University Catalog 2024-2025

Genetics (Minor)

The Department of Genetics offers an undergraduate Minor in Genetics to provide students with strong preparation in the principles of Genetics and Molecular Biology, as well as preparation in ancillary fields such as Statistics and Biochemistry. This Minor is appropriate for (but not limited to) students with majors in Plant and Soil Sciences, Animal Science, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Crop Science, Environmental Technology, Mathematics, Microbiology, Natural Resources, Nutrition Science, Plant Biology, Poultry Science, and Zoology.

Admissions

Students may declare their intention to complete the Genetics minor by consulting with Dr. Gardner as listed below. Students are strongly encouraged to declare the minor early in their programs so they receive information on Genetics courses and activities from the Undergraduate Coordinator.

Certification

The advisor will certify the minor prior to graduation. The minor must be completed no later than the semester in which the student expects to graduate from his or her degree program.

Contact Person

Dr. Betty Gardner
2532 Thomas Hall
919.515.5776
bgardner@ncsu.edu

SIS Code: 17GNM

Plan Requirements

  • Completion of 17 credit hours -- 8 credit hours of required core courses and 9 credit hours of electives.
  • A grade of ‘C’ or better is required for all Genetics Minor courses.
  • No course used in the minor can be taken for credit only (S/U) with the exception of the Research/Teaching Experience courses.
  • Courses taken for the minor can also be used toward major requirements, GEP electives, or free electives.
  • At least 9 credit hours used toward the minor must be completed at NC State University.
  • The Genetics Minor is available to all students except those majoring in Genetics.
Required Core Courses
GN 311Principles of Genetics4
GN 312Elementary Genetics Laboratory1
GN 421Molecular Genetics (OR)3
or BCH 453 Biochemistry of Gene Expression
Elective Courses Category A
Select three credit hours from the following courses:3
Population, Quantitative and Evolutionary Genetics
Introductory Bioinformatics
Introduction to Machine Learning in Biology
Genes and Development
Human and Biomedical Genetics
Conservation Genetics
Genome Science
Epigenetics, Development, and Disease
Genetics Research/Teaching Experience (3 cr) 1
Elective Courses Category B
Select 6 credit hours from the following courses with at least 3 credit hours at the 300 level or higher.6
Agricultural Genetics 2
Animal Genetic Improvement
Introduction to Evolution
Quantitative Approaches to Biological Problems
Evolutionary Biology
Developmental Biology
Evolutionary Medicine
RNA Interference and Model Organisms
Plant Genetic Engineering
Metagenomics
High-Throughput Discovery
Yeast Metabolic Engineering
Plant Genetics 2
Plant Breeding
Forest Tree Genetics and Biology
Genetics in Human Affairs
Agricultural Genetics 2
Microbial Biotechnology
Introduction to Plant Biotechnology
Total Hours17
1

Course options include GN 496 Genetics Research Experience, GN 497 Genetics Teaching Experience, BSC 498 Biological Sciences Honors Project Part 2, and ALS 499 Honors Research or Teaching II. To use any of these toward the Genetics Minor, the experience must involve a genetics topic and must be approved in writing by the Director of the Undergraduate Genetics Program prior to beginning the project.

2

Course must be taken prior to GN 311 in order to count for the Genetics minor.