Currently, students are admitted to the Ph.D. program and to the MS program
The University of Arizona has a rich history of genetics research, representing the entire range of model, experimental, and applied biological systems. Geneticists at the University of Arizona study genetic model organisms - such as Drosophila and yeasts - the genetics of crop plants and animals of agricultural importance, microbial genetics and virology, evolutionary and conservation genetics, and of course the genetics of human beings and their families with a focus on how their genetics relate to health and disease. Our faculty's research is highly impactful, and we are internationally recognized for innovative work, often covering many branches of knowledge within genetics and integrating with "non-genetic" fields of biology. Our investigators collaborate often, with others at the University of Arizona and with others across the United States and throughout the world.
The study of genes, their functions, their interactions, and their inheritance will prepare you for a wide variety of possible careers. Your training at the University of Arizona will prepare you for life-long learning and high impact research in all of the biological and biomedical fields because the concepts of genetics inform all other areas of research.
Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs - http://gidp.arizona.edu/
The Graduate College sponsors several Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIDPs) in addition to the many interdisciplinary possibilities available through regular graduate degree programs. GIDPs transcend departmental boundaries by facilitating cutting edge teaching and research at the nexus of traditional disciplines. The high value placed on interdisciplinary research and education is indicative of The University of Arizona's enthusiasm and commitment to fostering innovation and creativity among its faculty and students.
Students must complete a total of 63 semester units of coursework in the major and minor subject areas in order to complete the degree:
Major. 36 units of coursework, combining units from the core curriculum and units from the student's specific area of interest as detailed in the PoS. Other units come from independent study and research credits.
Minor. No less than 9 units of coursework as required by the graduate program in which the student is minoring.
Dissertation units. At least 18 units of GENE 920 dissertation credit are taken after successful completion of the comprehensive examinations.
The Genetics Program has one required genetics course CMM 518 Fundamental Genetic Mechanisms. This three-credit course help in the fall semester covers a broad range of topics in science of heredity and genetics of DNA and chromosome transactions. Students learn to analyze and evaluate the primary literature, to solve complex problems in genetics, and to present oral communications of and to prepare written reports of old and new concepts in genetics.
Genetics Program students must select additional courses to complete their PoS. Courses are generally at the will of the student and the student's advisory committee. However, to assure sufficient breadth for the students of the Genetics Program, students must choose one course from each of two of three lists, determined by the Genetics Curriculum Committee and maintained on the Genetics GIDP web page. The three lists are broadly divided into three categories: Organismal Genetics; Biochemistry; Genomics, Informatics, and Population Genetics. For example, a student must pass CMM518, and one course from Organismal Genetics, and one from Biochemistry, or he or she may pass CMM518 and one from Organismal Genetics and one from Genomics, Informatics, and Population Genetics.
The inclusion of a new course offered by the University on one of the lists can be done by your advisor by contacting the Genetics Curriculum Committee, the Chair, or the Vice-Chair of the GIDP.
Students are required to take an ethics course in their first year. To satisfy this requirement, students may take MCB 695E Science Society and Ethics; SPH 649 Survival Skills and Ethics; or PHCL595B Scientific Writing Skills and Ethics.
Although there is no specific requirement in the Genetics program for students to perform teaching assistantships; students are required to master the art of science communication. As part of satisfaction of this requirement, students must attend and participate in the graduate seminar course GENE 670 Advances in Genetics for a minimum of eight semesters. In this course, students learn to present their own work and the work of others to a broad audience of faculty and students on a regular basis. Students are also required to present in annual retreats of the Program.