GRADUATE STUDY IN BOTANY

The Department of Botany offers advanced instruction and opportunities for research in the following areas:  phycology, lichenology, mycology, cell biology, anatomy and morphology of vascular plants, ecology, ethnobotany, plant geography, plant evolutionary biology, systematics, taxonomy, cytotaxonomy, molecular systematics, plant development, and physiology.  Interdisciplinary work is encouraged, both within the department and with other departments and programs such as agronomy, bacteriology, biochemistry, chemistry, entomology, forestry, genetics, geology, horticulture, physics, plant pathology, plant breeding/plant genetics, soils, wildlife management and zoology.  

The Department of Botany will consider, as candidates for advanced degrees, applicants who fulfill the entrance requirements for the Graduate School, as described on the web.  The credentials of the candidate must be approved by the department.  Applications for Fall admission should be submitted by January 2 for fullest consideration; late applications will be reviewed until April 15.  Applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination--the Advanced Test in Biology is recommended, but not required.  

To complete the Masters and/or the Ph.D. degree, a student must work with a Major Professor who will serve as his/her adviser in the development of a course program and as supervisor of his/her research.  Students are encouraged to select a Major Professor at the time a student begins graduate studies; however, the selection may be made after a student becomes familiar with the staff and programs in the department.  A major professor should be selected as early as convenient and in all cases by the end of the first year.  

All entering graduate students will meet with the Departmental Academic Advisory Committee during registration week or during the first three weeks of classes.  If a major professor has been selected, he or she may participate in the meeting.  The Committee will advise the student with the objectives of answering questions about the graduate programs, making up deficiencies, meeting general course requirements, and formulating a program that will lead to an advanced degree in the time allotted.  Decisions on substituting courses taken in other departments or at other institutions are made by area committees. 

A member of the Academic Advisory Committee, assigned by the departmental chairperson, will serve as adviser and will sign documents until a student selects a major professor.  

Prior to the initial meeting with the Academic Advisory Committee, each student shall obtain from the departmental office the Record of Graduate Student Progress on Degree Requirements which summarizes the requirements for each degree and indicates the time schedule for completing the requirements.  Students shall fill out as much of this form as possible before the initial meeting with the Academic Advisory Committee and be prepared to discuss various aspects of the requirements as they relate to their background and future program.  A copy of the record of Graduate Student Progress for each student is kept on file in the departmental office.  As requirements are completed, each student is responsible for immediately updating the information on the form.  At least once each year, the Academic Advisory Committee will review the progress of all graduate students and will report problems to appropriate major professors.  Students who fail to maintain satisfactory degree progress may be dropped from the Department of Botany graduate program.  A comprehensive statement--Criteria for Satisfactory Progress Toward Advanced Degrees--has been prepared by the Academic Advisory Committee and is available in the Department of Botany office.  

The Graduate School also has specific requirements for degree completion and specific criteria for judging sufficient progress toward degrees to warrant continuation as a graduate student.  These are discussed in detail in the Graduate School Catalog and several of the more critical points are mentioned in this document following the discussion of departmental requirements for the Masters and Ph.D. degrees.

DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY REQUIREMENTS

MASTER'S DEGREE and PHD DEGREE

I.  PRIOR COURSE WORK (recommended preparation).
Mathematics (up to and including one semester of calculus):
Statistics (one semester at the college level):
Chemistry (General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry):
Physics (College level course including electricity and light):
Foreign Language (two years at High School or two semesters at college):
Biology (Strong background in the biological sciences typically including cell biology, ecology,  
                    evolution, genetics, and molecular biology).

II. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

General Botany Track

Required coursework for Ph.D.: at least one course from each area.  Required coursework for Master’s: at least one course from at least six of the seven areas:

1.  Genetics

2.  Biochemistry, Cell or Molecular Biology

3.  Plant Physiology or Developmental Biology

4.  Cryptogamic Botany

5.  Plant Anatomy or Morphology

6.  Ecology

7.  Evolution and Systematics

Ecology Track

Required coursework: three courses (at least nine credits) from area A and one course from each of areas B and C

Area A

 1.  Ecology

Area B

2.  Evolution

Area C

3. Systematics

4. Cryptogamic Botany

5. Biochemistry, Cell or Molecular Biology

6. Plant Physiology or Developmental Biology

7. Plant Anatomy or Morphology

8. Genetics

Evolution Track

Required coursework: one course in each of the following five areas

Area A

1. Evolution

Area B

2. Systematics

3. Cryptogamic Botany

Area C

4. Population or Quantitative Genetics

Area D

5.  Ecology

Area E

6. Biochemistry, Cell or Molecular Biology

7. Plant Physiology or Developmental Biology

8. Plant Anatomy or Morphology

Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Track

Required coursework: five courses, at least one each from the following five areas

Area A

1. Plant Anatomy or Morphology

Area B

2.  Biochemistry, Cell or Molecular Biology

Area C

3.  Plant Physiology

Area D

4. Plant Development or Genetics

Area E

5.  Ecology

6. Systematics

7. Evolution

8.  Cryptogamic Botany

This requirement may be satisfied by:

(1) A grade of A or B in appropriate UW-Madison courses. Courses that satisfy area requirements are listed in the form Record of Graduate Student Progress on
Degree Requirements.

(2) Acceptance of courses taken at other institutions or in other UW-Madison departments.  Acceptable courses are determined by a committee from the relevant area.

(3) Self-teaching.  Some area requirements may be fulfilled by self teaching.  The criteria for demonstrating intermediate competency by self teaching are determined by the Academic Advisory Committee.

III. Thesis - A written thesis or a research report based on work conducted in a formal research course (Botany 990-998) is required of all students who expect to continue for the Ph.D. degree. The thesis must be deposited in the university library before degree completion.  

Students who expect to terminate their graduate studies with an M.S. degree may present a written literature review instead of a thesis or research report.  Candidates selecting this alternative must also complete a minimum of 12 credits (at least 9 in Botany) of formal, graduate-level course (other than seminar or research) while in residence.  These candidates normally will not be admitted to Ph.D. candidacy in the Department of Botany at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

IV. Other Requirements - The major professor may specify appropriate requirements in addition to those already listed.  

V. Time Limitation - Normally a Master's degree should be completed within 2 ½ calendar years of residency.  Upon petition, the Academic Advisory Committee may approve up to additional one or two semesters to complete the degree.  If the degree is not completed within four years, ordinarily the student will be dropped from the Master's program. 

VI. Final Examination - All candidates must pass a final oral examination administered by three members of the Department of Botany, including the major professor.  The major professor chairs the committee and selects the other members in consultation with the student.  The master's degree examination will emphasize general knowledge and course work but may also include questions relating to a thesis or research report.  Satisfactory completion is recorded on a warrant obtained by the departmental graduate program coordinator from the Graduate School. 

PH.D. DEGREE 

Departmental requirements for the Ph.D. degree are separated into two categories: 

1. Track Selection – Each student must select a specialized track to complete.  Additional requirements include:  a minimum of 8-credits of graduate-level Botany courses (300 or above) as a graduate student while in residence, not counting seminar or research credits; a minimum of two seminar courses while enrolled in Botany at UW are required before taking the preliminary examination; an additional two semesters of seminar are strongly recommended, at least one seminar must be outside the section in which the student is majoring and/or outside the department; at least one semester of classroom teaching experience, at least 33% FTE, is required of all PhD student while at UW-Madison; an oral prelim based on a written these proposal, is to be taken as soon as possible after all course work is completed, by the end of the fifth semester; once per year after achieving dissertator status a research seminar of at least 30 minutes must be presented on campus, preferably in the Botany Colloquium; during the final semester in residence, a candidate for the PhD degree will present a departmental seminar on his/her research; following completion of the dissertation, the candidate is required to pass an oral examination given by five or more members of the graduate faculty, with at least one member from outside the Botany Department. 

2. Area of Specialization - Each student must complete a sequence of appropriate courses in his/her area of specialization, carry out a program of research and prepare a thesis.  The major professor is primarily responsible for a student's activities in the area of specialization.  It is the major professor's responsibility to assume leadership in establishing the student's program in the specialty, to chair the preliminary examination committee, and to supervise the student's thesis research, preparation of the thesis, and final Ph.D. examination.  

General Departmental Requirements

1. A major professor should be selected as early as convenient; at least during the first year of graduate studies.  A vice-major professor should be identified at the same time as the major professor.
2. A track should be selected as soon as possible and certainly by the certification meeting (see 5 below).
3. All students must form a committee and meet with that committee by the end of the first year of graduate study for a certification meeting.  In most cases this committee should be selected earlier.  The committee can change in composition, in consultation with the major professor and depending on the student’s needs.  The MS committee consists of at least 3 Botany faculty; the PhD committee consists eventually of 5 members (3 of which must be from Botany; 1 must be from outside Botany), but only 3 are required for the guidance meetings following the preliminary examination.  The minor professor, if Minor Option A is selected, becomes a member of the PhD committee.
4. Minor Field – A PhD candidate selects a minor field of study prior to the certification meeting, but no later than halfway through the minor course sequence.  You can choose from Option A or Option B.  With Option A, you must take at least 10 credits, all in only one department.  With Option B, you must take a minimum of 10 credits, in one or more departments (may include a Botany course, outside the student’s area of emphasis; one seminar course may be included).  The candidate must file a Minor Agreement Form with the Botany Graduate Coordinator (form available form the graduate program coordinator) at the time of the certification meeting.
5. Certification Meeting – The incoming student must meet with his/her PhD committee by the end of the first year of study, to determine what additional courses will be required and recommended.  These courses are to be listed on the departmental Certification Form.  A plan for the minor should be discussed at this meeting.  The completed Certification Form is to be kept with the student’s records in the Department Office.  A minimum of 4 committee members should be present at this meeting.
6. Courses required by the Academic Advisory Committee – All candidates are required to fulfill these courses by the end of their second year.
7. Course Requirements – All candidates are required to fulfill the course requirements listed earlier as appropriate for their selected track.  For the PhD degree, the additional course work for the major and minor must be completed before the Preliminary Examination.  Exceptions will be subject to approval of the student’s PhD Committee.
8. Minimum credit requirement – A MS student must completer 16 graduate level credits taken in residence at UW-Madison; a PhD student must complete 32 graduate level credits taken in residence at UW-Madison in order to receive a UW degree.  Courses taken at other institutions do not count toward fulfillment of this requirement and the minimum credit requirement must be completed before the prelim exam.
9. Preliminary Examination – An oral prelim exam based on a written thesis proposal, is to be taken as soon as possible after all course work is completed, by the end of the fourth semester (must be taken by the end of the fifth semester).  Students are not eligible to take the oral preliminary exam until they have satisfied the departmental foreign language requirement and have cleared their records of all incomplete grades.  The research proposal should be submitted to the PhD committee at least three weeks prior to the exam.
10. At least one semester of teaching experience, 33% or 50% FTE, is required of all PhD candidates while at UW-Madison.  Prior teaching experience does not count.
11. During the final semester in residence, a candidate for the PhD degree will present a departmental seminar on his/her research.  This seminar is to be treated as a Botany Colloquium with a public announcement prepared by office staff from information supplied by the student.  The announcement should be distributed to Botany faculty & graduate students & any other interested parties at least one week prior to the seminar.
12. Following completion of the thesis, each MS candidate is required to pass an oral examination administered by three members of the Botany Department, including the major professor; each PhD candidate is required to pass an oral examination given by five or more members of the graduate faculty.  At least one member is from outside the Botany Department.
13. Beginning immediately with the formation of the student’s PhD Committee, each PhD student must meet at least once per year with at least three members of his/her committee to report progress, receive guidance, discuss possible new directions or approaches, and be certified as making adequate progress toward the PhD degree.
14. After the completion of the preliminary examination, each PhD student must give an annual public presentation of research progress in the departmental colloquium.

Area of Specialization

1. Major Professor - If selection of a Major Professor has not been made at the time a student begins graduate studies in the department, that selection should be made as early as possible and in all cases by the end of the first year.  

2. Preliminary Examination

a. The preliminary examination should be taken by the end of the fourth semester and must be taken by the end of the fifth semester in all but the most exceptional circumstances.

b. The examination is administered by a five-member committee consisting of the major 
professor, the minor professor and three members of the graduate faculty.  (Note: final exam committee must have one member from outside the dept.) At least three of the members will be from the Botany faculty.  The major professor appoints the committee and is a voting member.

c. Students are eligible to take the preliminary examination only after they have satisfied the departmental foreign language requirement, cleared their records of all incomplete grades, satisfied Ph.D. course requirements through courses taken or in progress, and completed the minor and minimum course requirements.  The student should contact the Graduate Coordinator at least three weeks prior to the exam to request a warrant. The Graduate School Office issues the warrant authorizing the department to admit the student to the preliminary examination.  When this warrant is appropriately completed and filed with the Dean of the Graduate School, it constitutes a formal admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

d. The exam consists of two parts:  a written thesis proposal and an oral examination.

e. At least three weeks prior to the oral examination, each student must submit copies of a written thesis proposal to each committee member.  The proposal should begin with a project summary of 200 words or less.  The body of the proposal should contain a clear and reasoned statement of the questions or hypotheses to be addressed, the methods and approaches to be used, the significance of the results expected, and their relationship to ongoing research in the field.  The proposal (excluding references) should not exceed eight single-spaced typewritten pages.

f. The oral examination should probe the student's ability to analyze biological problems and formulate effective research approaches to such problems, to integrate knowledge across a variety of fields related to the proposed investigation and apply it to the thesis problem, and to respond articulately to questions regarding the research proposal and related fields.  Students are expected to exhibit perspective not only on recent advances, but also on the history and philosophy of scientific investigation in their field.  The committee should explore the appropriateness of the research topic and the proposed approach in some depth, with the aims of evaluating the student's ability to propose a rigorous and significant research plan and of providing advice as to how the plan might be improved.  The written thesis proposal should be taken as the starting point for this exploration.  An oral presentation/seminar outlining the proposed research is not to be a part of the preliminary examination.

g. The preliminary examination can have one of three outcomes:  pass, conditional pass, and fail.  A conditional pass signifies that the preliminary examination is effectively continued (rather than passed or failed) to a date in the near future, when the committee will examine the student on a revised written thesis proposal.  A fail indicates that the committee recommends that, based on performance in the written thesis proposal and/or oral examination, a student should not be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.  Students failing their first attempt at the preliminary examination would be entitled to a second chance; those failing their second attempt would be denied admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

3. Annual Committee Meeting - Each Ph.D. candidate must meet at least once a year with at least three members of his/her committee to report progress, receive advice and guidance, discuss possible new directions or approaches, and be certified as making adequate progress toward the Ph.D. degree.  

4. Thesis Defense

a. Following completion of the thesis, the candidate is required to pass an oral examination administered by a committee of five or more members of the graduate faculty; in most cases, this committee will have the same composition as the candidate's preliminary examination committee.  The committee must include at least one member from outside the major department.  Faculty from other campuses may be committee members, but such members must be in addition to the required members of the Madison faculty.

b. Committee members are selected by the major professor with the approval of the Graduate School and the chairman of the Department of Botany, using the form entitled Ph.D. Final Oral Exam Committee, available from the Botany Dept. Graduate Coordinator. This form must be filed 3 weeks prior to the final exam.

c. The major professor and two other members of the Final Oral Examination Committee selected by the major professor serve as a reading committee and are responsible for a detailed review of the thesis.

d. The major professor serves as chair of the Final Oral Examination Committee and arranges the time and place of the examination, to follow a public oral presentation by the candidate on his/her findings.  Successful completion of the examination is recorded on a warrant and on a form signed by the Reading Committee.  The warrant and Reading Committee forms are sent to the department by the Graduate School. A signed copy of each is to be filed with the Botany Dept. Graduate Coordinator.

5. Minor Department - Each Ph.D. candidate must complete a program of integrated and related courses in a minor area.  Two minor options are discussed in the Graduate School Bulletin. Option A (external) requires a minimum of 10 credits in a single department/major field of study. Selection of this option requires the approval of the minor department. Option B (distributed) requires a minimum of 10 credits in one or more departments and can include a course in Botany (outside the student’s area of emphasis). One seminar course may be included. Selection of this option requires the approval of the major department. The minor option, the specific minor department, and the minor professor are determined by the major professor in consultation with a student. Minor courses must be at the 300 level or above, taken after the bachelor’s degree. No more than 3 credits in independent study, and no courses in research (990-996) are allowed. Courses may not be taken for pass/fail/audit/no credit. Courses with grades of “S” are acceptable. A GPA of 3.0 must be maintained in the minor. The minor option should be selected by the end of the first year of study, and no later than half-way through the minor sequence. A minor agreement form must be completed and filed with the Botany Graduate Coordinator at the time of the “certification meeting”. All minor courses must be completed before a Prelim Warrant is requested. 

The minor professor, who is a member of the student's research committee, will suggest and approve courses to complete the minor for an Option A student. For Option A, the student should check with the minor department for its procedures/forms. A copy of any signed agreement must be filed with the Botany Graduate Coordinator. If no form exists in the minor department, the student may use the Botany Department minor agreement form for this purpose. The Botany Department minor agreement form is to be used for students selecting Option B.  

6. Minor in Botany - Students from Other Departments - A minimum of 10 graduate credits in botany taken at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, including a semester of seminar while in residence, are required.  A minor professor whose interests correspond with the interests of a specific student is selected.  The minor professor approves the section of the department in which the seminar will be taken and the courses selected to meet the 10-credit requirement.  The minor professor also is included in the committee giving the preliminary examination.

Plans for fulfilling the minor requirement are to be indicated on a sheet available in the Department of Botany office.  After being signed by the minor professor and the chairperson of the department, a copy must be filed with the Botany Graduate Coordinator and the student’s major department. 

7. Joint Major - Students in Botany - A joint major may be followed if considered appropriate and approved by the student's research committee.  At least one faculty member from the second department must be on the student's research committee and the oral prelim committee. 

8. Joint Major - Students from Other Departments - Course work requirements are determined by the student's Botany Department advisor and usually are a compromise between the requirements for a minor and a major in botany.  Training in at least three of the eight botanical areas enumerated under requirements for the master's degree in botany must be included, with courses in at least two of three sets (A, B, and C). 

At least one member of the Department of Botany must be included in the student's research committee and the oral prelim committee.  A minor department is required only if considered desirable by the student's research committee. 

9. Admission to Candidacy - A student is officially admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree after (1) passing the preliminary examinations in the major field, (2) obtaining approval of proposed course work for the minor requirement, and (3) presenting the title or special field of the proposed thesis, approved by the major professor. 

Appendix 1: UW courses satisfying graduate requirements in Botany

Courses not listed here may be counted for credit at the discretion of the academic advisory committee.  A single course (e.g., Genetics 629) may be used to fulfill only one requirement. 

Genetics

Bot 466; Genetics 875 

Biochemistry

Biochem. 501, 601, 602, 621, 845, 860; Biocore 303 

Plant Physiology

Bot 500; Biocore 323 

Developmental Biology

Bot 840 

Cryptogamic Botany

Bot 330, 332, 360; Bact. 303 

Plant Anatomy or Morphology

Bot 300, 305 

Ecology (for General Botany, Evolution, and  MCDB tracks)

Bot 455, 460, 670, 801; Biocore 301 and 302 

Ecology (for Ecology track)

Bot 455, 459, 460, 461, 463, 473, 505, 651, 670, 725, 801, 802, 825, 828, 879  

Evolution

Bot 410; Genetics 629 

Systematics

Bot 400, 401, 563; Genetics 629 

Population genetics

Genetics 629; Zoology 645

Quantitative genetics

Genetics 610, 629 

                              (Revised 12/2007)

Changes in Graduate Student Degree Status

Guidelines approved by Faculty Vote on November 30, 2000 

1. Changing from a Ph.D. to a terminal Master's Program.

The guaranteed support level for graduate students who are admitted as Ph.D. students and given an appropriate support guarantee, but who later decide to work toward a terminal Master's degree cannot exceed that offered to incoming Master's students (5 semesters). As soon as the decision to change the terminal degree is made by the student, s/he will inform the Chair of the Graduate Academic Advisory Committee and the Chair of the TA Assignments Committee. The graduate secretary's office will send the student a letter indicating the change in degree status and modified guaranteed support level. This letter will be signed by the Chair of the Graduate Academic Advisory Committee and the Department Chair. If a Ph.D. student has used five semesters of support before changing to a terminal Master's degree student, s/he is no longer guaranteed support.  

2. Changing from a Master's to a Ph.D. Program within Botany.

Graduate students who were originally admitted as terminal Master's students, but who decide to continue for the Ph.D. with the same advisor must apply to the Graduate Admissions Committee for approval of change in terminal degree goal and an additional three semesters of guaranteed support (if this is desired). Application for such changes will be made by a letter from the student to the Admissions Committee. The student should also ensure that their advisor has provided a letter of approval to the Committee. Application must be made before December 1 if the student wishes to have the change in effect for the following Spring semester, and wishes to be appointed as a Teaching Assistant. Students who want the change to take effect in the Fall semester, and wish to be appointed as a Teaching Assistant should make the request prior to February 1 of the preceding year. Requests that are made subsequently will be considered during the following year's admissions process, unless the student does not require financial support. It is strongly recommended that applications for change to a Ph.D. program be made during the first year after admission to a Master's program. 

The Admissions Committee will use the student's original application file, amended by subsequent grade reports and the advisor's letter to make the decision. The student will receive a letter from the graduate secretary's office informing them of the Committee's decision and specifying whether or not additional guaranteed support will be provided. The Committee's decision can be appealed once. The total amount of support that can be guaranteed to a continuing student having the same advisor will not exceed 8 semesters.  

Students who complete a Master's degree in the Department of Botany and then apply for admission as a Ph.D. student with a different advisor, or after an intervening period of two or more years will be eligible for five semesters of additional guaranteed support.  

Students must meet with the Academic Advisory Committee within the first three weeks of the first semester as a Ph.D. student to review the student’s record and complete a new Record of Graduate Student Progress form. 

3. Taking a leave of absence from the graduate program.

Students who wish to take a leave of absence from their graduate work in Botany should submit the “Leave of Absence Request Form” to the Graduate Academic Advisory Committee. The anticipated length of absence should be included. Leaves of absence may not exceed two calendar years, and must be approved by the Graduate Academic Advisory Committee yearly, on approximately the anniversary of the original leave request. The period of leave will stop the progress time clock. Returning students should confer with the Graduate Academic Advisory Committee which will have the authority to extend the progress time clock if this is deemed advisable. A leave of absence will not affect the level of guaranteed support. 

      GRADUATE SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS 

The Graduate School Catalog should be consulted for details of Graduate School general requirements for both the Master's and Ph.D. degrees.  Several critical features of these requirements are mentioned below.  

1. Grades - The Graduate School requires an average record of B or better in all work (300 & above level, excluding research credits) taken as a graduate student unless conditions for probationary status require higher grades. Courses numbered below 300 do not count in the total gpa. 

2. Course Load - A full-time program is 8 to 12 credits for a semester and 4 to 6 credits for the eight-week summer session.  Teaching Assistants’ full-time load is 4 credits for a 50% appointment and 6 credits for a 33% appointment. Ph.D. dissertators may enroll for a minimum of 3 credits and be considered full-time. Students may not register for more than 12 credits in the semester or 8 credits in the summer session without approval by the Graduate School of a request in writing from a student's major professor.  

Courses carrying graduate residence credit are those numbered 300-699 and 700-999 groups.  Pass/fail courses and courses graded Credit/No Credit do not count for graduate residence or course credit.  

3. Minimum Credit Requirement - At least 16 residence credits are required for the Master's degree and 32 residence credits for the Ph.D.  The requirement for Ph.D. students must be completed prior to achieving the dissertator status. All graduate level credits will count toward fulfillment of the minimum credit requirement. The Graduate School will not transfer any graduate work done at another institution toward fulfillment of the minimum UW-Madison credit requirement. 

      (revised 12/07) 

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid is available to qualified graduate students in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, research  assistantships and an occasional project assistantship.  There are approximately 45 graduate students who hold fellowships or assistantships in the Department of Botany.  

Teaching, Project and Research Assistants and Graduate School Fellowships with an appointment of one-third time or more qualify for a remission of both the out-of-state portion of their tuition and in-state fees, in addition to the stipend that accompanies their appointment. The assistantship appointments must still pay segregated fees, which are $429 for a student carrying 8 or more credits in 2007-08.  The remission is conditionally awarded at the start of the semester based on the expectation that actual earnings during the semester will be at least 33% of the full-time rate. These appointments also provide eligibility for an excellent health insurance program available at little or no cost (depending on the particular option selected). 

1. Teaching Assistantships.  The most common source of support is a teaching assistantship, which for Fall 2008 at half-time (20 hours per week for nine months) carries a stipend of $12,894 - $15,477; depending on level of experience and training.  In addition to classroom work, 8-12 hours a week are normally required for preparation, correcting papers and examinations, and counseling with students.  The teaching assistant normally carries about 3/4 of a full program of graduate work during the academic year, but may, if it is approved by his/her adviser, carry a full load.  Supplementary aid for the summer is sometimes available in the form of research or teaching assistantship appointments.  

In addition to satisfying the criteria for admission, the candidate for a teaching assistantship must meet the following requirements: 

(a) evidence (usually from the undergraduate transcript) of an appropriate background in the relevant subject matter of the course(s) to which appointment is being considered;

(b) evidence (usually from letters of recommendation or verbal communication) of the candidate's potential as a teaching assistant;

(c) an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above (admission is occasionally granted to candidates with lesser grade point qualifications, but appointment as a teaching assistant specifically requires a 3.0 or above); and

(d) for students whose native language is not English, evidence is also required of competence in spoken English.  (Foreign applicants should note that appointment as a teaching assistant is not normally possible during the first year of graduate study.)  A student who applies for a teaching assistantship after having been admitted to the department with other support is also subject to the above criteria, together with an evaluation of performance as a graduate student, as evidenced by satisfactory progress in both course work and research, and/or the assessment of the Academic  Advisory Committee.

Reappointment as a teaching assistant depends upon satisfactory progress as a graduate student and satisfactory performance as a teaching assistant.  The former is evaluated with reference to the department criteria for satisfactory academic progress and the latter is assessed by the Teaching Assistant Evaluation Committee.  

2. Research or Project Assistantships - These assistantships are made possible by funds awarded to individual professors for particular research programs.  Recipients are selected by the individual professor concerned.  A full program of graduate work is normally carried by a student holding one of these appointments.   

Research assistantships carry a stipend of $16,029 and $19,596 (2008-09) on a 9-month and 12-month basis respectively, at one-half time.   

Half-time project assistantships earn $16,450 for a 12-month appointment.   

3. University Fellowships - DISCONTINUED FOR BIOLOGIAL SCIENCES. 

4.  Other Fellowships.  Fellowships secured by the student from outside agencies, such as the National Science Foundation provide another important source of aid for which students may apply either before or after commencing graduate work here.  Such fellowships can often be supplemented with University funds up to prevailing UW fellowship levels, if necessary.  A few additional fellowships are available from sources within the University, but are usually awarded to students who have already started their graduate work at Wisconsin. 

Applications for Financial Aid

Application for financial aid consists simply of checking the appropriate box(es) on the standard on-line Graduate School Application for Admission form.  Your name will then be placed in consideration for any of the above university-administered appointments for which you qualify.  You may wish to indicate within your "Reasons for Graduate Study" any particular interests or preferences concerning your request for financial aid.  Appointments offered will depend upon the student's qualifications and the particular positions available.   

To receive the fullest consideration for financial aid, on-line applications and all supporting documents must be in the hands of the Department of Botany by January 2^nd.   No applications can be considered until a complete transcript of college work has been received, so it is important that these records be sent as soon as the work of the fall semester is completed.  Scores for the Graduate Record Examination must also be submitted.  Please note that the University of Wisconsin has instituted a $45.00 application fee.  Correspondence directly with one or more professors in whose fields or research a student is particularly interested may be helpful in working out plans for graduate study and financing.  

      (fin. aid revised 2/08)