Make the most of your summer! The UW-Madison Botany Summer Program offers a diversity of online, blended, and in-person courses including field and lab offerings.
How do I sign up?
Current students should talk with your advisor or view the course guide.
Details at summer.wisc.edu
Non-traditional students should contact Adult Career and Special Student Services about the available options.
Summer 2020 Courses
Introductory courses open to all:
Survey of Botany
BOTANY 100 May 18 - June 7 3 credits
Botany 100 gives non-biology majors an introduction to the world of plants, the environments in which they grow, and closely associated microbial organisms such as those growing in the soil. This course counts toward the Biological Science requirement of most undergraduate degree programs. In addition to daily lectures and laboratories held in Birge Hall, there will be several visits to the Botany Department gardens and greenhouses to explore the ways plants from around the world can be grown at the University of Wisconsin. Early in the course, there will be a short outdoor excursion to Muir Woods near the shore of Lake Mendota to study native plants.
Instructor: Michael Braus and Marie Trest
Forests and Humans: From the Midwest to Madagascar
BOTANY 250 May 22 -July 19 online 2 credits
This online course provides an overview of the geography, ecology, and economic importance of the world’s forest biomes. Students of this course will explore the main aspects and different types of forests, why humans depend on them, how climate influences vegetation, and in-turn how forests impact global climate. Participants will have the opportunity to meet scientists working to understand the astounding biodiversity and ecological complexity of forest ecosystems, and how these ecosystems support human life.
Instructor: Catherine Woodward
Intermediate courses requiring college-level introductory biology
Dendrology
BOTANY 402 May 26 - June 21 online + field 2 credits
Dendrology covers identification, ranges, uses, and ecological characteristics of evergreen and deciduous woody plants, native and cultivated. The course is primarily online, with several weekend field days. *not open to special students
Instructor: Catherine Woodward
Evolutionary Biology
BOTANY 410 Jun 15 - Aug 9 online 3 credits
Evolutionary biology, emphasizing how modern scientists study evolution. Topics include: nature and mechanisms of microevolution, macroevolution, adaptation, speciation; systematics and taxonomy; quantitative genetics and measurement of natural selection; phylogenetic analyses of behavior, physiology, morphology, biochemistry; current controversies in evolution.
Instructors: Evan Eifler
Midwestern Ecological Issues: A Case Study Approach
BOTANY 450 May 18 - June 14 online 2 credits
A 4-week, all online course exploring ecological issues significant to the Great Lakes region. Topics include land use, water resources, invasive species, a changing climate, and the ecological approach to mitigating these problems.
Instructor: Kevin Barrett
General Ecology
BOTANY 460 May 26 - July 19 classroom+field 4 credits
In this class, we will explore how environmental processes and biological interactions combine to affect individual organisms, populations, communities and ecosystems across the globe. We will survey and practice the tools and thinking processes used by ecologists to conduct ecological studies. Many of our lab sections will be spent in the field, practicing ecology!
Instructor: Kyle Webert
Ethnobotany
BOTANY 474 Jun 15 - Aug 9 online 3 credits
Ethnobotany is the study of relationships between human cultures and plants. This course includes: traditional ecological knowledge, plant medicine, wild edible foods, domestication, plants in spirituality and other topics. We will have a combination of lectures, guest speakers, hands-on activities, and plant walks.
Instructor: Elizabeth Bradbury
Conservation Biology
BOTANY 651 June 15 - Aug 9 online 3 credits
Application of ecological principles and human dimensions to the conservation of biological diversity. Topics: biodiversity science; conservation planning; population ecology; habitat loss, species exploitation, invasive species, pollution; human attitudes and activities as they affect the biosphere; approaches to monitoring interventions.
Instructor: Grant Morton