Education / Graduate Education / Master's Degrees / Master’s Degree in Genetic Counseling / Curriculum

Curriculum

The MSGC program is a full-time program. MSGC program components include didactic courses, clinical/fieldwork training, thesis research projects, and supplemental learning experiences. As students progress through the program, they develop and demonstrate achievement of a wide range of critical genetic counseling skills and competencies. Student achievement of the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) Practice-Based Competencies (PBCs) are evaluated for throughout the program.

Students are required to successfully complete all of the following in order for the Master’s degree to be granted:

Completion of all required didactic courses (42 credits)
Completion of 5 clinical/fieldwork rotations (15 credits)
Completion of an acceptable master’s research project (6 credits)
- This includes both a passed oral exam and an acceptable thesis
Participation in required supplemental learning activities

Curriculum includes:

Fall 1st Year

GNC 420: Foundations in Medical Genetics, 5 credits

GNC 403: Embryology & Reproductive Genetics, 3 credits

GNC 430: Foundations of Genetic Counseling, 2 credits

GNC 410: Genetics Bioethics, 2 credits

BST 463: Introduction to Biostatistics, 3 credits

Spring 1st Year

SMD Medical Education course: Molecules to Cells, 8 credits (course begins off-calendar in early January)

GNC 497: Genetic Counseling in Clinical Practice, 2 credits

GNC 447: Client-Centered Genetic Counseling, 2 credits

Summer

GNC 465: Medical Genetics by Subspecialty, 4 credits (course ends late July)

GNC 491: Thesis I, 2 credits

GNC 501: Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork I (11 weeks, ends late July)*

Fall 2nd Year

GNC 467: Professional Issues in Genetic Counseling, 2 credits

GNC 494: Special Topics in Clinical Genetics, 1 credit

NSG 429: Diversity and Equity in Health Care, 3 credits

GNC 511: Genetic Counseling Case Seminar I, 1 credit

GNC 492: Thesis II, 2 credits

GNC 502: Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork II (8 weeks)*

GNC 503: Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork III (8 weeks)*

Spring 2nd Year

GNC 500: Biopsychosocial Family Experiences with Genetic Conditions, 3 credits

GNC 512: Genetic Counseling Case Seminar II, 1 credit

GNC 493: Thesis III, 2 credits

GNC 504: Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork IV (8 weeks)*

GNC 505: Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork V (8 weeks)*

MSGC Program Course Descriptions

*Clinical Rotations/Fieldwork: Each student is expected to complete 5 clinical rotation/fieldwork experiences (Placements I-V) in order to complete the MSGC program, for a total of 15 credit hours. Each student will have all 3 core rotations in: Pediatric Genetics; Reproductive (Prenatal) Genetics; and Cancer Genetics. Each student is also required to have 2 of the following elective rotations: Ocular Genetics; Adult Medical Genetics (includes Cardiogenetics); Neurology/Neuromuscular Genetics; Industry/Lab.

The program’s Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork placement sites include:

Required supplemental learning activities include:

Genetic Counseling Leadership Seminar Series, throughout length of the program
Genetic Counseling Journal Club, throughout length of the program
Attendance at Genetic Counseling Case Seminar I and Genetic Counseling Case Seminar II courses, Fall and Spring of 1st year
Interdivisional Genetics Conference (weekly), Summer through Spring of 2nd year
2 Days of Clinical Observation with a URMC Genetic Counselor, Fall of 1st year
Laboratory Fieldwork with URMC Cytogenetics and Array Labs (2 weeks), 1st year
Day Observation with URMC Social Work, Fall of 1st year
Thesis Development Workshop, March-April of 1st year
Community Engagement Summer Programs – this includes both a 40-hour Community Engagement Experience and Camp
Advances in Genetic & Genomic Testing Seminar Series, Spring of 2nd year
Employment Preparation Workshop, 2nd year
Certification Exam Preparation Workshop, Spring of 2nd year

Supplemental Learning Activities Descriptions

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