematical Methods for Systems Biology | ||
| Prokaryotic Molecular Biology | ||
| Eukaryotic Molecular Biology | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Mechanisms of Action of Vitamins and Minerals | ||
| Plant Genetics and Development | ||
| Molecular Control of Metabolism and Metabolic Disease | ||
Capstone Course (required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOCHEM 551 | Biochemical Methods | 4 |
Honors in the Major
Admissions Criteria
Students admitted to the university and to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences are invited to apply to be considered for admission to the CALS Honors Program.
New First-Year Students
- Complete program application including essay questions
Transfer and Continuing UW-Madison Students
- UW-Madison cumulative GPA of at least 3.25
- Complete program application including essay questions
How to Apply
The application is available on the CALS Honors Program website. Applications are accepted at any time.
New first-year students with accepted applications will automatically be enrolled in Honors in Research. It is possible to switch to Honors in the Major in the student’s first semester on campus after receiving approval from the advisor for that major. Transfer and continuing students may apply directly to Honors in Research or Honors in the Major (after approval from the major advisor).
Requirements
All CALS Honors programs have the following requirements:
- Earn at least a cumulative 3.25 GPA at UW-Madison (some programs have higher requirements)
- Complete the program-specific requirements listed below
- Submit completed thesis documentation to CALS Academic Affairs
Honors in the Major in Biochemistry: Requirements
To earn honors in the major in biochemistry, students must satisfy the requirements for the major (above) as well as the following requirements. All courses used for honors in the major requirements must receive "B" or better grades to fulfill requirements.
- Earn a 3.300 overall university GPA
- Earn a 3.300 GPA for all BIOCHEM courses, and all courses accepted in the major
- Complete BIOCHEM 507 and BIOCHEM 508 for Honors
- Complete a two-semester Senior Honors Thesis for 6 credits total, present research in a public forum and submit documentation to CALS Academic Affairs.
- Complete at least 14 credits of any combination of the following coursework:
- Honors courses that would fulfill the biological science requirement in the major (see above)
- Statistics coursework (can be AP or transfer credit and does not need to be taken for honors): STAT 301, STAT 371, or STAT/B M I 541
- Biochemistry elective coursework beyond the major requirements (does not need to be taken for Honors): NUTR SCI/BIOCHEM 510, BIOCHEM/NUTR SCI 560, M M & I/BIOCHEM 575, BIOCHEM 601, MATH/B M I/BIOCHEM/BMOLCHEM 609, MICROBIO/BIOCHEM/GENETICS 612, MD GENET/BIOCHEM/GENETICS 620, BOTANY/BIOCHEM 621, BIOCHEM 625, BIOCHEM/GENETICS 631, BIOCHEM/NUTR SCI 645
- Honors coursework in MATH, CHEM, or PHYSICS from the list below:
Math
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 341 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 375 | Topics in Multi-Variable Calculus and Linear Algebra | 5 |
| MATH 376 | Topics in Multi-Variable Calculus and Differential Equations | 5 |
| MATH 521 | Analysis I | 3 |
| MATH 522 | Analysis II | 3 |
| MATH 541 | Modern Algebra 1 | 3 |
| MATH 542 | Modern Algebra 2 | 3 |
Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 115 | Chemical Principles I | 5 |
| CHEM 116 | Chemical Principles II | 5 |
| CHEM 343 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 345 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 329 | Fundamentals of Analytical Science | 4 |
| CHEM 547 | Advanced Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 561 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 563 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEM 562 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 564 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| CHEM 665 | Biophysical Chemistry | 3 |
Physics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHYSICS 201 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 202 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 207 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 208 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 241 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 247 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 248 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 249 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | 4 |
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the fundamental biochemical principles that underlie all biological processes.
- Communicate biochemical knowledge in both written reports and oral presentations to scientists and non-scientists.
- Evaluate how biochemistry relates to other scientific disciplines and to contemporary issues in our society.
- Demonstrate professional and ethical responsibility in scientific research.
- Design and conduct quantitative experiments and/or interpret data to address a scientific question.
Four-Year Plan
Sample Biochemistry Four-Year Plan
Students must complete at least 120 total credits to be eligible for graduation.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 103 or 109 | 4-5 | CHEM 104 (required if took CHEM 103) | 5 |
| MATH 221 | 5 | MATH 222 | 4 |
| General Education | 3 | BIOCHEM 207 (Recommended elective) | 2 |
| BIOCHEM 100 or INTER-AG 155 (First Year Seminar) | 1 | General Education | 3 |
| 13-14 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 343 | 3 | CHEM 344 | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 151 (or BIOCORE 381 & BIOCORE 382) | 5 | CHEM 345 | 3 |
| General Education | 6 | ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152 (or BIOCORE 383 & BIOCORE 384) | 5 |
| General Education | 3 | ||
| Elective | 1-3 | ||
| 14 | 14-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOCHEM 507 | 3 | BIOCHEM 508 | 3 |
| PHYSICS 207 or 201 | 5 | PHYSICS 208 or 202 | 5 |
| Upper-Level Biology for major (or BIOCORE 485 & BIOCORE 487 if needed) | Upper-Level Biology for major (or BIOCORE 587) | ||
| CALS International Comparisons Course | 3 | CHEM 327 | 4 |
| Electives | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 665 or BIOCHEM 551 | 3-4 | BIOCHEM 551 or CHEM 665 | 3-4 |
| BIOCHEM 691 or 681 (if needed) | 2-3 | BIOCHEM 692 or 682 (if needed) | 2-3 |
| Electives or Remaining Requirements | 10 | Electives or Remaining Requirements | 10 |
| 15-17 | 15-17 | ||
| Total Credits 114-121 | |||
Advising and Careers
How to Declare
If you are interested in exploring or declaring the Biochemistry major, schedule an appointment with a Biochemistry academic advisor using Starfish.
Academic Advising
Each student is assigned a professional academic advisor who works to understand student goals and helps to craft a path that best suits their needs. Students can learn more about the major and advising support in Biochemistry on the Biochemistry & Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub website.
- Schedule an Appointment: Current UW–Madison students can schedule an appointment with a Biochemistry academic advisor using Starfish.
- Send an Email: Reach out to us with brief questions at biochemmicrobio-advisor@wisc.edu.
- Drop-in Hours: Drop-in advising hours for quick (10–15 minute) questions, on a first-come, first-serve basis, are posted on the Biochemistry / Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub website each semester.
Careers in Biochemistry
Biochemistry is a broad science that studies the molecules and chemistry of life and focuses on the structure, properties, and interactions of molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, sugars and lipids.
Graduates of this program find rewarding, exciting, and professional work across all fields, such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, life sciences, education, research, graduate school, and so much more. Be sure to check out our “Meet Our Alumni” website!
Career Support
Through events, one-on-one career advising, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
All students are welcome to attend events and use resources offered by career services across campus, but appointments should be made with career service advisors in your declared college.
CALS Career Services
CALS Career Services provides expertise to support students and alumni of the college as they explore, experience, and achieve their career goals. In short, CALS Career Services helps students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences discover themselves, find opportunities, and develop the skills they need for success after graduation.
CALS Career Services can also assist students in career advising, résumé and cover letter writing, networking opportunities, and interview skills, as well as assisting undergraduates to begin their career exploration early in their undergraduate career.
Students should set up their profiles in Handshake to take care of everything they need to explore career events, manage their campus interviews, and apply to jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers around the country.
Wisconsin Experience
A Rich History of Biochemistry
Biochemistry at UW–Madison is consistently ranked as having top undergraduate and graduate programs. Founded in 1883, we are recognized for world-renowned advances in biochemistry, from treatments for heart diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and viruses, to crop breeding and animal husbandry, and more.
Community Engagement
Our students engage in various activities outside of the classroom:
Biochemistry Student Club
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) UW-Madison Student Chapter is a student organization for students interested in Biochemistry. ASBMB provides information about careers and job opportunities, how to get involved in research, and volunteer and outreach opportunities.
Biochemistry Scholars Program
The Biochemistry Scholars Program provides hands-on research experience to our first-year (freshman) undergraduate majors. Students apply for this program in the Spring of their first-year (freshman) and students who are accepted begin no later than the Fall semester of the same calendar year. In this program, students will participate in one or more research projects for a period of up to three years.
Biochemistry Peer Mentor Program
The Biochemistry Peer Mentor Program is a program that connects first-year and second-year students (mentees) with non-first year students (mentors) in their same major, and works to match mentees and mentors who have like interests and involvements on campus. This program runs each Fall and Spring semester, so students declared in the major should watch their wisc.edu email for invitations.
Biochemistry Engagement Program
The Biochemistry Engagement Program encourages, celebrates, and recognizes the importance of students’ involvement within the department. The goal of this program is to engage and integrate undergraduate Biochemistry students into the Biochemistry Department through structured, pre-determined activities that you complete outside of the classroom and in research.
Research Experience
Students are encouraged to get involved in research, whether in the Biochemistry Department or through other life science or chemistry-related departments. Research can be performed for either course credit or pay, depending on the opportunity.
The Biochemistry website and the advisors can provide more information on finding research opportunities. Summer funding awards for research are available through the department.
Global Engagement
Biochemistry majors can participate in several international academic experiences including short-term field experiences, summer research opportunities, and semester-long exchange programs at top universities around the world.
You can see more information about planning for a Study Abroad program as a Biochemistry major on the Biochemistry MAPS website, and find specific information about the programs the Biochemistry Department offers on the Biochemistry International Opportunities website.
Resources and Scholarships
Students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences receive more than $1.25 million in scholarships annually. Learn more about college scholarships at https://cals.wisc.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/financing-your-education/cals-scholarships/.
The Department of Biochemistry offers several scholarships to students in the biochemistry major. Awards are given annually and fund undergraduate research, provide travel stipends to biochemistry students attending professional scientific conferences, or recognize outstanding graduating seniors. Learn more at https://biochem.wisc.edu/academics/scholarships-awards/.