The Master's Degree in Advanced Genetics covers two semesters, the first of which comprises theoretical content only, leaving the second semester for the experimental work (external work placement) and the master's dissertation. This distribution is meant to facilitate students' work, avoiding the need to combine attendance at the placement centre, which can be some distance from the Bellaterra campus, with classes for the theory modules at the Faculty of Biosciences, on the campus itself.
While the content of the second semester is compulsory for all students, in the first semester there is a degree of optionality so that students can choose modules according to their own interests within the field of Genetics. One compulsory module has been programmed that cuts across the whole curriculum, presenting the latest advances in genetics through seminars on plant genomics, genetics for development or other areas that are not included in the other course modules. Learning outcomes for the students will be defined by their success in integrating course contents in their final dissertation, the knowledge of theory acquired in the different modules and the methodologies developed in the practical sessions. The experience accumulated in organising this master's degree allows us to offer a wide variety of centres, where students can choose the subject areas that best fit in with their chosen career. It is significant that in metropolitan Barcelona there is considerable genetics-related research and professional activity, so that students can opt to carry out their placement with a firm, a university department, or one of the many research institutes working in agriculture, veterinary science or public health.

Professional career options include:

* Hospital genetics
* Clinical genetics
* Evolutionary medicine (a new evolving speciality)
* Pre- and postnatal (including preimplantational) genetic diagnosis centres
* Genetic service firms (sequentiation, microarrays, genome analysis, bioinformatics)
* Science equipment firms
* Genetic consultancy
* Science police
* Quality control for the food industry (detecting transgenics, etc.)?
* Genetic improvement of animals or plants
* Pharmaceutical industry and related industries (evaluation of genotoxicity, etc.)
* Biotechnology industry (production of transgenics, recombinant proteins, specific gene therapy vectors, etc.)
* Environmental / ecological diversity / conservation institutions and consultants (zoos, natural parks, etc.)
* conservation and reproduction of animal and plant species
* Writing up and translating specialised scientific articles (newpapers, publishing houses, etc.).
* Working in official and private research centres.
* Teaching (universitary and secondary school level).