About this Degree The Department of Genetics provides a supportive and unique environment for students to understand the full spectrum of molecular, evolutionary, and population genetics. Our major prepares students for careers in biomedical fields, as well as teaching, academic research, and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. And, our students are competitive for admission to the top medical and professional schools and graduate programs in the country. What you will learn After taking introductory courses in genetics and evolutionary biology, majors may choose from a variety of upper level Genetics courses. Depending on the interests and career goals of a particular student, our majors can also satisfy requirements for major electives by taking upper level courses in other departments. In addition to lecture courses, majors can choose from several different laboratory courses, which focus on molecular genetics, evolutionary genetics, or genomics. The Department strongly encourages undergraduates to pursue independent research with one of our faculty. In addition to the high value placed on research by medical and graduate school admissions committees, an undergraduate research experience serves to consolidate all your Genetics training into a single keystone experience. Interesting Facts about this Degree or Program There are only a few universities in the country that offer a bachelor's degree in genetics. Six of the last 21 UGA students to win the Barry M. Goldwater scholarship, the most prestigious undergraduate science honor in the country, have been Genetics majors. About 75% of our majors go on to graduate or professional schools. Other Information about Degree or Program The Department of Genetics of the University of Georgia invites undergraduates interested in a career in genetics research to apply for positions in our summer research program. Students will be matched with a faculty mentor in the Department of Genetics and participate in research as a member of a research team. The faculty member will help design and monitor an appropriate full-time research project for the student or incorporate the student into ongoing research. Participants will be expected to devote at least a 40-hour week to this program. At the conclusion of the program, the student will prepare an abstract, data summary, and conclusions drawn from the work and present them in a poster format to other students and to the department. Additional information can be found here. The Department strongly encourages undergraduates to pursue independent research as part of their educations. In addition to the high value placed on research by medical and graduate school admissions committees, an undergraduate research experience serves to consolidate all your Genetics training into a single keystone experience. View our Research Scholarship and Award Information Several undergraduate scholarship and award opportunities are available at the University of Georgia. Undergraduate Scholarships & Awards Employment Information Employers: The University of Georgia University of Cincinnati Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Omni International Saint Jude Children’s Hospital Sample Salaries Possible Job Titles: Biotechnologist Botanist Clinical Geneticist Clinical Research Coordinator Crime Lab Analyst Embryologist Field Study Coordinator Forensic Scientist Food and Drug Inspector Genetics Counselor Geneticist Genetics Laboratory Supervisor Laboratory Geneticist Medical Equipment Sales Rep. Medical Investigator Medical Doctor/Nurse Medical/Science Librarian Medical/Science Writer-Editor Microbiologist Nuclear Medicine Specialist Plant Geneticist Public Health Specialist Parasitologist Pharmaceutical Sales Rep. Physician Asst. Public Health Specialist Research Immunologist Research Geneticist Toxicologist Zoologist
