Genetics
How traits are inherited, expressed, and sometimes altered.
Genetics studies how genes work, how traits are inherited, how mutations arise, and how genetic information can be read, edited, or applied, spanning classical genetics, molecular biology, and increasingly genomics and bioinformatics. It builds on a general biology and chemistry foundation.
Lab courses cover techniques like DNA sequencing, PCR, and gene editing concepts, and many programs incorporate bioinformatics tools for analyzing large genetic datasets, reflecting how much the field now depends on computational analysis.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓General Biology & Chemistry
- ✓Genetics
- ✓Molecular Biology
- ✓Cell Biology
- ✓Genomics & Bioinformatics
- ✓Population Genetics
- ✓Biochemistry
- ✓Undergraduate Research
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓General Biology & Chemistry
- +General education requirement
- ✓Genetics
- +General education requirement
- ✓Molecular Biology
- +General education requirement
- ✓Cell Biology
- +Free elective
- ✓Genomics & Bioinformatics
- +Free elective
- ✓Population Genetics
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Biochemistry
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Undergraduate Research
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Fascinated by heredity, DNA, and genetic technology
- ★Comfortable combining lab work with computational analysis
- ★Interested in research, medicine, or biotechnology
- ★Strong in both biology and quantitative reasoning
Common minors & double-major pairings
Data Science · Chemistry · Statistics
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Genetics major?
How traits are inherited, expressed, and sometimes altered.
What courses do Genetics majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like General Biology & Chemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Genetics program?
Genetics coursework typically builds skills like Molecular biology lab technique, Understanding inheritance and gene expression, Bioinformatics and genomic data analysis, Experimental design.
Is Genetics a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Fascinated by heredity, DNA, and genetic technology" or "Comfortable combining lab work with computational analysis" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Genetics degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like Genetic Counselor. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Genetics?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Data Science, Chemistry, Statistics.
How is Genetics different from Biology?
They're related but distinct. Genetics: How traits are inherited, expressed, and sometimes altered. Biology: The broad study of living things, from cells to ecosystems. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Genetics degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/genetics