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 2026 Courses
Dendrology: Tree Ecology and ID
BOTANY 402 June 29 - Aug 9 blended 3 credits
Identification, ranges, uses, and some ecological characteristics of evergreen and deciduous woody plants, both native and cultivated. Includes lab and field work. Weekly field trips.
Evolutionary Biology
BOTANY 410 June 15 - Aug 9 online 3 credits
The process of evolution has resulted in the incredible diversity of life we observe today. This course introduces how this process unfolds, evidence for the theory of evolution, the history of studying evolutionary biology, the myriad ways evolution is studied and applied today, and how the process of evolution impacts humanity.
Medical Botany
BOTANY 421 June 15 - Aug 9 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.
Midwest Ecological Issues
BOTANY 450 May 18 - July 12 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.
General Ecology
BOTANY 460 May 26 - July 19 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 learn about and practice the tools and thinking processes used by ecologists to conduct ecological studies.
Ethnobotany
BOTANY 474 June 15 - August 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.