Which Schools in California Offer Master’s Programs in Human Genetics & Genomics?

California leads genomics innovation—home to pioneering biotechnology firms, world-class research institutions, and healthcare systems integrating genetic insights into patient care. For biology graduates, the state offers distinct pathways into this transformative field.

Understanding which programs align with your career goals matters more than simply identifying institutions. This guide examines California’s genetics graduate programs and explains why Southern California University of Health Sciences‘ Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomics addresses evolving biotechnology career demands.

Explore SCU’s MS in Human Genetics and Genomics program to understand how the curriculum prepares graduates for biotechnology, research, and clinical applications.

California’s Genetics Graduate Programs

California offers two distinct genetics pathways:

Genetic Counseling Programs (ACGC-accredited) prepare students for patient counseling, combining medical genetics with psychosocial skills. Graduates work in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and specialty clinics after completing clinical rotations and board certification through ABGC.

Human Genetics Programs emphasize genomics research, biotechnology applications, and bioinformatics. These target industry positions, laboratory management, and pharmaceutical development rather than direct patient care.

California’s Six ACGC-Accredited Genetic Counseling Programs

1. Southern California University of Health Sciences – SCU offers an accredited program integrating online coursework with fieldwork practicum, emphasizing interprofessional education.
2. University of California, Los Angeles – UCLA’s program leverages close ties with the Institute for Precision Health and Department of Human Genetics, emphasizing evidence-based practice and ethical considerations.
3. Stanford University – Launched 2008, Stanford’s 84-unit program balances genomics technology with psychosocial counseling and research training. Students complete approximately six quarters of diverse rotations.
4. Keck Graduate Institute – KGI’s 70-credit program spans 21 months with Year 1 didactic coursework in Claremont and Year 2 experiential education through California clinical partners.
5. Charles R. Drew University – CDU’s hybrid program combines online didactics with mandatory on-campus activities, accepting students nationwide with clinical rotation flexibility.
6. University of California, Irvine – Established 1973, UCI’s program operates within the Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine with clinical rotations across Southern California facilities. Over 200 graduates have entered the profession.
   

Human Genetics Programs: The Research Alternative

SCU’s Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomics represents California’s primary online program for genomics-centered biotechnology careers. Unlike genetic counseling programs, MSHGG provides comprehensive genomics knowledge for research, computational analysis, and biotechnology development rather than clinical counseling.

Program Evaluation Criteria

Accreditation

ACGC accreditation is mandatory for genetic counseling careers—only graduates qualify for board certification and licensure. Human genetics programs require institutional accreditation; SCU holds WASC Senior College and University Commission recognition.

Curriculum and Career Alignment

Genetic counseling programs produce clinicians interpreting test results and supporting families. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, genetic counselors earned a median $98,910 annually in May 2024, with California averaging $122,594. Employment growth projects 9% expansion through 2034.

Human genetics graduates enter biotechnology research, laboratory specialization, bioinformatics, and pharmaceutical development. Computational biologists average $102,226 annually, with roles spanning pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic laboratories, and research institutions.

Why SCU’s MSHGG Program Excels

Accelerated Online Format

The 36-credit program operates entirely online through asynchronous delivery, enabling one-year completion for full-time students versus traditional two-year programs. Each 7.5-week block allows full-time students two courses, part-time students one course—removing geographic barriers while maintaining rigor.

Contemporary Curriculum

MSHGG integrates classical genetics with cutting-edge applications:

• Population genetics and genetic genealogy
• Genomic variant analysis and advanced sequencing technologies
• Precision medicine and multi-dimensional data integration
• Microbial genomics and epigenetics
• Gene therapies, synthetic biology, and ELSI considerations

This breadth prepares graduates for diverse genomics ecosystem roles.

Pre-Genetic Counseling Option

The 48-credit concentration adds counseling psychology coursework, strengthening applications to competitive genetic counseling programs while building genomics foundations.

Interprofessional Learning

SCU operates as a multi-disciplinary health sciences university with programs in chiropractic, acupuncture, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, and clinical psychology. MSHGG students experience how different disciplines approach patient care—essential as genomics permeates all medical specialties.

Core Competencies

Seven learning outcomes target biotechnology employer priorities:

1. Classical genetics knowledge (Mendelian inheritance, molecular cell biology, genotype-phenotype relationships)
2. Genomic technology understanding
3. Modern genomics expertise (structure, function, annotation, variant analysis)
4. Information literacy and critical assessment
5. Analytical thinking and problem-solving
6. Professional communication
7. Bioethics application

Accessible Admission

Requirements balance selectivity with accessibility:

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited institution
• Minimum 2.7 GPA (competitive applicants exceed this)
• 18 semester credits in life/physical sciences (waived for life sciences majors)
• No GRE requirement

Missing prerequisites? SCU offers Accelerated Science courses for competency demonstration.

Financial Predictability

Fixed-Rate Tuition Guarantee maintains constant rates throughout enrollment. SCU compares favorably to genetic counseling program costs with compressed timelines.

Career Pathways

Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries

California’s biotech hubs—San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Southern California—host companies like Genentech, Illumina, and Invitae seeking:

• Research associates conducting laboratory experiments
• Bioinformatics specialists analyzing genomic datasets
• Clinical research coordinators managing trials
• Variant scientists interpreting genomic variants
• Product development scientists translating research

Academic and Research Institutions

Universities employ genetics graduates as laboratory managers, research scientists, bioinformatics analysts, and grant writers. California’s UC system, Stanford, and Caltech provide substantial opportunities.

Healthcare and Clinical Laboratories

Hospitals and diagnostic laboratories need professionals bridging genetics knowledge and clinical application—developing testing protocols, interpreting variants, educating providers, and implementing precision medicine.

Emerging Sectors

Novel paths include forensic genomics, agricultural genetics, environmental genomics, public health genomics, and healthcare consulting.

Graduate Outcomes & Industry Connections

SCU’s MSHGG program is explicitly designed for biotechnology, diagnostic laboratories, and research roles. The fully online format accelerates job readiness through a career-focused curriculum emphasizing practical genomics applications. SCU provides comprehensive student services and career resources supporting placement and employer outreach.

California’s Top Genomics Employer Hubs:

• Greater Los Angeles: Biotechnology firms, diagnostic laboratories, and research institutions throughout LA County and Orange County
• San Diego: Illumina, Scripps Research, and hundreds of genomics startups and pharmaceutical companies
• Bay Area: Genentech, Pacific Biosciences, UCSF research facilities, and Silicon Valley biotech ventures

Prospective students can request specific placement data and graduate outcomes information directly from SCU admissions to understand employment patterns and industry connections relevant to their career goals.

Making Your Decision

Learning Format

Online programs suit students working full-time, preferring self-paced learning, or living outside metropolitan areas. Traditional programs benefit those thriving in face-to-face environments seeking immersive experiences.

Application Strength

Competitive applications demonstrate strong science foundations, relevant laboratory experience, clear career articulation, strong faculty recommendations, and professional presentation.

The Path Forward

California offers robust genetics education infrastructure. Choose genetic counseling programs for direct patient interaction and clinical genetics work. Choose human genetics programs for research, biotechnology, computational genomics, or pharmaceutical development.

SCU’s MSHGG serves biology graduates seeking flexible, accelerated entry into genomics-centered careers. The online delivery, contemporary curriculum, and one-year option create accessible pathways for professionals and recent graduates.

As genomics transforms healthcare, agriculture, forensics, and beyond, demand for professionals analyzing and applying genomic insights will intensify. California’s programs prepare the next generation to meet these challenges.

Ready to explore your genomics future? Learn about SCU’s MSHGG program, review admission requirements, and connect with students to understand how the curriculum prepares graduates for biotechnology, research, and genomic medicine careers.

The Future of Human Genetics Careers in California

The Near Future: AI, Multi-Omics, and Data-Driven Genomics

California’s genomics employers increasingly blend genomics with machine learning, cloud-scale bioinformatics, and multi-omics integration. Roles combining wet-lab understanding with computational literacy are growing fastest. Peer-reviewed literature and sector reviews highlight rapid AI/ML adoption for variant interpretation, genomic diagnostics, and drug-discovery pipelines—meaning graduates with both genomics domain knowledge and data-science skills will be in high demand. For students evaluating programs, prioritize curricula including variant analysis, bioinformatics fundamentals, and applied ethics/ELSI training—precisely the competencies SCU lists among its MSHGG learning outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which California schools offer master’s in human genetics?

California has six ACGC-accredited genetic counseling programs (UCI, UCLA, Stanford, KGI, Charles R. Drew, SCU). For human genetics focused on biotechnology rather than clinical counseling, SCU offers the online Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomics.

What’s the difference between genetic counseling and human genetics programs?

Genetic counseling programs combine medical genetics with psychosocial counseling for patient care careers. Human genetics programs emphasize genomics research, biotechnology, and computational analysis for laboratory and industry positions.

How long does a genetics master’s take in California?

Traditional genetic counseling programs require two years with in-person attendance. SCU’s MSHGG can be completed in one year full-time through 100% online asynchronous format, with part-time options available.

What GPA do I need?

Genetic counseling programs typically require minimum 3.0 GPAs, with competitive applicants at 3.3+. SCU’s human genetics program requires minimum 2.7 GPA, though successful applicants often exceed this.

Do I need the GRE?

Requirements vary by institution. Many genetic counseling programs require GRE scores. SCU’s MSHGG doesn’t mandate GRE, removing this application barrier.

What careers can I pursue with a human genetics degree?

Graduates become biotechnology research associates, bioinformatics specialists, clinical laboratory scientists, variant analysts, pharmaceutical development scientists, genomics researchers, forensic scientists, and laboratory managers in biotechnology companies, diagnostic labs, research institutions, and healthcare systems.

How much do genetics professionals earn in California?

Genetic counselors in California average $122,594 annually—substantially above the national median of $98,910. Biotechnology and research roles vary: computational biologists average $102,226, with pharmaceutical development professionals often exceeding these figures.

Can I work while completing an online human genetics program?

Yes—SCU’s MSHGG accommodates working professionals through 100% online asynchronous delivery. Part-time enrollment allows employment balance while extending program timelines. Many students continue biotechnology, healthcare, or research work while studying.

Will an MSHGG make me eligible to be a board-certified genetic counselor?

No—graduation from an ACGC-accredited genetic counseling program is required to sit for the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) certification exam and pursue state licensure. SCU operates both a Master of Science in Human Genetics & Genomics (MSHGG)—a research/industry-facing degree—and a separate Master of Science in Genetic Counseling (MSGC) following the ACGC pathway. Students wanting clinical certification must enroll in an ACGC-accredited genetic counseling program. If students are using the MSHGG as a stepping stone to counseling, the Pre-Genetic-Counseling concentration is explicitly designed to supply prerequisite coursework and counseling training that strengthens later applications to ACGC programs.