Major Advising Page: Botany
Study abroad gives students opportunities to look at the world through a different lens. Plant and fungal research and study happen around the world. Being able to learn about the local flora and expand your worldview is a great reason to study abroad at any time as a botany major.
Course considerations
Botany students need to keep in mind that at least 15 credits of work in the major/major department must be completed on the UW–Madison campus. Beyond that, there are no requirements for taking a certain number of courses or credits here on campus versus while studying abroad on a UW–Madison-administered study abroad program.
Many study abroad programs offer excellent upper-level bioscience courses. Students often complete courses abroad that count for the intermediate/advanced botany breadth requirement. Some programs already have classes that are equivalent to UW–Madison courses that fulfill this requirement. These equivalencies can be found on each program’s academics page. Programs may not have all courses pre-equated simply because no student has taken them in the past.
How do I know if a course will likely count toward the major?
A good guideline is to look for upper-level plant science courses that have science prerequisites. Once you have identified courses of interest, work with your study abroad advisor to gather syllabi if possible. Then, meet with the botany faculty intake advisor to determine if and how the course will count towards your major or degree requirements. You will work with IAP to complete the approval process.
Map your experience as a
botany student
If you are considering studying abroad, become familiar with the botany major requirements and work with your advisor on developing your 4-year plan. Your 4-year plan will provide a sense of how and when studying abroad will best complement your major and degree. A common initial question is whether you want or need to take courses abroad that will count for the major, foundational coursework, or general education credits. Answering this question by assessing and establishing your goals and priorities can give you a sense of what programs to explore in depth.
You can study abroad at any point during your time at UW–Madison, but most students choose to study abroad during their junior or senior year. We recommend completing core coursework such as the introductory biology sequence, mathematics, and chemistry requirements for the major at UW–Madison. This said, you could always study abroad earlier and complete core coursework after returning. If you are applying to professional health programs (such as medical school or dental school), you are advised to complete the majority of your pre-requisite coursework at UW–Madison.
Freshman year
At UW–Madison, focus on a balanced course schedule that lays the curricular foundation for your major. Investigate winter intersession and summer term programs that interest you. Explore potential semester and summer programs for the future.
Sophomore year
At UW–Madison, maintain a balanced course schedule that builds the foundation for your botany major. You may consider going abroad this year on either a semester or a summer program. Meet with your botany advisor to ensure you are on track with core bioscience courses. This can also be a year to narrow down programs for future terms.
Junior year
Many students choose this year to study abroad since they will have likely completed the majority of their introductory coursework. You can take advantage of a range of programs that offer unique and interesting upper-level bioscience coursework that will count toward the botany major. How cool to be able to take an ecology course in another country!
Senior year
You can study abroad in your senior year without delay in graduation with careful planning with your advisor. With careful planning, you can complete your senior thesis requirement with pre-approval. Seniors should be aware of the senior residency requirement – credits 90-120 must be earned in residence (the 30-credit rule). Fortunately, credits earned abroad through UW–Madison-approved study abroad programs qualify as in residence.
All returned students should meet with career services to explore how to best convey the international experience to future employers, to graduate schools, and on personal statements.
Ask questions
- What botany classes must I complete for my degree? What courses can I fulfill abroad?
- Do I need to be on UW–Madison’s campus for any courses in my botany major?
- How many electives do I have outside of my major?
- What programs offer courses I would like to take?
- How and when do I select courses for my program?
- When will I know course equivalents for my program?
- What is the class structure like abroad?
- What is the application and notification timeline for programs and scholarships?
- What skills do careers related to my major require, and how might participating in a particular program help me gain those skills?
- When would be the best time to participate in a program based on my career goals?
- How will participating in a study abroad, study away, or international internship make me stand out?
- Why do I want to study abroad?
- How long do I want to study abroad for – a few weeks, a semester, a year?
- How does studying abroad fit into my academic, personal, and/or professional goals?
- What career skills or proficiencies will I strive to acquire or enhance on my program?
- How much can I afford to spend?
Discover programs that are right for you
The following are programs that may be of interest to you! Durations and courses vary and may count toward electives or degree requirements. If you do not have specific requirements, there’s more flexibility in program type and location.
These opportunities are not an exhaustive list of all programs.
In this section
Semester and academic year programs
Australia
- James Cook University
- University of Sydney
- SFS Rainforest Studies (semester or summer)
Bhutan
SFS Himalayan Studies (semester or summer)
Chile
SFS Climate Studies (semester or summer)
Costa Rica
SFS Ecological Resilience Studies (semester or summer)
Denmark
- University of Copenhagen
- DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia (semester or summer)
Ecuador
Ceiba Tropical Conservation Semester: Galapagos, Andes, and Amazon (spring semester)
England
- University of Bristol
- University of Westminster (semester or summer)
Iceland
Netherlands
New Zealand
Peru
SFS Amazon Studies (semester or summer)
South Africa
Singapore
Sweden
DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia (semester or summer)
Thailand
Wales
Short-term programs
Australia
SFS Rainforest Studies (semester or summer)
Belize
Ceiba Marine Biology of Coral Reefs (summer)
Bhutan
SFS Himalayan Studies (semester or summer)
Chile
SFS Climate Studies (semester or summer)
Costa Rica
- SFS Ecological Resilience Studies (semester or summer)
- UW Agroecosystems and Planetary Health in Costa Rica (summer)
Denmark
DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia (semester or summer)
England
University of Westminster (semester or summer)
Japan
Panama
SFS Tropical Island Biodiversity & Conservation Studies (semester or summer)
Sweden
DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia (semester or summer)
International Internships
International internships allow you to apply your academic skills to the real world and gain valuable professional experience abroad while earning UW–Madison course credit.
As you consider your academic and professional goals for studying abroad, explore the different internship options, including UW Signature internships, internship-focused programs, part-time internships, or applying for credit for an external internship.
Check with your academic advisor to see if earning credit for your internship abroad can fulfill a major or certificate requirement.
Hear from students in your major
Explore student blogs and reflections to see how your peers have connected international experiences to their studies. Discover real stories about the skills, challenges, and professional insights gained through our programs.
Photo credit: Christina Treacy (Panama)
Want more information?
Dive deeper into how courses and credits work on our programs, or connect with an advisor to find the best fit for your goals.
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