MSc in Integrative Genetics and Genomics in Davis United States | University of California Davis

The Integrative Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program enables students to utilize genomic, molecular, and traditional genetic techniques for studying model organisms, various native and cultivated species, humans, and domestic animals. This interdisciplinary program connects genetic research university-wide, bringing together over 100 faculty from more than 25 departments across multiple colleges and schools, including Biological Sciences, Letters and Science, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine. Participants gain access to exceptional research and educational opportunities spanning foundational to practical applications in integrative genetics and genomics.

Faculty from across the university offer diverse genetics-focused courses. The program also delivers specialized core curriculum that delivers advanced genetics education, covering contemporary topics like molecular, quantitative, population, and cytogenetics alongside genomics and bioinformatics. Doctoral candidates typically dedicate their initial two years to core and elective coursework, teaching assistantships, and lab research. In their first two quarters, Ph.D. students are advised to complete rotations in three or four selected labs before finalizing their research focus and primary advisor. By their third year, students undergo an oral qualifying examination to demonstrate genetic expertise and research proposal defense capabilities. Upon passing, they achieve candidacy and focus entirely on their scientific investigations for the remainder of their graduate studies.