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.
Class of 2021 Career Outcomes for Genetics*
** Includes Self-Employed
Campus Resources
- UGA Department of Genetics Homepage
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Student Organizations through Involvement Network (try Genetics Graduate Student Association, Plant Breeding Genetics and Genomics Graduate Student Association, Genetic Education Network and Experience Society)
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Connect with your Career Consultant for help with job searching, resumes, interviewing skills, career options, applying to grad school, and much more
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Connect with your Academic Advisor
- Find research opportunities by reaching out via email to faculty in your department or outside of it based on your research interests; Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) at UGA can help support you (off campus research opportunities: Research Experiences for Undergraduates)
- If you're interested in a healthcare career, connect with the UGA Pre-Health Advising Office to meet your pre-health advisor and for more information
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
- American Society for Microbiology
- Careers, American Institute of Biological Science
- SCA – Internships; Gap Years (room/board/stipend)
- Top USA Jobs.Com-Microbiology
- Georgia Bio Job Board (Atlanta-area biotechnology group offering networking events and career resources
- Explore Careers- American Society of Human Genetics
- Environmental Jobs & Careers
Professional Associations/Resources
- American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)
- National Society of Genetic Counselors
- American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- American Institute of Biological Science
- American Society for Microbiology
- Society of Integrative & Comparative Biology
- 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) |
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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 |
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) |
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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 |