What is genetics?
Genetics is the study of how DNA, along with the environment, specifies simple traits like hair color to more complex traits like high blood pressure, diabetes and mental illness. Geneticists are also interested in how these traits are inherited and regulated. Genetics is a very broad field of study, encompassing topics such as evolution, genetic engineering, genomics, bioinformatics, and the genetics of microbes, plants and animals.This minor can help you prepare for work in biotechnology fields or for entry into graduate school or health professional programs.
Why study genetics at UNH?
Students in the genetics minor interact with faculty committed to excellence in teaching, research and student advising.Our teaching labs provide hands-on training in current research techniques. Genetics faculty conduct research on diverse topics including evolution, gene structure and function, host-microbe interactions, genome sequencing and analysis, heredity,and diversity in populations.
Potential career areas
- Biotechnology
- Forensic science
- Genetic counseling
- Healthcare Research
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Taking her place in a welcoming community for women in STEMCarrie Hill ’25 is a biology major and triple minor in biomedical science, genetics and psychology.Learn More
Curriculum & Requirements
Students in other majors who wish to develop a focus in the area of genetics and genomics can complement their major academic program with a minor in genetics.
The minor consists of a minimum of 20 credits, completed with a grade of C-minus or better.
- No more than 8 credits used to fulfill major requirements may be used for the minor.
- Minimum grade of C (2.00) is required in courses that the minor department approves.
- Pass/fail courses cannot be used for the minor.
Students must file an Intent to Minor form with the GEN minor advisor by the end of the junior year and complete a Certification of Completion of Minor form during the final semester at UNH.
A maximum of 4 credits of GEN 795 Investigations in Genetics may be used to fulfill minor requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| GEN 604 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission/Population Genetics Courses | ||
| Select at least one course from: | ||
| GEN 705 | Population Genetics | 3 |
| GEN 725 | Population Genetics Lab | 2 |
| GEN 706 | Human Genetics | 4 |
| GEN 713 | Microbial Ecology and Evolution | 4 |
| GEN 715 | Molecular Evolution | 4 |
| GEN 772 | Evolutionary Genetics of Plants | 4 |
| ANSC 612 | Genetics of Animals | 0 or 4 |
| NR 664 | Conservation Genetics and Applied Evolution | 4 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular Genetics Courses | ||
| Select at least one course from: | ||
| GEN 704 | Microbial Genetics and Genomics | 5 |
| GEN 711 | Genomics and Bioinformatics | 4 |
| GEN 712 | Programming for Bioinformatics | 5 |
| GEN 717 | Molecular Microbiology | 5 |
| GEN 721 | Comparative Genomics | 4 |
| GEN 771 | Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| GEN #774 | Techniques in Plant Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology | 4 |
| BMCB 754 | Molecular Biology Research Methods | 5 |
