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 Search & Enroll.
Details at summer.wisc.edu
Non-traditional students should contact Adult Career and Special Student Services about the available options.
Summer 2021 Courses
Introductory courses open to all
Forensic Biology
BOTANY 575 June 14 - Aug 8 online 3 credits
This course is an introduction to forensic biology. It is intended to familiarize students of all backgrounds with core concepts and principles that govern the field and provide an overview of the various disciplines within it. The course will explore topics such as taphonomy and post-mortem interval; serology; DNA; analysis of fingerprints; hair, fibers, and paint; forensic toxicology; drugs and alcohol; facial reconstruction; botany; entomology; archaeology; anthropology; glass and soils; documents and voice evidence; and digital forensics. Despite being a 500-level number, this course has no prerequisites and will be accessible to students at any level, from first-year undergraduate students to graduate students. The course assumes no prior experience in forensics or biology, but a strong interest in both.
Instructors: William Morton & Professor Alex Wiedenhoeft
Intermediate courses requiring college-level introductory biology
Dendrology
BOTANY 402 June 21 - July 18 online 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 14 - Aug 8 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.
Instructor: Nisa Karimi
Midwestern Ecological Issues: A Case Study Approach
BOTANY 450 May 17 - June 13 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: Michael Peyton
General Ecology
BOTANY 460 June 28 - Aug 22 online 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 14 - Aug 8 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
Medical Botany
BOTANY 575 June 14 - Aug 8 online 3 credits
Learn about the biochemistry, ecology and medical applications of the plant and fungus kingdoms! This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to plant pharmacology. You will learn about medicinal, poisonous, and psychoactive plants and compounds in both an ecological and anthropological context.
BIO 151/2 or BOT 130 or BIOCORE 381/3 required; intro Chemistry recommended.
Instructor: Ariel Sorg
Conservation Biology
BOTANY 651 June 14 - Aug 8 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: William Morton