What Can I Do With a Major In Genetics?

UGA Specific Information for Genetics

Biology encompasses the study of all living organisms, including microbes, plants, and animals. The study of biology includes various aspects of life, including basic organization (molecular, cellular, tissues, organs), how organisms function, their roles in the natural environment, how hereditary information is transferred, and development of biotechnology. Biology graduates are broadly trained and well prepared for admission into strong graduate programs in the biological sciences and professional schools (medical, dental, and veterinary). They may also directly assume positions in government, education, industry, or certain technical fields.

Genetics is a discipline of biology,which includes the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms. Genetics is the process of trait inheritance from parents to offspring, including the molecular structure and function of genes, gene behavior in the context of a cell or organism, gene distribution, and variation and change in populations. Given that genes are universal to living organisms, genetics can be applied to the study of all living systems; including bacteria, plants, animals, and humans.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW EMPLOYERS/POSITION TITLES and GRADUATE SCHOOLS/PROGRAMS REPORTED FOR THIS MAJOR

Class of 2021 Career Outcomes for Genetics*

** Includes Self-Employed

Campus Resources

Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations/Considerations

POSSIBLE CAREER PATHS IN GENETICS

Taken from American Society of Human Genetics

Bachelor's Degree BA/BS

Biotech Sales/Marketing
Clinical Research Associate
Dietitian/Nutritionist*
Forensic Scientist
Genetics Clinical Nurse*^
K-12 Science Teacher*
Laboratory Technician
Patent Agent*
Quality Control Specialist 
Research Compliance Officer*
Science Outreach
Science Writer
Scientific/Medical Illustrator

Master's Degree MA/MS

Bioinformatician
Community College Professor
Genetic Counselor*^
Graduate & Postdoc Affairs Administrator
Physician Assistant*^
Program Officer
Public Health Researcher
Public Health Program Analyst/Evaluator
Speech-Language Pathologist*^
Technical/Medical writer
Technology Transfer Associate

Law Degree JD

Bioethicist
Intellectual Property/Patent Attorney*

Medical Degree MD/DO

Independent Clinical Researcher
Physician/Clinical Geneticist

Doctoral Degree Phd

Audiologist*^
Biocurator
College Professor (teaching focus)
Field Application Scientist 
Independent Basic Researcher 
Management Consulting 
Science Museum Director
Scientific Editor

Medical/Doctoral Degree

Clinical Laboratory Geneticist*
Medical Science Liaison
Science/Health Policy

Supplemental Career Research Dashboard

Additional Career Research Resources

  • O*NET  (click on Find Occupations)
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook  (type in general term for career of interest)
  • Firsthand (Explore a library of guides, articles, and other resources to help you explore careers, plan your job search, and learn about different work environments. Create a free account with your UGA email.)
  • Candid Career  (View professionals speaking about their careers under the "Resources" tab and select "Online Resources")
  • My Next Move (search by keyword)
  • ExploreHealthCareers.org (great overview of healthcare-related career fields)
  • UGA Mentor Program - Networking with your Bulldog family can help you get ahead in life and career, but where do you even start? The UGA Mentor Program narrows down the world of possibilities to meaningful connections.  It personalizes the mentoring experience; connecting you with mentors that are just right for your commitment.. There's a better way to network.  Visit mentor.uga.edu today and find a mentor who can help you see your future.

Employment Websites

GENERAL

  • Handshake - Login with your UGA myID and password to view thousands of jobs/internships from employers looking for UGA students
  • LinkedIn - Network with professionals and view job openings
  • GoinGlobal - Job/internship openings in countries abroad as well as country career guides providing information about finding employment in other countries. 
  • Idealist - Nonprofit Jobs
  • Indeed - General job search engine
  • USAJobs - Federal Jobs
  • Firsthand- Industry guides and resources

MAJOR/INDUSTRY SPECIFIC

Professional Associations/Resources

LINKEDIN

  • Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your career interests.  To search, select "groups" & type in your keywords.  
  • Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined & consider joining those as well.  
  • To login, visit the LinkedIn main page. 

Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2021 Genetics majors

The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2021 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Employer Position Title(s)
Allegheny Health Network Genetic Counseling Assistant
Alpharetta Pediatrics Genetics Coordinator
Ashley Baccari Genetic Counseling Assistant
Clearline Derm Medical Assistant
CryoLife, Inc. Dissector
Expression Therapeutics Research Scientist
Janet Westpheling Lab Technician
Janet Westpheling Lab Technician
Janet Westpheling Lab Technician
MUST Ministries Housing Administrative Assistant
Oakbrook Preparatory School Spanish Teacher
PreventionGenetics Laboratory Genetic Counseling Assistant
Project Safe Intern
Tempus Labs, Inc. Lead Research Associate Plater
UberPrints.com Customer Service Representative
* denotes no responses received.
*Source: Areas above marked with an Asterisk (*) have been created utilizing data taken from the UGA Career Outcomes Survey. The "Employers Hiring...," "Job Titles of...," "Career Outcomes for...," and "Graduate/Professional Schools and Programs..." information listed above represent UGA Class of 2021 Graduates. The lists are not exhaustive and therefore do not represent all potential career options. Click here for more detailed Career Outcomes information regarding this major.

Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2021 Genetics majors

The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2020 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Graduate School Program(s)
Auburn University Osteopathic Medicine, DO
Columbia University Public Health, MPH
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn Campus Osteopathic Medicine, DO
George Washington University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, PhD
Harvard University Medicine, MD
Mercer University Medicine, MD
University of Kentucky Medicine, MD
West Virginia University Medicine, MD
* denotes no responses received.

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