The Laboratory of Genetics is excited to launch the new Genetics in a Modern World certificate! Beginning in Fall 2025, undergraduate students can add this interdisciplinary certificate to their degree plan. Designed to explore the role of genetics in society, health, agriculture, and the environment, this program equips students with the tools to understand and apply genetic concepts in a rapidly evolving world. See below for more information on what the certificate offers, how it fits into your degree plan, and how to get started.
Certificate Eligibility & Information
All undergraduate students at UW-Madison are eligible to declare and complete the Genetics in a Modern World Certificate. There are no prerequisites for declaring, and students pursuing the program are encouraged to declare as early as possible so that they can best align the coursework with their interests and plan their research experience.
Students declaring the certificate are expected to have read through all program requirements and policies, have a sense of what courses to take, and be able to complete all coursework without extending their degree timeline.
Still deciding if the certificate is the right fit, or if you have time? If you are unsure, we recommend taking a core course first (e.g. Genetics 133 and/or attending our informational session) or meeting with an advisor to learn more before officially declaring the certificate.
Declaring the Certificate
Students can declare the Genetics in a Modern World certificate in one of two ways: by completing a short online declaration form or by meeting with a Genetics academic advisor. We encourage all students to meet with an advisor to discuss how the certificate fits with their academic and career goals.
Program Requirements
This certificate equips students pursuing diverse academic paths with the knowledge to think critically about their unique place within the ever-changing landscape of genetic knowledge and application. Students will be called to engage in ethical, evidence-based discussions about the relationship between cutting-edge genetics research and our world in the classroom and beyond. See below for a list of approved courses and the requirements needed to complete the certificate.
Contact
Students may email the certificate advisors listed below with questions or to set up an advising appointment.
Ahna Skop
Position title: Professor
Email:
skop
Phone: 608-262-1593
Address:
Genetics, Medical Genetics
CSO, aMBR Genomics
Affiliate appointments in Life Science Communication and Art
Newly appreciated signaling organelle called the midbody (MB) and the midbody remnant (MBR)
Katie Vermillion Kalmon, PhD
Position title: Director of Undergraduate Studies and Assistant Teaching Professor
Email:
kvermillion
Phone: 608-265-2865
Address:
1424 Genetics Biotechnology Center