Best Genetic Counseling Programs

UCI began its genetics counseling program in 1973. The UCI School of Medicine offers the MS in genetic counseling through the Department of Pediatrics. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling and prepares enrollees for certification by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

The 89-quarter-unit program enrolls about 6-8 students annually. Full-time enrollees can complete the degree in two years. Coursework covers topics like cytogenetics, client screening, and hereditary cancer counseling. Students apply their skills during supervised clinical experiences.

Enrollees produce a publishable research thesis to culminate the degree. Students complete most classes and clinics at UCI's medical center in Orange and at local children's hospitals. Admission requires a bachelor's degree in psychology or the physical or natural sciences. The department requires GRE scores.

Northwestern enrolls 21,000 students on three campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois. The Center for Genetic Medicine in Chicago offers the MS in genetic counseling. Students develop genetic counseling skills to practice in various clinical settings and specialties. The program's coursework, clinical experiences, and thesis prepare learners for the American Board of Genetic Counseling certification exam.

The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling. Students can complete the degree in just 18 months. Enrollees study adult genetics, medical genetics, and the psychosocial aspects of genetic counseling. They use their knowledge of research methodology to complete a research thesis project.

Degree-seekers apply and integrate classroom lessons during clinical rotations that begin early in the program. Students discuss cases and counseling issues through a journal club that meets each term. Admission requires a bachelor's degree and prerequisite coursework. Prospective students need a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The nation's first research college, Johns Hopkins partners with the National Institutes of Health to offer the MS in genetic counseling. Students take classes on campus in Baltimore, Maryland, and can complete the full-time program in 2.5 years. Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling, the program prepares students for the American Board of Genetic Counseling certification exam.

The program uses a psychotherapeutic counseling model that emphasizes clients' psychological and educational needs. Students complete 149 credits covering areas like human genetics, cancer genetics, and practical genetic counseling. Enrollees complete more than 600 hours of supervised clinical rotations in a variety of settings. 

Degree-seekers culminate one of the nation's best genetic counseling programs with a publishable thesis study. Accepted students typically receive a 30% tuition discount and a $10,000 scholarship. Admission requires a bachelor's degree, prerequisite coursework, and prior counseling experience.

New York City-based ISMMS is a global leader in medicine, scientific training, and biomedical research. The MS in genetic counseling program requires full-time enrollment and takes 21 months to complete. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling. Students learn from faculty renowned for their expertise in diagnosing and treating genetic disorders. 

The curriculum covers topics like medical genetics; genetics counseling; and culture, illness, and community health. Students learn how to collect, analyze, and present research data. Enrollees study how to analyze human genome sequences, beginning with their own. Degree-seekers apply their learning during several clinical rotations.  

Students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, merit-based scholarships, and work-study opportunities to offset costs in this self-pay program. The program boasts a 100% placement rate for graduates seeking employment in the field. Applicants must first register with the genetic counseling admission match administered by the National Matching Services. Admission requires a bachelor's degree and prerequisite coursework.

BU's Graduate Medical Sciences offers a 48-credit MS in genetic counseling. The full-time program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling and takes two years to complete.

In their first year, enrollees study clinical genetics, cancer genetic counseling, and clinical applications. In year two, they focus on fieldwork and more advanced topics such as genetic counseling subspecialties. 

The program offers many clinical settings for fieldwork, including BU's medical school and teaching hospital. Over the summer, enrollees spend six weeks completing a full-time rotation at an external site. Another component involves public education. Degree-seekers give lectures about genetics at schools, resident groups, and other public forums. 

Learners complete a capstone such as a research project or case study and literature review. Admission requires a bachelor's degree in a major such as genetics or psychology. The department also requires college-level prerequisite coursework.

Ohio State's College of Medicine is a leader in healthcare delivery and education. The school's MS in genetic counseling trains scholarly and compassionate genetic counselors. Students move through the accredited two-year program as part of a small cohort. The curriculum introduces learners to foundations in medicine, genetics, and genetic counseling.

Enrollees develop advanced clinical skills in pediatric, cancer, and reproductive counseling. With elective credits, students can pursue advanced training in an area such as bioethics. Degree-seekers complete a series of clinical practicums beginning in the first year. They can access about 50 sites throughout the Midwest. 

Students culminate the program with a research thesis. Graduates enjoy a 100% placement rate in genetic counseling and related fields. Applicants must register with National Matching Services. Admission requires counseling experience and a bachelor's degree in biology or a related science major.

CWRU's Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences is internationally known for clinical and research expertise. The school's 40-semester-hour MS in genetic counseling is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling and prepares enrollees for national certification.

Learners study embryology, advanced medical genetics, and genetic counseling principles. Advanced topics include cancer genetics and genetics research. The program's practicums include four eight-week clinical rotations and a six-week summer clinical rotation at various facilities. Enrollees engage in applied learning through activities like clinical patient conferences and a yearlong collaborative practice course. 

CWRU also offers an MS/MA in genetic counseling and bioethics. Both programs boast a 100% placement rate for graduates. Students pay tuition and fees but may receive a monthly stipend scholarship. Applicants must first register with the National Matching Services' genetic counseling admissions match. Admission requires a bachelor's degree, minimum 3.0 GPA, and prerequisite coursework.

OUHSC hosts a full-time MS in genetic counseling program that takes two years to complete. The College of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics offers the program. Enrollees complete coursework and clinical rotations on campus in Oklahoma City.

Coursework covers topics like human population genetics, cancer genetics, and prenatal diagnosis and screening. Enrollees complete supervised clinical practicums in various genetic areas. They also conduct original research for a thesis. Students review research at genetics journal club meetings and participate in presentations at local support groups.

Oklahoma residents pay the most affordable tuition. Nonresidents pay in-state tuition and receive a salary if they secure a graduate research assistant appointment. Applicants must register with National Matching Services. Admission requires a bachelor's degree and GRE scores.

UAB offers a 21-month, full-time MS in genetic counseling. The program prepares enrollees for professional certification from the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Students receive training in genetics counseling and specialties like prenatal, cancer, and adult genetics. Clinical training includes direct patient contact at pediatric, adult, and specialty clinics.

Students complete rotations at UAB and clinical partner sites in other states. Through the genetics counseling journal club, degree-seekers review, present, and discuss medical genetics and genetic counseling literature. The program offers a one-year post-graduation fellowship to one student who will receive advanced clinical training in cancer genetic counseling. 

The school may offer scholarships, assistantships, and work opportunities depending on the year. Applicants must register with the National Matching Services. Admission requires a bachelor's degree and prerequisite coursework and supplemental activities.

Pitt offers the nation's second-oldest genetics counseling program. The MS in genetics counseling is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling and provides training in the science of human genetics and genomics. About 10-12 students enroll in the program annually. 

Students begin the program exploring principles of genetic counseling and the molecular basis of human inherited disease. The curriculum teaches counseling theory and applications, methods of genetics testing, and case-management skills. Learners complete clinical rotations in patient care at medical facilities in Pittsburgh. Students complete a research project in an area of interest and produce a research thesis.

Enrollees can customize the degree with a dual option such as an MS in genetic counseling and MPH in public health genetics. Learners can also customize with certificates in areas like global health and public health genetics. Admission to one of the nation's best genetic counseling programs requires a bachelor's degree, minimum 3.0 GPA, and prerequisite science and statistics coursework.