Genetic Counseling

Overview

Established in 1982, the University of Cincinnati Genetic Counseling Graduate Program is one of the oldest genetic counseling programs in the country. Students benefit from the program’s unique partnership with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center--one of the top three pediatric medical centers in the nation.

Degree requirements include coursework, clinical rotations and research. Genetic counseling students take approximately 15 credit hours per semester for four total semesters. They receive immediate hands-on experience in clinical rotations from the first semester to the last, interacting with patients in multidisciplinary settings including prenatal, pediatric and adult genetics. By graduation each student will have been the primary genetic counselors for at least 50 but often for 100 or more cases. Additionally, students complete a master's thesis research project culminating in a manuscript suitable for publication.

Career

After completing the two-year master's program, graduates are prepared for any genetic counseling job they choose--and for the certification exams required to practice. Typically, 90-100% of our graduates pass the certification exam. All find employment after graduation in clinical, academic, research, laboratory or industry positions. Employers include hospitals, clinics, universities, and clinical laboratories.

Curriculum

Admission Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree or foreign equivalent
• 3 letters of recommendation submitted through the online system
• Unofficial transcripts are used for admissions review. Official transcripts required when offered admission.
• CV
• For students whose first language is not English: TOEFL scores

*All undergraduate degrees are accepted, although you will have a competitive edge if you have strong grades in coursework in the biological sciences, including genetics. You can also prepare yourself by working or volunteering in a counseling/helping environment and by shadowing and/or interning with a genetic counselor.

Application Deadlines

If you would like to submit an electronic application for the Genetic Counseling Program, please visit our On-Line Graduate School Application. When searching for the program, you can select either the program name or the college name (College of Medicine).

Unoffical transcripts from all Universities/Colleges attended should be uploaded to your application.

Make sure to visit the Genetic Counseling Program website or contact the program directly for information about application requirements or to inquire about materials that need to be submitted when applying to this program.

Note: Please apply by January 5 of the calendar year in which you wish to be considered for an interview.

Accreditation

The Genetic Counseling Graduate Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling.

• https://www.gceducation.org/