Master of Science in Genetic Counseling
The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling is a full-time program requiring 62 credit hours, 50 didactic credits and 12 practicum credits. The curriculum consists of a carefully planned series of courses and rotations scheduled over 21 months--9 months as a first-year student and 12 months as a second-year student. The student learning experience involves coursework, rotations, and hands-on participation to prepare students to sit for the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC)-certification exam and enter the profession as entry-level genetic counselors. In its entirety, the curriculum will foster successful students and create highly desirable and sought-after graduates for employers.
Students complete 15 rotations over the 21 months to fulfill the 12 practicum credits. The program has relationship with numerous rotation sites in the Sioux Falls, SD area and San Diego, CA. All students enrolled in the program spend their first academic year in Sioux Falls, SD, whereas half of second-year students train in the Sioux Falls area (including Fargo and Bismarck, ND and Bemidji, MN) and half train in San Diego, CA
First-year students are slowly introduced to clinic and lab settings through five short-term, patient-facing rotations that alternative with five clinical skills rotations, which allow them to develop and practice their skills in a simulated environment. Rotation settings include adult, lab, pediatric, prenatal, and high-risk breast clinic. Cases may include, but are not limited to, Huntington's disease, carrier screening, Down Syndrome, metabolic disorders, and newborn screening. Students can expect to spend their first months primarily observing cases, then gradually increase their genetic counseling skills and participation during sessions.
Second-year students complete five eight-week rotations. The first eight-week rotation occurs between May and August. The four remaining rotations start in late August and continue May. Second-year students spend considerably more time in rotations than first-year students and have expanded roles and independence within sessions. Rotations include adult, cancer, industry, lab, pediatric, preconception,prenatal, and teratology settings. The Sioux Falls area locations offer the ability to gain additional experience in infertility genetics, pharmacogenetics, and primary care genetics, whereas the San Diego locations offer unique training experiences in biotech and genetic labs as well as exposure to emerging fields.
With the exception of the second-year rotation that takes place in the summer after a student's first academic year, students will simultaneously complete rotations and coursework. Although second-year students are in physically separate locations, all program students are connected through discussion-based classes using real-time, interactive video.
Outcomes
The mission of the program is to provide an education of enduring worth that cultivates wisdom and advances patient care by developing genetic counselors into astute communicators, scholarly professionals, and engaged members of their communities. The program 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 collaboration and relationship-building skills.
- Produce meaningful graduate research projects.
- Understand and appreciate the far reach of genomics (e.g., personalized medicine, business, diversity, media).
Application and Admission
Applications to the ASGCGP are accepted fall through winter each year for admission to the program the following fall. Exact dates vary by year.
The application process consists of two parts.
- Registration wit the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match through National Matching Services Inc. Registering with the Match costs $100. The Match was established to enhance the process of placing applicants into positions in master's-level genetic counseling programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC). The match uses an algorithm that takes into account both applicants' and programs' preferences. All applicants must register for the Match with NMS before applying to participating genetic counseling graduate programs, and applications to the program cannot be reviewed until an applicant has registered for the Match. At the conclusion of all program interviews, both applicants and programs will submit ranked lists of preferred placements to NMS according to deadlines posted on the NMS website. The binding results of the Match will be released to both applicants and programs simultaneously in late April.
- Application directly to the program. Applying to the program costs $60. Students enrolled as full-time undergraduate students at Augustana University at the time of application to the program are exempt from paying the program's application fee. Applicants do not pay the $60 application fee in Slate until they submit their application. Submission through Slate alone does not constitute a complete application to the program. Applications are not complete until all materials have been received by Augustana University's Office of Graduate Education.
Requirements for All Applicants
Slate account
- All applicants must apply through Slate and submit materials, as noted, to Augustana University's Office of Graduate Education.
BA or BS degree
- A bachelor's degree is required to enter the program. However, you may complete your application prior to completing your bachelor's degree
- The program does not require a specific undergraduate major for admission. However, common undergraduate majors include biology, chemistry, and psychology.
- The program does not require specific undergraduate courses. however, the strongest candidates will have taken a vairety of scientific courses, especially in the biological sciences, and they will have taken most, if not all, of the following courses prior to admission to the program
Biology (two semester or quarters)
Chemistry (two semesters or quarters)
Biochemistry (one semester or quarter)
Genetics (one semester or quarter
General psychology (one semester or quarter)
Statistics (one semester or quarter)
- The most desirable applicants will also have had a rich and varied undergraduate education. Other courses that may help prepare applicants to succeed as genetic counseling graduate students and future genetic counselors include developmental biology, embryology, human development, writing, communication, business, and ethics.
Official transcript(s)
- An official transcript from every post-secondary institution you have attended for at least one semester's time is required. You will need to arrange for each college or univerisity you have attended to forward an official transcript of your coursework to Augustana University's Office of Graduate Education.
- Official transcripts sent through the postal system should be sent to:
Augustana University
Attn: Office of Graduate Education
2001 S Summit Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57197
- Official Transcripts sent through email should be sent to graduate@augie.edu.
GPAs
- You will need to enter your cumulative GPA as well as your GPS in the Natural Sciences in the online application. Directions for calculating your Natural Sciences GPA are found within Slate.
- While the program does not specify a minimum GPA, the applicant pool is competitive. The large majority of applicants have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The average cumulative GPA for admitted students 2016-2019 is 3.4, similar to the national average for genetic counseling graduate programs. Your cumulative GPA--as well as your GPA in the Natural Sciences--will be assessed, but they are only one component of your application.
Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores
- You must submit official GRE scores for the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing sections. GRE Subject Tests are not required. The institution code for Augustana University is 6015; the department/major field code for genetics is 0210. Please note, GRE scores are valid for five years. Please see the GRE website for more information.
- Even if you already have a graduate degree, the program requires GRE scores from within the last five years. Genetic counseling graduate programs are competitive, and the program receives applications from many applicants who have already earned at least one graduate degree. The program uses your GRE scores to assess your ability to do well in a genetic counseling graduate program and compare your abilities with those of other applicants. While the program does not specify minimum GRE scores, most applicants have at least 2 GRE scores over 50, and the strongest applicants have GRE scores in the 60th-70th percentile. GRE scores are only one component of your application.
Resume or CV
- A resume or current curriculum vitae (CV) must be submitted by uploading it to the "Upload Documents" section of your Slate application.
- The strongest applicants will have volunteer and/or professional experiences utilizing communication and advocacy skills and exposure to the genetic counseling profession.
Examples of volunteer and/or professional experiences include crisis counseling, working with and mentoring youth (e.g. through Big Brothers Big Sisters), or providing support services for veterans. The list of possibilities is limitless.
One of the best ways to understand the genetic counseling profession is to spend time with practicing genetic counselors. By interviewing or shadowing one or more genetic counselors, one can more fully understand the occupation and critically evaluate it as a career choice.
- Resume/CVs, personal statements, and letter of recommendation are great places to highlight your volunteer and/or professional experiences--particularly those in which advocacy and/or face-to-face communication kills were utilized--as well as your exposure to the genetic counseling profession (e.g. shadowing).
Personal statement
- You must upload a personal statement--1250 words or less--highlighting your motivation to become a genetic counselor and emphasizing your prior and current experiences and exposure to genetic counseling, and how both have prepared you to enter and will benefit you in the profession. Let us know about yourself, your life, and your interest in our program.
Letters of recommendation
- You must submit three references names and email addresses on your Slate application. This information will automatically generate emails to the persons providing a reference, with instructions for completing and submitting the reference form. Letters should be from individuals familiar with your academic accomplishments, counseling-related activities, and/or potential to be a genetic counselor (e.g. academic advisors, professors, laboratory supervisors, genetic counselor supervisors of internship experiences, etc.).
Photograph
- You must upload a head and shoulders only photograph in Slate for identification purposes.
Additional Requirements for International Applicants
WES Evaluation
- If you received your undergraduate degree from a country other than the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand, in addition to the materials noted above, your application request a World Education Services (WES) Course-by-Curse Evaluation Report (Basic or ICAP). You are responsible for paying for the report and having it deliver to Augustana University. Please see the WES website for more information.
- WES will authenticate and evaluate your academic credentials, including degrees and diplomas earned abroad, and determine their U.S. equivalencies. Once WES has confirmed receipt of all required applications, documents, and fees, a report will be completed in seven (7) business days. Please see the WE$S website for more information about fees and to apply.
TOEFL or IELTS scores
- If you received your undergraduate degree from a country other than the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand, in addition to the materials noted above, you must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores to prove English-language proficiency. The program requires a minimum TOEFL score to 87 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. The TOEFL institution code for Augustana University is 6015, and the department code for genetics is 06. Please see the TOEFL website or IELTS website for more information.
- If you believe your can prove English-language proficiency via another means, please email the program at genetics@augie.edu to be considered for an exception. The program will notify you by email whether or not an exception has been granted.
MS Genetic Counseling Degree Requirements