WISCIENCE Courses (Integrated Science)
Subject listing
Integrated Science (INTEGSCI)
Overview
We offer courses in STEM professional development for undergrad students, grad students, and postdocs as well as non-credit trainings for faculty and staff.
Course Updates
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Fall 2026 Undergrad Course Offerings
Find out which WISCIENCE courses will be offered in spring 2026.
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Spring 2026 Undergrad Course Offerings
Find out which WISCIENCE courses will be offered in spring 2026.
All Integrated Science Courses (INTEGSCI)
Exploring Biology – INTEGSCI 100
Explores the biological sciences and supports transition to UW-Madison. Focuses on the core concepts in biology (evolution; transformation of energy and matter; information exchange and storage; structure and function; systems biology), how biological research is conducted and communicated, and the diversity of bioscience careers. Develops foundational academic skills and introduces resources, opportunities, and the biological sciences landscape at UW-Madison.
| first-year undergrad, 2 credits |
BioHouse Seminar: Biology for the 21st Century – INTEGSCI 110
Focused on developing skills in cooperative learning with peers and visiting scientists; integrating information across disciplines; communicating science; careers in biology; and, illustrating how biology can help solve society’s pressing issues.
| undergrad BioHouse Residential Learning Community students, 1 credit |
Exploring Service in STEM – INTEGSCI 140
A discussion-based seminar introducing first-year STEM students to the world of public service from the perspective of both the university and its community partners. Classroom activities and direct campus and off-campus experiences are included. Service opportunities include STEM outreach, sustainability, and public health. Involves approximately 1 hour per week of public service.
| first-year undergrad, 1 credit |
Exploring Research in STEM – INTEGSCI 150
Offers an overview of the research process and opportunities to build skills in reading scientific literature. Understand different approaches to science and to be flexible in thinking about gathering evidence or solving problems. Supports articulation of research interests, identifying potential research mentors, and writing professional emails to secure research opportunities. Explore STEM careers and pathways that can come from engaging in research.
| undergrad, 1 credit |
Exploring Peer Leadership in STEM – INTEGSCI 230
Students will build practical peer leadership and mentoring skills, while evaluating and reflecting on personal experiences among a group of peers who challenge and learn from each other as they explore leadership. Class activities are designed to develop critical thinking around student development issues and provide strategies for integrating discussions of diversity, ethics, social justice, community, and civic responsibility into leadership experiences.
| undergrad, 2 credits |
Service with Youth in STEM – INTEGSCI 240
Teaches students about community engagement experiences, focusing on building community partnerships, understanding organizational missions and community needs, assessment of informal science outreach experiences, and issues related to scientific literacy and access to science.
| undergrad, 2 credits |
Entering Research – INTEGSCI 260
Seminar course for sophomore or transfer students to begin independent research in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Taken concurrently with 1-3 research credits with faculty member. Supports independent research experience.
| undergrad, must have a confirmed faculty research mentor, 1 credit |
Practicum in STEM Peer Leadership – INTEGSCI 330
Practicum for peer leaders in various STEM courses and programs. Application of leadership, mentoring, and communication skills. Includes engagement in leadership experience to support STEM student success as well as activities to enhance participants’ leadership development.
| undergrad, 1–2 credits |
Service with Youth in STEM II – INTEGSCI 340
Applies communication skills and social awareness issues in ways that enable students to work with increasing levels of independence in building and maintaining community relationships compared to INTEGSCI 240. Includes a lab section applied to lecture experiences to prepare for work with children in elementary after-school science clubs and to focus on different styles of communication. The multi-disciplinary focus of the after-school lessons develops connections between students’ field of study and others within STEM. In the service learning component, students apply academic knowledge through science education and outreach experiences in a community-focused and culturally sensitive way. Students work with underrepresented students in the Madison metropolitan area in elementary after-school science clubs, and are expected to critically reflect on the ties between their academic and community partnerships, and differences between campus and community culture.
| undergrad, 2 credits |
Service with Youth in STEM Practicum – INTEGSCI 341
Apply communication, cultural competency, and leadership skills to work with community partners in a service learning practicum. Work with underrepresented students in the Madison metropolitan area in elementary after-school science clubs, and critically reflect on the ties between their academic and community partnerships, and differences between campus and community culture. Work with different community partners than they did in previous Service with Youth in STEM courses. This practicum combines the service experience with an in-class component to prepare to provide opportunities to critically reflect upon the ties between academic preparation and community partnerships, and on their experiences in varied community settings.
| undergrad, 1 credit |
Scientific Teaching for TAs – INTEGSCI 605
The goal of this course is to arm Teaching Assistants with survival skills in scientific teaching through theory, practice, and learning community. We will work together to learn the core themes of scientific teaching (active learning, assessment, and diversity) and apply them, in real time, to the courses in which the TAs are concurrently teaching. This course is open to graduate students only.
| grad, 1 credit |
Public Service in STEM – INTEGSCI 640
Discusses the fundamentals of public service and civic engagement in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines grounded in evidence-based knowledge and research. Provides an overview of the core pathways of public service, the knowledge required to effectively initiate and cultivate community partnerships, and the skills necessary to reflect upon personal experiences with community engagement activities. Fosters understanding of the broader impacts in STEM fields and prepares students to begin specializing in a specific pathway and develop relationships with a community partner. This course is required for Public Service Fellows program participants.
| grad, 1 credit |
College Science Teaching – INTEGSCI 650
Covers the fundamentals of learning theory and practical strategies for teaching science courses, while also developing community around this shared experience. The cohort will work together to learn the core themes of scientific teaching (active learning, assessment, and diversity) in theory so that they can make informed decisions about their teaching in the future. This course is required for WISCIENCE Teaching Fellows.
| grad, 1–2 credit |
Research Mentor Training – INTEGSCI 660
The Research Mentor Training seminar, offered in collaboration with the Delta program, gives you space to reflect and reinvigorate and provides concrete tools to support a successful mentor/mentee relationship. Practicum course for graduate, post-doctoral or senior undergraduate students to be taken concurrently while mentoring an undergraduate engaged in an independent research experience.
| senior undergrad, grad and postdoc, 1 credit |
Community Relationship and Materials Development in STEM Public Service – INTEGSCI 740
Provides opportunities for practical application of public service knowledge. Discusses development of a workplan for long-term projects, provides strategies to initiate community partnerships, and fosters development of materials for use in a community-based practicum. Includes time to work intensively on acquiring pathway-specific knowledge and skills and opportunities to practice, problem-solve, and support cohort members within and across public service pathways. This course is required for Public Service Fellows program participants.
| grad, 1 credit |
Instructional Materials Design for College Science Teaching – INTEGSCI 750
Designed to provide a practical application of pedagogical knowledge through the development of instructional materials for use in a university science education context. The process will be based around cohorts of participants working together to identify learning objectives, and create evidence-based assessments and learning experiences to target those objectives. This course is required for Scientific Teaching Fellows program participants.
| grad, 1 credit |
Mentored Practicum in STEM Public Service – INTEGSCI 840
Develops community-engagement in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) through a mentored public service experience. Provides opportunities to refine and implement skills necessary to work with a community partner to implement and evaluate a project that is mutually beneficial in process and product. Places emphasis on professional development within a selected pathway (direct service, community engaged teaching, or science policy). Includes time to meet within specialized pathways and as a full cohort throughout the implementation of the practicum experience. This course is required for Public Service Fellows program participants.
| grad, 1 credit |
Mentored Practicum in College Science Teaching – INTEGSCI 850
Continues the development of graduate student’s skills in teaching and learning college science courses by providing a mentored, independent teaching experience. Participants will have the opportunity to see how theories of learning and teaching play out in real instructional settings by implementing instructional activities and then evaluating the outcomes of those activities on the basis of student artifacts. A particular emphasis will be placed on participants creating an inclusive learning environment for teaching diverse student populations. The course also provides participants with frameworks for teaching and managing their own courses, should they pursue academic positions after graduate school. This course is required for Scientific Teaching Fellows Program participants. This course is required for Scientific Teaching Fellows program participants.
| grad, 1 credit |
Undergraduate Courses
Exploring Biology – INTEGSCI 100
Explores the biological sciences and supports transition to UW-Madison. Focuses on the core concepts in biology (evolution; transformation of energy and matter; information exchange and storage; structure and function; systems biology), how biological research is conducted and communicated, and the diversity of bioscience careers. Develops foundational academic skills and introduces resources, opportunities, and the biological sciences landscape at UW-Madison.
| first-year undergrad, 2 credits |
BioHouse Seminar: Biology for the 21st Century – INTEGSCI 110
Focused on developing skills in cooperative learning with peers and visiting scientists; integrating information across disciplines; communicating science; careers in biology; and, illustrating how biology can help solve society’s pressing issues.
| undergrad BioHouse Residential Learning Community students, 1 credit |
Exploring Service in STEM – INTEGSCI 140
A discussion-based seminar introducing first-year STEM students to the world of public service from the perspective of both the university and its community partners. Classroom activities and direct campus and off-campus experiences are included. Service opportunities include STEM outreach, sustainability, and public health. Involves approximately 1 hour per week of public service.
| first-year undergrad, 1 credit |
Exploring Research in STEM – INTEGSCI 150
Offers an overview of the research process and opportunities to build skills in reading scientific literature. Understand different approaches to science and to be flexible in thinking about gathering evidence or solving problems. Supports articulation of research interests, identifying potential research mentors, and writing professional emails to secure research opportunities. Explore STEM careers and pathways that can come from engaging in research.
| undergrad, 1 credit |
Exploring Peer Leadership in STEM – INTEGSCI 230
Students will build practical peer leadership and mentoring skills, while evaluating and reflecting on personal experiences among a group of peers who challenge and learn from each other as they explore leadership. Class activities are designed to develop critical thinking around student development issues and provide strategies for integrating discussions of diversity, ethics, social justice, community, and civic responsibility into leadership experiences.
| undergrad, 2 credits |
Service with Youth in STEM – INTEGSCI 240
Teaches students about community engagement experiences, focusing on building community partnerships, understanding organizational missions and community needs, assessment of informal science outreach experiences, and issues related to scientific literacy and access to science.
| undergrad, 2 credits |
Entering Research – INTEGSCI 260
Seminar course for sophomore or transfer students to begin independent research in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Taken concurrently with 1-3 research credits with faculty member. Supports independent research experience.
| undergrad, must have a confirmed faculty research mentor, 1 credit |
Practicum in STEM Peer Leadership – INTEGSCI 330
Practicum for peer leaders in various STEM courses and programs. Application of leadership, mentoring, and communication skills. Includes engagement in leadership experience to support STEM student success as well as activities to enhance participants’ leadership development.
| undergrad, 1–2 credits |
Service with Youth in STEM II – INTEGSCI 340
Applies communication skills and social awareness issues in ways that enable students to work with increasing levels of independence in building and maintaining community relationships compared to INTEGSCI 240. Includes a lab section applied to lecture experiences to prepare for work with children in elementary after-school science clubs and to focus on different styles of communication. The multi-disciplinary focus of the after-school lessons develops connections between students’ field of study and others within STEM. In the service learning component, students apply academic knowledge through science education and outreach experiences in a community-focused and culturally sensitive way. Students work with underrepresented students in the Madison metropolitan area in elementary after-school science clubs, and are expected to critically reflect on the ties between their academic and community partnerships, and differences between campus and community culture.
| undergrad, 2 credits |
Service with Youth in STEM Practicum – INTEGSCI 341
Apply communication, cultural competency, and leadership skills to work with community partners in a service learning practicum. Work with underrepresented students in the Madison metropolitan area in elementary after-school science clubs, and critically reflect on the ties between their academic and community partnerships, and differences between campus and community culture. Work with different community partners than they did in previous Service with Youth in STEM courses. This practicum combines the service experience with an in-class component to prepare to provide opportunities to critically reflect upon the ties between academic preparation and community partnerships, and on their experiences in varied community settings.
| undergrad, 1 credit |
Research Mentor Training – INTEGSCI 660
The Research Mentor Training seminar, offered in collaboration with the Delta program, gives you space to reflect and reinvigorate and provides concrete tools to support a successful mentor/mentee relationship. Practicum course for graduate, post-doctoral or senior undergraduate students to be taken concurrently while mentoring an undergraduate engaged in an independent research experience.
| senior undergrad, grad, & postdoc, 1 credit |
Graduate and Postdoc Courses
Scientific Teaching for TAs – INTEGSCI 605
The goal of this course is to arm Teaching Assistants with survival skills in scientific teaching through theory, practice, and learning community. We will work together to learn the core themes of scientific teaching (active learning, assessment, and diversity) and apply them, in real time, to the courses in which the TAs are concurrently teaching. This course is open to graduate students only.
| grad, 1 credit |
Public Service in STEM – INTEGSCI 640
Discusses the fundamentals of public service and civic engagement in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines grounded in evidence-based knowledge and research. Provides an overview of the core pathways of public service, the knowledge required to effectively initiate and cultivate community partnerships, and the skills necessary to reflect upon personal experiences with community engagement activities. Fosters understanding of the broader impacts in STEM fields and prepares students to begin specializing in a specific pathway and develop relationships with a community partner. This course is required for Public Service Fellows program participants.
| grad, 1 credit |
College Science Teaching – INTEGSCI 650
Covers the fundamentals of learning theory and practical strategies for teaching science courses, while also developing community around this shared experience. The cohort will work together to learn the core themes of scientific teaching (active learning, assessment, and diversity) in theory so that they can make informed decisions about their teaching in the future. This course is required for WISCIENCE Teaching Fellows.
| grad, 1–2 credit |
Research Mentor Training – INTEGSCI 660
The Research Mentor Training seminar, offered in collaboration with the Delta program, gives you space to reflect and reinvigorate and provides concrete tools to support a successful mentor/mentee relationship. Practicum course for graduate, post-doctoral or senior undergraduate students to be taken concurrently while mentoring an undergraduate engaged in an independent research experience.
| senior undergrad, grad and postdoc, 1 credit |
Community Relationship and Materials Development in STEM Public Service – INTEGSCI 740
Provides opportunities for practical application of public service knowledge. Discusses development of a workplan for long-term projects, provides strategies to initiate community partnerships, and fosters development of materials for use in a community-based practicum. Includes time to work intensively on acquiring pathway-specific knowledge and skills and opportunities to practice, problem-solve, and support cohort members within and across public service pathways. This course is required for Public Service Fellows program participants.
| grad, 1 credit |
Instructional Materials Design for College Science Teaching – INTEGSCI 750
Designed to provide a practical application of pedagogical knowledge through the development of instructional materials for use in a university science education context. The process will be based around cohorts of participants working together to identify learning objectives, and create evidence-based assessments and learning experiences to target those objectives. This course is required for Scientific Teaching Fellows program participants.
| grad, 1 credit |
Mentored Practicum in STEM Public Service – INTEGSCI 840
Develops community-engagement in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) through a mentored public service experience. Provides opportunities to refine and implement skills necessary to work with a community partner to implement and evaluate a project that is mutually beneficial in process and product. Places emphasis on professional development within a selected pathway (direct service, community engaged teaching, or science policy). Includes time to meet within specialized pathways and as a full cohort throughout the implementation of the practicum experience. This course is required for Public Service Fellows program participants.
| grad, 1 credit |
Mentored Practicum in College Science Teaching – INTEGSCI 850
Continues the development of graduate student’s skills in teaching and learning college science courses by providing a mentored, independent teaching experience. Participants will have the opportunity to see how theories of learning and teaching play out in real instructional settings by implementing instructional activities and then evaluating the outcomes of those activities on the basis of student artifacts. A particular emphasis will be placed on participants creating an inclusive learning environment for teaching diverse student populations. The course also provides participants with frameworks for teaching and managing their own courses, should they pursue academic positions after graduate school. This course is required for Scientific Teaching Fellows Program participants. This course is required for Scientific Teaching Fellows program participants.
| grad, 1 credit |
Faculty and Staff Training
Advancing Research Mentoring Practice
Mentor training can make the difference between a mutually beneficial, productive mentoring relationship and one that is draining for the mentor and discouraging for the mentee. This seminar gives you space to reflect and reinvigorate and provides concrete tools to support a successful mentor/mentee relationship.
| faculty|
The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Course Guide is the central location for official information about all academic offerings. Find all WISCIENCE courses (Integrated Science) here.