Biology Core Curriculum Honors, Certificate

University of Wisconsin Madison

United States of America, Madison

University Rank:#110

Duration4 year(s)

Tuition Fee

USD 39,354 / Year

Next IntakeSeptember 7, 2026

Biology Core Curriculum Honors, Certificate

About

Biology Core Curriculum (Biocore) is an undergraduate Honors biology certificate program for students who are motivated to learn biology within a small community of students, peer mentors, and faculty instructors. The four-semester curriculum of lecture and laboratory courses provides an integrated foundation of knowledge and skills applicable to any area of bioscience.

Biocore is not a major but fulfills requirements (introductory to intermediate coursework, Honors, and Communication Part B) for a variety of biological science majors including those in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, College of Letters & Science, College of Engineering, and School of Pharmacy. See the Biocore website and videoto learn more.

Unique aspects of Biocore include:

Small classes and high faculty/instructor contact
Emphasis on research, problem solving, science reasoning, group learning, and communication
Collaborative community of students and faculty
Peer mentoring, outreach, and directed study opportunities
Biocore Honors certificate.¹

Biology Core Curriculum Honors certificate is available to students within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering, the School of Human Ecology, the College of Letters & Science, and the School of Pharmacy. Students in the School of Business, the School of Education, and the School of Nursing are welcome to benefit from enrollment in the Biocore courses, but they are ineligible to earn the certificate. Students earn Honors course credit for each Biocore course and are eligible to earn a certificate upon completion of all four lecture courses and two of three lab courses with a grade of B or higher in all BIOCORE courses and a 3.33 cumulative GPA.

Demonstrate a learning mindset and intellectual curiosity for biology.
Demonstrate advanced level scientific reasoning and integration of biological concepts and processes – from molecules to the biosphere, across different forms of life, through space and time.
Generate novel scientific questions, formulate hypotheses, carry out experiments, and make logical conclusions based on evidence.
Demonstrate advanced scientific communication skills, oral and written, and the ability to translate their understanding to the broader community.
Actively engage in and practice group learning, collaboration, and teamwork.
Reach for and achieve high standards in the quality of learning.
Articulate the value of their Biocore Honors experience.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

All undergraduate students at UW–Madison must complete the university-wide General Education Requirements, which are designed to convey the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. These requirements provide for breadth across the humanities and arts, social studies, and natural sciences; competence in communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills necessary for success in college and beyond; and investigation of the issues raised by living in a culturally diverse society. This core is intended to provide students with intellectual and practical skills, basic knowledge of human cultures and the physical world, strategies for understanding these topics, and tools intended to contribute to their sense of personal and social responsibility. General Education complements the work students do in their majors and degrees. Together, these requirements help students learn what they need to know not just for making a living, but also for making a life.

Completing the General Education Requirements is an important part of achieving these competencies, and to do so, students choose from many courses in communication, ethnic studies, quantitative reasoning, and breadth of study across disciplines in the natural sciences, humanities, literature, and arts, and social and behavioral sciences.

Each school and college may choose to allow General Education courses to count toward other degree and/or major requirements. Students should always check with their advisors to discuss any additional degree requirements and determine if students are required to take specific General Education courses or to complete the requirements in a particular order. Students should review their Degree Audit (DARS) report to see how they are progressing toward fulfilling the General Education requirements. Please refer to.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 80

English Program Requirements

Freshman applicants educated in non-English speaking countries must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) score, unless English was the primary language of instruction in all four years of secondary school.

All English proficiency exams should be sent electronically, directly from the testing service.

We do not superscore any English Proficiency exam and score reports cannot be older than two years from the time you apply.

How to Send Official Test Scores

Duolingo English Test (DET)

Minimum accepted score: 105+
When submitting your score(s): Search category should be “Undergraduate,” then select “University of Wisconsin–Madison”
Please do not send to offices listed under “Other,” as we are unable to retrieve those scores
The DET should be sent with sub-scores

IELTS

Minimum accepted score: 6.5+
When submitting your score(s): IELTS does not require a code, so please select our account name, “University of Wisconsin, Madison Undergraduate”
Please do not send paper copies of your IELTS scores
We do accept the IELTS Indicator

TOEFL iBT:

Minimum accepted score: 80+
When submitting your score(s): TOEFL test code is 1846
We do not accept “MyBest” score from TOEFL nor any English Proficiency exam
For each TOEFL you submit, we will require the full score report
We do not accept the TOEFL iTP Plus for China, but we will accept the iBT Special Home Edition

If you feel that you qualify for an English Proficiency Exam waiver based upon the requirements above, please submit all required transcripts to our office. Other test scores such as ACT, SAT, or AP (Advanced Placement) scores do not meet the requirements for a waiver. Once your transcripts are received in our office (are no longer displayed on your to-do list in your Student Center), we will determine your waiver eligibility. Waivers will not be processed prior to receipt of both the admissions application and transcripts.

Career

Some majors require students to complete the whole program, but others do not. Check on your major requirements and with an academic advisor in your major. Review sample 4-year plans for how Biocore fits into many different bioscience majors. Students who plan to study abroad during their junior year can plan to start Biocore as sophomores and complete coursework as seniors.

For general academic and advising questions in Biocore, contact: Janet Batzli, Biocore interim director, [email protected].

For questions about the student experience see Biocore Peer Advisors and contact [email protected].

Fee Information

Application Fee 60

How to Apply

Every year, we are fortunate to receive thousands of applications from a diverse range of students who are incredibly bright, engaged, and passionate. They have challenged themselves and those around them to make a difference in the world. They know that the University of Wisconsin–Madison is their next step toward something extraordinary—a place where they can lead, make discoveries, tackle key issues, gain knowledge, and establish lifelong friendships.

Starting on August 1 every year, you can begin applying to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The following deadlines pertain to both domestic and international applicants.

Applications and all required application materials must arrive in our office by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on the noted deadline dates.

We cannot begin to review your application until all required materials are received.

We strongly recommend that you apply with an email that is not affiliated with your high school and that you check often. This will ensure that you have continued access to your email account after graduation from high school.

You can apply using either the Common Application or the UW System Application.

Biology Core Curriculum Honors, Certificate

University of Wisconsin Madison

United States of America, Madison