Master of Science in Genetic Counseling
The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling degree program requires a minimum of 62 credit hours. The curriculum consists of a carefully planned series of courses and clinical practicums scheduled over two academic years. Experiences include science courses, counseling courses, and clinical practicums.
Students rotate through a variety of clinical settings during the 1st year of training including metabolic genetics, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, and Huntington's disease. During their 2nd year, the clinical experience includes pediatric genetics, prenatal genetics, cancer genetics, and others.
Clinic rotations are supervised by American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) certified genetic counselors and ABMG certified geneticists. All incoming students will spend their 1st year in Sioux Falls. After the 1st year of training, half of the students will remain in Sioux Falls for their 2nd year (option to also spend time in Fargo, Bismarck, or Bemidji) while the other half will spend their year in San Diego, CA. Students will know where they will be spending their 2nd year prior to their accepting entrance into the program. Each location has unique opportunities. The Sioux Falls location offers the ability to gain additional experience in Primary Care Genetics, Pharmacogenetics, and the Genetics of Infertility. The San Diego location offers the ability for a unique training experiences in biotech genetic labs as well as options to gain experience in emerging fields. Although 2nd year students will be in physically separate locations, they will feel connected through discussion-based classes using interactive video and the latest technology.
The Augustana program curriculum has an emphasis on bioethics, a standalone cultural competency class, a business course specific to genetics, and a genetics in the community course. In its entirety, this curriculum will foster successful students and create highly desirable and sought-after graduates for employers.
Outcomes
The Augustana-Sanford Genetic Counseling Graduate Program (ASGCGP) is a two-year Master of Science program. The student learning experience equally involves clinical rotations, hands-on participation, and classroom learning Genetic Counseling is not only an enjoyable and fascinating career, it is also one with national job growth potential. The ASGCGP seeks to train well-rounded genetic counselors and give them a strong foundation in both genetic science and interpersonal communication skills. Students who graduate from this program will:
- Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills
- Display strong scientific and empathetic foundations
- Demonstrate the capacity to excel as genetic counselors in fast-paced,real-world settings
- Exhibit skills in collaboration and relationship building
- Produce meaningful graduate research projects
- Understand and appreciate the far reach of genomics (e.g., personalized medicine, business, diversity, media)
Application and Admission
There is not a specific undergraduate major required for admission, however most students entering the program will have had a variety of scientific courses, especially in the biological sciences. Common majors include biology, genetics, chemistry, psychology, social work, and public health. In addition to the sciences, desirable applicants will have had exposure to a rich and varied undergraduate education. Students must have a B.S. or B.A degree.
Strongly Recommended Prerequisite Coursework - The strongest applicants will have the completed the following coursework (or be in process of completing) at the time of application to the program. If a course is in progress, this may be reflected on the personal statement.
- Biology (one full year)
- Chemistry (one full year)
- Biochemistry (one semester or quarter)
- Genetics (one semester or quarter)
- General Psychology (one semester or quarter)
- Statistics (one semester or quarter)
At the time of application, it is strongly recommended that applicants have some volunteer or professional experience in an area where communication skills are utilized. These experiences should be reflected on your personal statement or CV. Exposure to the Field of Genetic Counseling is recommended. One of the best ways to understand the occupation is to spend time with practicing genetic counselors. By interviewing or shadowing a genetic counselor, one can more fully understand the occupation and critically evaluate it as a career choice.
Additional Requirements
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test scores from the Verbal, Quantitative and Analytic sections from within the past five years. (Subject portion of the GRE is not required.)
- While there is not a minimum GPA, it is predicted that most competitive applicants will have an undergraduate GPA of above 3.2 (both overall and in natural sciences).
- Personal Statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resume or CV
- An official transcript from every postsecondary institution you have attended for at least one semester’s time
- Photograph for identification purposes (head and shoulders)
- TOEFL scores if from a non-English-speaking country
Applications will be accepted until March 1 of each year. All applications will be reviewed by the Genetic Counseling Graduate Program Admission Committee. Upon review, the committee will determine which candidates are most qualified. These applicants will be invited for on-site interviews during March and April.
MS Genetic Counseling Degree Requirements