To receive research credits in the Botany Department you are required to follow several steps to receive permission to enroll. Steps include filling out a research plan and marking the appropriate level. Research plans must be submitted by the first week of school to be able to enroll by the college enrollment deadline. See requirements and course level instructions for more information.
If you have questions regarding filling out the research plan, or would like to suggest improvements to this process, please contact the student services coordinator or Prof. David Baum.
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Requirements
Requirements for taking research for credit:
- Students seeking research experience should review the information about the research areas in the Botany department. Students are also encouraged to talk to peers in their courses or in the Botany club as well as their Botany course Teaching Assistants for research opportunities in the different Botany Labs.
- Once a student has identified a possible lab of interest, they should contact the faculty directly to see if there are any opportunities for working in the lab.
- When a student has found a faculty member to work with they should meet with them to discuss the work they will do.
- A research plan (Botany-Study-Plan-Form) must be filled out by the student and faculty advisor then submitted to the student services coordinator by the end of the first week of classes. This form needs to be submitted by the faculty member.
- The student services coordinator will process the research plan and email the student (copying the faculty) that the student can enroll in the research section and level specified. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they have enrolled in the course. The department/instructor only gives permission to enroll. Students can verify their enrollment by reviewing their DARS or their course schedule.
- Students seeking to satisfy the Independent Research Experience for the Botany Major should view https://botany.wisc.edu/independent-research/#requirements. This requirement has additional steps and can only be satisfied with specific courses.
Credits are based on the calculation that for every credit received a student must produce 3 hours or more per week over the semester using a fifteen week semester calculation (i.e. 2 credits x 3 hours per week x 15 weeks = 90 hours (minimum)).
Course Level
When filling out the form please use the appropriate course level.
Botany 299: Directed Study in Botany
Elementary level directed study/independent research. The purpose of this course to introduce undergraduate students to research questions and, facilitate their learning in the field of botany by providing them with guidance and mentorship in a research environment.
1 to 3 credits
Botany 499: Intermediate Directed Research
Undergraduate students may research questions and facilitate their learning in the field of botany by providing them with guidance and mentorship in a research environment.
1 to 3 credits
Botany 681 (semester 1)/682 (semester 2): Senior Honors Thesis
to complete the Independent Research Experience for the Botany major
3 credits per semester, must take both semesters
Botany 691 (semester 1)/692 (semester 2): Senior Thesis
to complete the Independent Research Experience for the Botany major
2 or 3 credits per semester, must take both semesters
Botany 699: Directed Research: Advanced
Botany 699 should be reserved for upper level students who have had previous research experience. IF a student is completing this requirement for their Independent Research Experience, please see (https://botany.wisc.edu/independent-research/#requirements) for more information to fulfill the requirement.
1 to 4 credits