BioHouse Learning Community

Cole Residence Hall (one floor) | 66 residents
Double rooms | Mixed coed floors
Sponsors: College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), College of Letters and Science, and the Wisconsin Institute for Science Education and Community Engagement (WISCIENCE) | Open to all majors
$250 learning community fee (exception request form)
Gender inclusive room options available

If you’re interested in the scientific study of living things – whether it’s plants, animals, health, microbiology, evolution, neurobiology, soil, food genetics, bioenergy, or anything else biological — BioHouse can nurture your passion for science and connect you to other young scientists. Along with your BioHouse community, you can explore majors and careers, meet researchers on campus, find out about the latest discoveries and issues in biology, and learn what’s on the cutting edge.

How to Join

Sign your University Residence Halls contract and submit your advance payment in My UW Housing
Select the BioHouse Learning Community as your top choice when you submit your hall preferences in My UW Housing
Prioritize learning communities over residence halls when you submit your hall preferences in My UW Housing
Receive your room assignment

BioHouse allowed me to meet friends in the scientific community on campus, succeed in my classes, and receive invaluable guidance for starting research in the biosciences.
Christina M., BioHouse Resident

Seminar

New Biology for the 21st Century
Integrated Science 375 | 1 Credit

Every student in BioHouse has the opportunity to enroll in a one-credit seminar course in the fall called “New Biology for the 21st century”. The course introduces students to the myriad of majors in biological sciences on the UW-Madison campus, core concepts of modern biology, and the global challenges around human and biosphere health, food security, and natural resource availability. Explore majors, learn about beyond-the-classroom opportunities, and begin to understand how you can become part of the thriving scientific community at UW-Madison by interacting with undergraduate and graduate student mentors, postdocs and faculty. BioHouse also offers a spring semester seminars for smaller groups of BioHouse students.

Programming

Community Goals

Introduce each student to the myriad of biological sciences majors, academic resources, and extracurricular activities
Facilitate each student’s appreciation for the diversity of the biological sciences community with peers, faculty and staff
Enhance students’ appreciation for their potential opportunity to contribute to society

BioHouse is a network that will connect you to resources and opportunities. That can be helpful when you’re trying to adjust to the rigor of college classes. Explore the 30-some biology-related undergraduate majors, and find a mentor for undergraduate research.

BioHouse is incorporated into a strong network of undergraduate programming, designed to facilitate community among all bioscience students on campus. Residents have access to mentors who can provide academic, career and personal guidance and support. Mentors add to the community by assisting with the BioHouse seminar, creating fun extracurricular events exclusively for residents, and mentoring BioHouse residents in small group settings.

Events & Activities

BioHouse students will meet premiere scientists in various sub-disciplines of biology and discuss cutting-edge science issues with invited guests over dinner. Examples of typical BioHouse activities include: