Limnology and Marine Science Seminar covers sections in various fields of zoological research.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026← Zoology (ZOOLOGY)
Easiest courses in Zoology
Looking for a gentler semester? Start with courses where students have earned higher grades.
Highest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.
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24 courses
Ranked courses have at least 100 recorded letter grades.
#2 ·ZOOLOGY 699
Directed Studies in Zoology
1–6 creditsDirected Studies in Zoology consists of selected research projects for juniors and seniors.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Seminars in Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology promote scientific development through research presentations delivered to a scientific audience, including professional development topics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Hands-on research course where students work with microbes to test original hypotheses on antibiotic discovery, contributing data to the Tiny Earth network to address antibiotic resistance.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026An undergraduate seminar covering neurobiology research topics from molecular to integrative systems, featuring discussions by UW-Madison faculty researchers.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Explores how genetic differences reveal human evolutionary and demographic history, and how history shapes genetic diversity. Covers disease risks, ancestry kits, and limits of genomics for describing race.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Aaron Ragsdale
One student described the assignments as little, suggesting a manageable workload for the course.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Comparative Physiology Laboratory investigates physiological adaptations in different animals through the design and execution of experiments.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026A lab-based course focused on identifying Southern Wisconsin birds by sight and sound, including two required Saturday field trips.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Ecology of Fishes Lab covers the anatomy and taxonomy of Wisconsin fishes and includes projects in fish ecology.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Ecology of Fishes covers interactions of fishes with physical, chemical, and biotic environments, including physiological ecology, community ecology, and fisheries sciences, with field trips to Lake Mendota and Shedd Aquarium.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026#11 ·ZOOLOGY 400
Topics in Biology
1–3 creditsIntermediate-level Topics in Biology where each section explores a different topic in biology.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introductory Biology covers plant physiology, the five major kingdoms, speciation, evolutionary theory, and ecology across biological scales.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Kate McCulloh
The course demanded plenty of memorization for the botany portion, while lectures were noted to be dense in content.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Evolutionary biology course emphasizing how modern scientists study evolution, covering microevolution, macroevolution, systematics, quantitative genetics, and phylogenetic analyses.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · John Hawks
Assessment consisted of ten-point weekly quizzes based on lectures and readings, which one student found manageable enough to earn an A without reading the book.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introductory ecology covering organism-environment relationships, population dynamics, community organization, human-environment interactions, and action programs.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Tony Ives
Anthony Ives used quizzes worth 20 points each, with a 60-point final. A student warned that even a couple of wrong answers lowered scores, but extra credit could raise a grade.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Entomology covering principles of insect morphology and classification, with outcomes focusing on identifying anatomical structures and classifying insects.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Dan Young
The class was described as very time-consuming and required significant memorization of Latin names. While not extraordinarily hard, it demanded a lot of work, though the instructor helped students through the material.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026#16 ·F&WECOL/ZOOLOGY 520
Ornithology
3 creditsAn introduction to ornithology covering bird biology, ecology, and behavior, including evolution, flight mechanics, migration, communication, and conservation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026General Ecology covers the ecology of organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, and the biosphere, focusing on interactions with the physical environment.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Thomas Givnish
Exams were heavily based on memorizing old research papers from the readings rather than lecture material.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Examines general physiological principles by comparing taxa from diverse evolutionary histories and ecological adaptations in comparative and evolutionary physiology.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Covers major stages of animal embryonic development, morphogenesis, cell differentiation, and genetic control of these processes.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Jeff Hardin
The course involved quizzes, homework, and exams that some students found difficult. Grading was on a scale rather than curved, and one student noted that heavy reading was required to pass.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Invertebrate Biology and Evolution introduces invertebrate diversity and biology, emphasizing anatomy, development, and systematic relationships of main animal phyla from a phylogenetic and developmental perspective.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Introductory animal biology lab focusing on evolutionary relationships, body plans, and dissections of earthworm, mussel, squid, sea star, and rat.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Sarah Edlund
The biology content could feel overwhelming, though the instructor made learning the lab material fun and enjoyable.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introductory Biology covers cell structure, cellular metabolism, information flow, genetics, and selected topics in Animal Physiology.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Simon Gilroy
The course was moderately difficult and memorization-heavy on exams, which some students found tricky. Labs required outside class hours, but TAs were helpful in guiding students through completing lab reports.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introductory Biology covers cell structure, metabolism, genetics, and animal physiology for engineering majors without a lab component.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Animal Biology covers general biological principles including evolution, ecology, cell structure, genetics, and human physiology.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Sharon Thoma, Lauren Riters
Exams were described as challenging, with one student noting Lauren Riters' test was the hardest of the semester. Sharon Thoma's exams required significant study time, and students were advised to use the Learning Center and office hours to prepare.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026