BS, Genetics and Genomics

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Wisconsin Madison

Program Overview

The Genetics and Genomics, B.S. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison explores how genetic material shapes life from the cellular level to populations, preparing students for fields including medicine, biotechnology, biomedical research and agriculture. Students build a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, physics and statistics before progressing into specialized areas such as human genetics, cancer, epigenetics, genomics and population genetics, with hands-on laboratory and faculty-led research opportunities.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:
Students establish their scientific foundation through courses such as CHEM 103 General Chemistry I, MATH 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1, and GENETICS 155 CALS First Year Seminar. The first year combines chemistry and mathematics with general education while introducing students to genetics faculty, research opportunities and the academic community.

Year 2:
The second year develops students' understanding of chemistry, biological sciences and statistics through courses such as CHEM 343 Organic Chemistry I, ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 151, and STAT 371 Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences. Students can also begin practical research through GENETICS 299 Independent Research, gaining experience in a faculty-led research environment.

Year 3:
Students move into the core genetics curriculum with GENETICS 467 General Genetics 1 and GENETICS 468 General Genetics 2, alongside BIOCHEM 501 Introduction to Biochemistry or the BIOCHEM 507/508 sequence. Physics and genetics depth or breadth courses broaden their understanding of biological systems and provide preparation for advanced genetics study.

Year 4:
The final year focuses on advanced genetics depth and breadth courses together with a capstone experience. Students can explore subjects such as GENETICS 564 Genomics and Proteomics, GENETICS 565 Human Genetics, GENETICS 525 Epigenetics, or GENETICS 662 Cancer Genetics, while research or thesis work can provide an additional practical dimension.

Focus Areas:

Genetics, genomics, human genetics, plant genetics, population genetics, cancer genetics, epigenetics, developmental genetics, neurogenetics, genomics and proteomics, biotechnology, biomedical research

Learning Outcomes:

Students learn to analyze gene and chromosome transmission, explain how DNA information is mutated and expressed, evaluate genetic variation using quantitative models, formulate research questions and design experiments using genetic tools and model organisms, and communicate scientific findings while applying teamwork, interpersonal and problem-solving skills.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Genetics and Genomics, B.S. provides preparation for careers and further study in medicine, public health, research, life sciences, biotechnology, agriculture, education, law and science communication. The official UW–Madison program page does not identify a separate professional accreditation for this bachelor's degree.

Reputation (Employability & Research):

UW–Madison's research environment provides a strong foundation for students interested in genetics and genomics. The university reports that it ranked 5th nationally for university research expenditures in the NSF's FY2024 HERD ranking, with $1.93 billion in research expenditures, highlighting the scale of research activity available across the institution.

The university also reports 400+ startups formed from UW research and identifies #12 among U.S. universities for patents granted in its official Points of Pride, reflecting the university's research and innovation ecosystem.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Genetics and Genomics, B.S. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has a strong hands-on component: all genetics and genomics majors participate in research experiences through laboratory coursework and opportunities to conduct independent research in faculty laboratories. Students can receive direct mentoring from faculty, staff and graduate students, and those pursuing research honors can complete hands-on research in campus labs and develop a thesis from their work.

The curriculum also provides several practical pathways, including GENETICS 545 Genetics Laboratory, GENETICS 299 Independent Study, GENETICS 399 Coordinative Internship/Cooperative Education, and senior honors research. Students can additionally gain international field experience through study-abroad opportunities, including a genetics and genomics program in Costa Rica typically offered each spring.

Key program-specific experiential opportunities and facilities include:

Faculty research laboratories: Students can conduct independent research in faculty-led labs, with hundreds of UW–Madison faculty members using genetic strategies in their research.
Genetics Laboratory: GENETICS 545 provides dedicated laboratory experience as part of the major's genetics requirements.
Independent research: GENETICS 299 Independent Study, GENETICS 699 Special Problems, and GENETICS 681/682 Senior Honors Thesis provide routes into supervised research.
Internship/cooperative education: GENETICS 399 Coordinative Internship/Cooperative Education is specifically included among the program's practical options.
Genomics and proteomics: Students can take GENETICS 564 Genomics and Proteomics, connecting the curriculum with modern genomic research approaches.
DNA sequencing facility: UW–Madison's DNA Sequencing Facility provides next-generation sequencing, whole-genome/exome sequencing, genotyping, methylation detection and metagenome sequencing, with training available. It is located in the Genetics-Biotechnology Center.
Genetics/Biotechnology Center: The Department of Genetics is based in the Genetics/Biotechnology Center at 425 Henry Mall, Madison, providing a direct connection to the university's genetics research environment.
Study abroad and field experience: The major offers short-term field experiences, summer research and semester exchanges; the Costa Rica program is specifically tailored to Genetics and Genomics majors and led by UW–Madison genetics faculty.
Student organizations and mentoring: The Undergraduate Genetics Association, Pre-Genetic Counseling Organization, and Genetics and Genomics Peer Mentorship Program provide opportunities for professional development, networking and engagement with the genetics community.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Genetics and Genomics, B.S. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison gives students a broad foundation for careers across biotechnology, genomics, healthcare, agriculture and scientific research. The program also provides a strong route into graduate and professional education, with coursework and research experiences that can support students pursuing advanced study.

Potential career roles include: Genetic Laboratory Technician, Genomics Research Assistant, Biotechnology Research Associate, Genetic Counseling Assistant.

Career development and longer-term opportunities include:

Career services: UW–Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Career Services provides career advising, internship and job-search support, career fairs, employer connections, resume assistance and interview preparation for CALS students.
Employment and salary information: UW–Madison provides career and employment information through its career resources and BuckyNet, where students can find internships and employment opportunities. The university does not publish a single salary figure specifically for graduates of the Genetics and Genomics B.S., so a program-specific salary should not be presented as an official UW–Madison statistic.
Research and industry connections: UW–Madison's Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) helps move university discoveries toward commercial applications and supports connections between UW–Madison research and industry. The university also reports more than 400 startups formed from UW research.
Biotechnology opportunities: The Genetics-Biotechnology Center brings together genetics and biotechnology research and includes facilities such as the DNA Sequencing Facility, giving students access to an extensive research ecosystem relevant to genomics and biotechnology.
Professional preparation: Students can use undergraduate research, internships, faculty mentoring and the Genetics and Genomics Peer Mentorship Program to build experience relevant to employment or graduate study.
Graduation outcomes: The Genetics and Genomics major prepares graduates for opportunities in medicine, public health, research, life sciences, biotechnology, agriculture, education, law and science communication, as well as postgraduate study.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the B.S., students can continue into graduate or professional programs depending on their career goals. Relevant pathways can include genetics, genomics, molecular and cellular biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, public health, genetic counseling and related life-science master's or doctoral programs, as well as professional programs such as medicine. UW–Madison's research environment also provides opportunities for students who want to progress into advanced research careers.