Conservation Biology Major
An Undergraduate Major in the Department of Botany and College of Letters & Science
Bascom Hall atop Bascom Hill is pictured in a fisheye-lens aerial view of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus during an autumn sunset on Oct. 5, 2011. Other majority campus facilities include, clockwise from lower left, South Hall, Birge Hall, Van Vleck Hall, the Medical Sciences Center, Ingraham Hall, Van Hise Hall and Observatory Drive. In the background at upper right is Lake Mendota and Picnic Point. The photograph was made from a helicopter looking west. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison)

Declaration and Classes

Conservation Biology major requirements, B.A. option

Conservation Biology major requirements, B.S. option

Honors in the Major requirements

To declare, make an appointment with Academic Advising Manager, Ginny Jackson on Starfish.

If students are not currently in the College of Letters & Science (L&S), you must transfer into L&S before declaring. However, students are welcome to meet with the Conservation Biology Academic Advisor to discuss the major before transferring or declaring.

Conservation Biology Majors must take at least 50 credits in the major. The major includes Introductory Courses, 12 credits of Field/Species Biology, the Conservation Biology class requirement, and an elective Social Science course.  All students in the College of Letter and Science (L&S) also satisfy University requirements and the L&S B.A. or B.S. requirements.

Because the Conservation Biology major can be customized to student interests and career goals vary widely among students, pursuing advice is important. For this reason, students are encouraged to meet with the Conservation Biology Academic Advisor regularly to discuss their academic plans.  In addition, students considering graduate study must choose courses that will provide a strong foundation. Such students should seek out advanced courses in their chosen field if possible as well as a research experience.