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, 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 in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School Bulletin for Natural Sciences and Engineering. The credentials of the candidate must be approved by the department. Applications for Fall admission should be submitted by January 2nd to be considered for fellowship support; by February 1 for departmental support. 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. In some cases, the selection of a Major Professor has been arranged by the time a student begins graduate studies. More often, the selection is 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 (see Masters degree 1a(2).
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.
MASTER'S DEGREE
1. Courses - To qualify for a Master's degree in botany, candidates are required to satisfy the following course requirements:
2. 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.
3. Other Requirements - The major professor may specify appropriate requirements in addition to those already listed.
4. 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 an 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.
5. 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 of the examination 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. General - General departmental requirements are designed to insure an adequate background in botany and related fields for all Ph.D. candidates and to maintain overall quality in the Ph.D. program. These requirements are essentially the same for all students.
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. Courses:
2. Foreign Languages - Two units of one foreign language (two semesters of college work or two years of high school) or the equivalent are required. In addition, if reading skills in a language are to be demonstrated, the major professor will determine the manner in which the requirement will be satisfied. Options include passing the Educational Testing Examination for a specific language in the 50th percentile or better, individual examination by a member of the Department of Botany staff, or residence in a foreign country.
3. Teaching - At least one semester of teaching experience at the University of Wisconsin is required as part of the preparation for the Ph.D. degree. Exceptions may be made in unusual circumstances.
4. Research Seminar Report - During the final semester in residence, a candidate shall present a departmental seminar in his/her thesis research. This seminar shall be presented prior to the candidate's Ph.D. final examination.
5. Progress Toward Degree - Normally all requirements for the Ph.D. degree should be fulfilled within five years of residency (four years if the candidate enters with an M.S. degree). A student may petition the Academic Advisory Committee for an additional one or two semesters to complete the degree.
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
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
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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 coursework for the minor requirement, and (3) presenting the title or special field of the proposed thesis, approved by the major professor.
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. 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.
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 (excluding research credits) taken as a graduate student unless conditions for probationary status require higher grades.
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.
4. 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 course work in the major department. 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 from outside the major area of study, be 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 before the Preliminary Exam, no later than half-way through the minor sequence. A minor agreement form must be completed and filed with the Botany Graduate Coordinator 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.