Genes affect our development, our health, and even aspects of our behaviors and personalities. DNA is the foundation of all life on Earth, yet each organism has unique genetic characteristics and functions. Genetics provides a common link between species that help us to identify shared traits and history, furthering our understanding of the fundamental properties of life, and can lead to discoveries that benefit health, society, and the environment.
The Genetics major offers a foundation in biological principles with specialized courses in genetics at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. As a Genetics major, you learn to identify, alter, or manage the fundamental molecular and cellular properties of life.
Keywords: medicine, health careers, gene therapy, genetic engineering, biotechnology, advanced research, laboratory science, pharmaceutical areas, heredity, ancestry research, genetic counseling.
Other majors in the Biological Sciences:
| Botany | Biology | Biochemistry |
| Zoology | Microbiology | Neuroscience |
| Environment & Sustainability | Health & Human Kinetics |
At OWU, Genetics majors have opportunities to participate in distinctive learning and field experiences. You could find yourself collaborating with a professor on innovative research, co-authoring a report on study results, and attending and presenting at a conference.
Ohio Wesleyan's Summer Scholarship and Research Program (SSRP) is an intensive 10-week research experience. Participants work side-by-side with a professor and present research results at the concluding college-wide symposium.
At OWU, you connect the classroom and the real world. A Theory-to-Practice Grant could fund your original research, internship, or creative project anywhere in the world.
You can bring learning to life and apply for a grant to expand and enhance your undergraduate experience.
Build your experience and connections to the professional world with internships at research centers, universities, and other organizations.
Recent OWU students have completed internships and received small grants to synthesize their studies.
Our labs are equipped to support a wide diversity of molecular and cellular level study, including PCR, qPCR, and protein biochemistry. We have sophisticated microscopy equipment, such as a confocal microscope for high-resolution fluorescent imaging and a Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope for even higher resolution images. These are accessible to both students and faculty for courses and advanced independent research. At OWU, multiple organisms are studied at the genetic level, including worms, fruit flies, plants, bacteria, and yeast.
Ohio Wesleyan offers an uncommonly wide range of options for the study of biology, because it is one of only a few small colleges with two closely integrated life science departments: Botany & Microbiology and Zoology. This structure allows our program to offer a larger diversity of specialty courses in sub-disciplines across the biological sciences than do many other schools of our size.
In addition to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities on campus, there are also two museum facilities that serve the program: a museum for Zoology and a herbarium for Botany and Microbiology. The Kraus and Bohannan nature preserves, 80 and 50 acres respectively, are close to campus. Several other nearby facilities within easy driving range provide internship opportunities, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Laboratories, nearby hospitals, Stratford Ecological Center, Ohio Wildlife Center, veterinary clinics, and the Columbus Zoo.
At OWU, Claire completed rigorous laboratory coursework and research in the biological sciences. She now works part-time as a Pharmacy Technician at Walgreens in South Solon, Ohio, supporting customer care and pharmaceutical services.
