BS in Genetics

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

North Carolina State University Raleigh

Program Overview

The BS in Genetics at North Carolina State University gives students a strong foundation in genetics and the biological sciences while combining classroom learning with hands-on research, scientific communication, and problem-solving. It suits students interested in biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, healthcare, genetic counseling, research, or further professional and graduate study, with opportunities to add a concurrent minor in areas such as statistics or biotechnology.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with the fundamentals of life sciences through BIO 181: Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity and BIO 183: Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology, supported by chemistry and mathematics. Courses such as CH 101: Chemistry – A Molecular Science, CH 221: Organic Chemistry I, and MA 131: Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A establish the scientific and quantitative foundation needed for advanced genetics study.

Second Year: The curriculum moves into more specialized science, including GN 311: Principles of Genetics and GN 312: Elementary Genetics Laboratory, where students begin developing practical genetics knowledge and laboratory skills. Students also study CH 201: Chemistry – A Quantitative Science, CH 223: Organic Chemistry II, statistics, and a cell biology or physiology course.

Third Year: Students progress into advanced genetics through GN 421: Molecular Genetics and GN 423: Population, Quantitative and Evolutionary Genetics, developing an understanding of genes, molecular processes, populations, and evolutionary patterns. The year also includes GN 425: Advanced Genetics Laboratory, a genetics elective, biochemistry, physics, and a High Impact Learning Experience that strengthens research and practical skills.

Fourth Year: The final year allows students to tailor their studies through advanced Genetics Electives and Restricted Electives, alongside PY 212: College Physics II and general education requirements. Elective choices can extend into areas such as GN 427: Introductory Bioinformatics, GN 441: Human and Biomedical Genetics, GN 451: Genome Science, GN 456: Epigenetics, Development, and Disease, and GN 496: Genetics Research Experience.

Focus areas: Molecular genetics, population and evolutionary genetics, human and biomedical genetics, genome science, bioinformatics, epigenetics, conservation genetics, genetics research, biotechnology, and scientific communication.

Learning outcomes: Students develop knowledge of molecular genetics and gene regulation, population and quantitative genetics, data collection and analysis, laboratory and computational techniques, experimental design, hypothesis development, scientific problem-solving, and communication of research findings through presentations, posters, laboratory reports, or mini-theses.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The BS in Genetics is not listed among NC State’s specialized professionally accredited academic programs; NC State’s official accreditation information separately identifies accredited programs in areas such as Chemistry, Biological Engineering, Architecture, and Veterinary Medicine.

Reputation (employability rankings): NC State reported a QS undergraduate employability ranking of #101–110 in 2022, while its 2023 QS listing transitioned to the “Employment Outcomes” category; these are university-level figures and are not specific to the Genetics BS.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS in Genetics at North Carolina State University gives students substantial hands-on preparation through laboratory courses, active research, and high-impact learning experiences. Students work with genetics concepts through elementary and advanced genetics laboratories, learn to design experiments and analyze results, and can gain research experience with NC State faculty across a broad university-wide genetics community. The program also emphasizes reading primary literature and communicating research findings through presentations, laboratory reports, posters, and other scientific formats.

Hands-on research and laboratory experience: Students can choose from dedicated research courses and high-impact experiences that include Genetics Research Experience, Cell Biology Research Lab, Phage Genomics, Portable Genome Sequencing, Metagenomics, RNA Interference and Model Organisms, Protein Interactions, and Virus Biotechnology. The curriculum also includes GN 312 Elementary Genetics Laboratory and GN 425 Advanced Genetics Laboratory.
Research opportunities: Undergraduate students can find faculty research and science employment opportunities through CURiOuS (Connecting Undergraduates to Research Opportunities in the Sciences), while the Genetics Program provides access to research across more than 90 faculty members and multiple departments and colleges.
Genomic Sciences Laboratory: Students participating in research can benefit from NC State's Genomic Sciences Laboratory, which provides access to Sanger sequencing, genotyping, next-generation sequencing, Illumina platforms, PacBio long-read sequencing, qPCR, digital droplet PCR, DNA/RNA extraction and sample-quality analysis. The laboratory also supports bioinformatics resources for genomics research.
Bioinformatics and computational tools: The Genetics Program's research facilities include the Bioinformatics Research Center and dedicated bioinformatics tools and software, supporting computational approaches to genetics and genomics alongside laboratory research.
Advanced research facilities: Students involved in supervised research can access facilities including the Nucleic Acids Facility, Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Laboratory, Cellular and Molecular Imaging Facility, Mass Spectrometry Facility (Proteomics), Biomolecular NMR Facility, X-ray Structural Facility, Plant Transformation Laboratory, and Center for Electron Microscopy.
Research buildings and laboratories: Thomas Hall houses genetics and microbiology research laboratories as well as undergraduate laboratories, while David Clark Labs contains biological sciences laboratories. The Ricks Hall complex houses the Bioinformatics Research Center, and the Toxicology Building is located on NC State's Centennial Campus, a technology-focused community involving university, industry, and government partners.
Field and applied research resources: Genetics students can also benefit from field space, greenhouse facilities, and the Phytotron for plant genetics experiments, along with the Biological Resources Facility for research involving animal models where appropriate.
Scientific communication and outreach: Students gain practical communication experience by reading primary research literature and presenting papers and research findings, while the Genetics outreach program provides opportunities for public service and engagement.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS in Genetics at North Carolina State University gives students a strong foundation for careers in biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, healthcare, genetic counseling, biological research, and agricultural research. Its emphasis on hands-on research, primary literature, scientific communication, and problem-solving also prepares graduates for professional schools and advanced graduate study.

Typical job roles: Geneticist, Research Technician, Biotechnology Specialist, Laboratory Scientist

Career and employment support:

Academic and career advising: Department of Biological Sciences advisers help students plan coursework, connect with NC State resources, and pursue undergraduate research, internships, volunteer experiences, and study-abroad opportunities.
Research opportunities: Students can access CURiOuS (Connecting Undergraduates to Research Opportunities in the Sciences) and research opportunities across NC State’s Genetics Program.
Employment preparation: Genetics graduates are prepared for careers in biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and industries based on biological and agricultural research, as well as research and healthcare settings.
Employment and salary: NC State reports an average salary of $43,742 for May 2025 bachelor’s degree recipients in Genetics. This is the university’s reported major-level salary figure; the official source does not state a Genetics-specific employment rate.
University–industry connections: NC State’s Genetics and Genomics Academy identifies pathways from Genetics into biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, agricultural research, bioinformatics, genetic counseling, and other genetics-related industries, supported by the university’s broad network of research programs and participating faculty across departments and colleges.
Professional preparation: Students gain experience in reading primary scientific literature, presenting research findings, scientific communication, and hands-on problem-solving, all of which can strengthen applications for scientific employment and professional schools.
Long-term accreditation: North Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), providing institutional accreditation and an established framework for academic quality and degree recognition.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can progress into research, healthcare, genetic counseling, biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, biological and agricultural research, medical school, dental school, veterinary school, and graduate research programs.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS, students can pursue NC State’s Genetics and Genomics M.R., M.S., or Ph.D. programs. The graduate program covers areas including biomedical genetics, computational genetics and bioinformatics, evolutionary and population genetics, and molecular, cellular and developmental genetics. NC State also offers an Accelerated Bachelor’s-Master’s pathway that allows eligible students to complete the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years.