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 (37 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
Genetic Counseling Curriculum: Course Sequence and Credits by Semester
First Year: Fall Semester | |
|---|---|
| Course: | Credits: |
| GNC 420: Foundations in Medical Genetics | 4 |
| GNC 403: Embryology & Reproductive Genetics | 3 |
| GNC 430: Foundations of Genetic Counseling | 2 |
| GNC 410: Genetics Bioethics | 2 |
| GNC 470: Genetic Counseling Research: Data Collection and Analysis Methodologies | 3 |
| Total Semester Credits: 14 | |
| First Year: Spring Semester | |
| GNC 497: Genetic Counseling in Clinical Practice | 2 |
| GNC 447: Client-Centered Genetic Counseling | 2 |
| GNC 450: Genetic Counseling in Pediatric Genetics (early Spring) | 1 |
| GNC 451: Genetic Counseling in Cardiogenetics (early Spring) | 1 |
| GNC 471: Applied Laboratory Genomics: Testing & Variant Interpretation (early Spring) | 1 |
| GNC 452: Genetic Counseling in Cancer Genetics (late Spring) | 2 |
| GNC 453: Genetic Counseling in Neurogenetics (late Spring) | 1 |
| Total Semester Credits: 10 | |
| First Year: Summer Semester | |
| GNC 454: Genetic Counseling in Ocular Genetics (4 weeks) | 1 |
| GNC 460: Inborn Errors of Metabolism (6 weeks) | 2 |
| GNC 491: Thesis I | 2 |
| GNC 501: Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork I (11 weeks) | 3 |
| Total Semester Credits: 8 | |
| Second Year: Fall Semester | |
| GNC 467: Professional Issues in Genetic Counseling | 2 |
| GNC 494: Special Topics in Clinical Genetics | 1 |
| GNC 461: Identity-Conscious Inclusion in Genetic Counseling | 2 |
| GNC 511: Genetic Counseling Case Seminar I | 1 |
| GNC 492: Thesis II | 2 |
| GNC 502: Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork II (8 weeks) | 3 |
| GNC 503: Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork III (8 weeks) | 3 |
| Total Semester Credits: 14 | |
| Second Year: Spring Semester | |
| GNC 500: Biopsychosocial Family Experiences with Genetic Conditions | 3 |
| GNC 512: Genetic Counseling Case Seminar II | 1 |
| GNC 493: Thesis III | 2 |
| GNC 504: Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork IV (8 weeks) | 3 |
| GNC 505: Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork V (8 weeks) | 3 |
| Total Semester Credits: 12 | |
*Clinical Rotations/Fieldwork: Each student is expected to complete 5 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; Cardiogenetics; Neurology/Neuromuscular Genetics; Industry/Lab.
The program’s Clinical Rotation/Fieldwork placement sites include:
- URMC Pediatric Genetics
- URMC Reproductive Genetics
- URMC Adult Medical Genetics
- URMC Cardiogenetics
- URMC Ocular Genetics
- URMC Neurogenetics
- URMC Neuromuscular Disease Center
- URMC Hereditary Cancer Screening and Risk Reduction Program
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Buffalo, NY)
- Elizabeth Wende Breast Care (Rochester, NY)
- SUNY Upstate Medical University Pediatric Genetics (Syracuse, NY)
- SUNY Upstate Medical University Cytogenetics and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (Syracuse, NY)
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, 1st year
- Laboratory Fieldwork with URMC Cytogenetics and Array Labs (1 week), 1st year
- Day Observation with URMC Social Work, 1st year
- Day Observation with URMC Interpreter, 1st year
- Thesis Development Workshops, Spring of 1st year
- Community Engagement Summer Program – this includes a 40-hour community engagement volunteer experience
- Employment Preparation Workshops, Fall of 2nd year
- Certification Exam Preparation Workshops, Spring of 2nd year