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Bachelor of Science (Genetics and Genomics)

Bachelor of Science (Genetics and Genomics)

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Entry Points (2023)
521

Course Overview

Genetics and Genomics are fast evolving and exciting areas of the biological sciences involving the study and use of DNA based data. Genetics is the study of how the DNA molecule is the blueprint for functionality in every cell and also how it acts as the code that passes information from one generation to the next. Cutting edge DNA sequencing technologies can now generate vast quantities of genetic data. Genomics is the study and analysis of these DNA-based data with the goal of making important discoveries in areas such as medicine, agriculture, evolution, the environment and biotechnology.

This programme aims to provide students with an inter-disciplinary educational experience that uniquely combines biology with mathematics and data science. Students in this programme will have the opportunity to study abroad in third year and to complete a research project in mathematical or computational biology, bioinformatics or molecular genetics in final year.

Graduates from this programme will have the following attributes:

Expertise in biological processes, systems and mechanisms, with in-depth understanding of specific areas in human and animal health and disease. 
Theoretical and practical laboratory skills in genetics and genomics, combined with computational and analytical skills enabling a unique skillset for multiple careers.
Creative problem-solving abilities, either working independently or collaboratively as part of a team.
Critical and objective thinking skills, demonstrating curiosity and independence of thought with an ability to synthesise, summarise and analyse data.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Professional awareness of scientific integrity and associated ethical implications of scientific activities.
Effective leadership and project management skills to solve new challenges.
Competitiveness for postgraduate education and career opportunities in the global public, private, and academic sectors.

 

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

This course is taught by academic staff from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. Lecturers include:

 

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four additional subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, a laboratory science subject (i.e. Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint),Computer Science or Agricultural Science) and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Additional Requirements

Minimum grade H5 or O1 in Mathematics.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

4 years

Next start date

September 2024

A Level Grades (2023)

universityofgalway.ie/alevels

Average intake

20

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

4 (More Info)

Closing Date
NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

GY321

Course code

Course Outline

Graduates will be uniquely trained to integrate knowledge and skills from the biological sciences with mathematical, computational and data analytic skills. This multi-disciplinary course covers a range of biological, mathematical and computer science topics:

  • Medicine: the genetic basis of rare and common human diseases and how genomics uncovers genes that contribute to illness.
  • Agri-bioscience: the genetic and biological origins of agriculture; food security and sustainable development.
  • Microbiology: microbial genetics and key medical and environmental impacts of microorganisms.
  • Evolution: evolutionary biology, including natural selection and the genetic mechanisms that shape evolution.
  • Informatics:  computer programming and mathematical and algorithmic methods to solve problems in molecular genetics.

The final year project will allow students to apply their knowledge in a research laboratory.

Students will benefit from group learning in a small class size, and will graduate with a broad range of skills including communication, teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving. These skills are called transferable because they will transfer and be useful in a broad range of careers post-graduation.

Your Course Year by Year

Year One

  • Biology
  • Chemistry: Molecular Science
  • Mathematics (Honours)
  • Introduction to Genetics & Genomics
  • Computer Science
  • Genetics and Genomics: Research and Communication

Year Two

  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Protein Structure and Function
  • Evolution and the Tree of Life
  • Laboratory Skills in Microbiology I
  • Statistics in Data Science I
  • Statistics in Data Science II
  • Mathematical Molecular Biology I
  • Genetics and Genomics II
  • Gene Technologies and Molecular Medicine
  • Microbes and the Environment
  • Agri-Biosciences
  • Genetics and Genomics: Seminars and Essays

Year Three

  • Molecular Biology
  • Microbial Genomics
  • Cell Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics Data Analysis I
  • Genomics Data Analysis II
  • Career Development and Employability Skills
  • Human Molecular Genetics
  • Introduction to Bioinformatics
  • The Dynamic Genome
  • Electives (optional modules) in: Developmental Biology, Applied Statistics I, Programming for Science and Finance, Microbial Metabolic and Molecular Systems, Plant and Agricultural Genetics, Immunology and Recombinant Techniques, Mathematical Molecular Biology II, Applied Statistics II

Year Four

  • Research Project
  • Literature Review and Poster Presentation
  • Modern Biotechnologies
  • Molecular & Cellular Biology
  • Medical Genomics I (rare and complex disease genomics)
  • Medical Genomics II (cancer genomics)
  • Advanced Chromosome Biology
  • Current Topics in Bioscience
  • Machine and Deep Learning for Genomics

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits
You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module
An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject
Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional
A module you may choose to study.
Required
A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject
A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester
Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

RequiredMA180: Mathematics (Honours) - 15 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredCS103: Computer Science - 5 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredBO101: Biology - 15 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredCH120: Chemistry: Molecular Science - 15 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredBI1101: Introduction to Genetics & Genomics - 5 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredBI1102: Biomedical Genomics: Research and Communication - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Year 2 (60 Credits)

RequiredBI208: Protein Structure and Function - 5 Credits - Semester 3
RequiredBO201: Molecular and Cellular Biology - 5 Credits - Semester 3
RequiredBO202: Evolution and the Tree of Life - 5 Credits - Semester 3
RequiredMI202: Laboratory Skills in Microbiology I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
RequiredST2001: Statistics for Data Science 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 3
RequiredMA215: Mathematical Molecular Biology I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
RequiredBI2101: Genetics and Genomics II - 5 Credits - Semester 3
RequiredBI206: Gene Technologies and Molecular Medicine - 5 Credits - Semester 4
RequiredMI204: Microbes and the Environment - 5 Credits - Semester 4
RequiredST2002: Statistics for Data Science 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 4
RequiredPAB2101: AgriBiosciences - 5 Credits - Semester 4
RequiredBI2102: Genetics and Genomics: Seminars and Essays - 5 Credits - Semester 4

Year 3 (60 Credits)

OptionalMI326: Microbial Metabolic and Molecular Systems - 5 Credits - Semester 5
OptionalST311: Applied Statistics I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
OptionalCS2101: Programming for Science and Finance - 5 Credits - Semester 5
OptionalBO3101: Developmental Biology - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredMI3101: Microbial Genomics - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredBI319: Molecular Biology - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredBI309: Cell Biology - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredZO317: Evolutionary Biology - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredMA5111: Genomics Data Analysis I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredBI3103: Career Development and Employability Skills - 5 Credits - Semester 5
OptionalMI324: Immunology and Recombinant Techniques - 5 Credits - Semester 6
OptionalST312: Applied Statistics II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
OptionalMA216: Mathematical Molecular Biology II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
OptionalPAB3103: Plant and Agricultural Genetics - 5 Credits - Semester 6
RequiredBI317: Human Molecular Genetics - 5 Credits - Semester 6
RequiredBI3102: The Dynamic Genome - 5 Credits - Semester 6
RequiredMA324: Introduction to Bioinformatics (Honours) - 5 Credits - Semester 6
RequiredMA5112: Genomics Data Analysis II - 5 Credits - Semester 6

Year 4 (60 Credits)

RequiredBI446: Current Topics in Bioscience - 5 Credits - Semester 7
RequiredBI448: Modern Biotechnologies - 5 Credits - Semester 7
RequiredBI453: Biochemistry Research Project - 15 Credits - Semester 7
RequiredMA5106: Medical Genomics 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 7
RequiredMA5111: Genomics Data Analysis I - 5 Credits - Semester 7
RequiredBI429: Advanced Chromosome Biology - 5 Credits - Semester 8
RequiredBI447: Literature Review and Presentation - 10 Credits - Semester 8
RequiredMA5107: Medical Genomics II - 5 Credits - Semester 8
RequiredMA5112: Genomics Data Analysis II - 5 Credits - Semester 8

Further Education

Graduates can pursue a higher degree (MSc/PhD) at University of Galway or in other national or international universities. Example Masters courses at University of Galway would include:

MSc in Biomedical/Computational Genomics

MSc in Biomedical Science

MSc in Biotechnology

MSc in Cancer Research

MSc in Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security

MSc in Neuropharmacology/Toxicology

MSc in Clinical Neuroscience

 

Top graduates may progress directly to PhD studies in diverse areas such as biomedical science, agri-bioscience, microbiology, evolution, informatics and data science where genetics and genomics is an important component of the research project. Other graduates may study for professional qualifications in areas such as Medicine or Education.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

There is growing demand for individuals that have both an in-depth understanding of genetics and the numerical and computer skills required to investigate and interpret genomic data. This will offer our graduates opportunities in genomic and life science companies, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, forensics and clinical diagnostics, biomedical devices and therapeutics, public health and epidemiology, agricultural and environmental sectors, as well as the information technology sector.

Summer Internships

Students have the opportunity to apply for summer research studentships (e.g., from the Wellcome Trust and Health Research Board, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences) to support eight week paid internships in university-based research laboratories in the summer between 3rd and 4th Year. This is an excellent opportunity for students to experience a research environment and learn new skills that will be useful when completing their final year research project.

Study Abroad

Students have the opportunity to complete an Erasmus exchange for one semester of 3rd Year at Uppsala University in Sweden or the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Additional opportunities to study in the United States (e.g., University of California) or in Asia (e.g., Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) are also available. At these universities, students will study a range of subjects related to Genetics and Genomics and experience student life in a different environment and culture.

Small Class Size

Students will benefit from group learning in a small class size with an average intake of 25 students.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Students have the opportunity to apply for summer research studentships (e.g., from the Wellcome Trust and Health Research Board) to support eight week paid internships in university-based research laboratories in the summer between 3rd and 4th Year. This is an excellent opportunity for students to experience a research environment and learn new skills that will be useful when completing their final year research project.

   

Study Abroad

Students have the opportunity to apply to spend one semester of 3rd Year in the United States (e.g., University of California) or in Asia (e.g., Hong Kong University of Science and Technology). At these universities, students will be able to study a range of subjects related to Genetics and Genomics as a well as experiencing student life in a different environment and culture.

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€7,268 p.a. (€7,408 p.a. including levy) 2024/25

Fees: Tuition

€4,268 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

€26,000 p.a. (€26,140 p.a. including levy) 2024/25


EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy** €140.  **Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI.  Further detail here.

Find out More

Dr Derek Morris
Programme Director
E: derek.morris@universityofgalway.ie
T:+353 91 494439

Dr Elaine Dunleavy
Deputy Programme Director
E: elaine.dunleavy@universityofgalway.ie
T:+353 91 404046

 

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