Program Overview

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Genetic Counseling Program

The Genetic Counseling Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a master's degree program designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become certified genetic counselors. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) and is designed in accordance with guidelines provided by ACGC. The program is located in the School of Health and Human Sciences and is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in genetic counseling, including coursework, clinical rotations, and research experiences. The program is designed to prepare students for careers as genetic counselors in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practice. The program is also designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue advanced degrees in genetic counseling or related fields.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the Genetic Counseling Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• Completion of three required prerequisite courses: genetics, biochemistry, and statistics
• Submission of a personal statement and resume
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from all previous institutions attended

Prerequisite Courses

The three required prerequisite courses for the Genetic Counseling Program are:

• Genetics: an upper-level course in general genetics
• Biochemistry: an upper-level course in biochemistry
• Statistics: a general statistics course

Application Process

To apply to the Genetic Counseling Program, applicants must submit an online application through the Graduate School website. The application deadline is December 15th for fall enrollment. Applicants must also submit official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. GRE scores are not required, but may be submitted as part of the application.

Tuition and Fees

The tuition and fees for the Genetic Counseling Program are estimated to be around $10,000 per year for in-state students and $20,000 per year for out-of-state students. Additional costs include transportation to clinical sites, liability insurance, and name tags for clinical sites.

Financial Aid

The Genetic Counseling Program offers out-of-state tuition waivers and graduate assistantships to some admitted students. These awards are competitive and are based on the applicant's academic record and other factors. The Graduate School also offers scholarships and fellowships to admitted students.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Genetic Counseling Program includes coursework in genetic counseling, genetics, biochemistry, and statistics, as well as clinical rotations and research experiences. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in genetic counseling and to prepare them for careers as certified genetic counselors.

Research

The Genetic Counseling Program at UNCG is involved in a variety of research projects, including studies on the genetic basis of disease, the psychological impact of genetic testing, and the development of new genetic counseling techniques. Students in the program have the opportunity to participate in research projects and to present their research at national conferences.

Clinical Rotations

The Genetic Counseling Program includes clinical rotations in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practice. These rotations provide students with hands-on experience in genetic counseling and allow them to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations.

Capstone Projects

The Genetic Counseling Program requires students to complete a capstone project, which is a research project or clinical rotation that demonstrates the student's mastery of the knowledge and skills required for certification as a genetic counselor. The capstone project is designed to provide students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in the program to a real-world situation and to demonstrate their ability to work independently as a genetic counselor.

FAQ

General Admission Requirements

• Do you require a specific undergraduate major? No, we do not require a specific undergraduate major as long as an applicant has completed the three required prerequisite courses.
• What are your GRE requirements? The GRE is not required for admission.
• How high are the GPA scores of applicants that are admitted to your program? The minimum undergraduate GPA requirement is 3.0.
• My undergraduate GPA is less than the required 3.0. Can I still be considered for admission to your program? In cases where an applicant is otherwise well-qualified, we may be able to waive this requirement.
• I completed an undergraduate research project. Will this make my application more competitive? Yes, although this is not a firm requirement for admission to our program, we do consider undergraduate research experience as part of application review.

Admission Interviews

• When will I know if I am invited to interview? The Admissions Committee typically meets in early to mid-January to make these decisions.
• When do the interviews take place? We typically schedule our interviews in February and March.
• What happens when I interview with UNCG? Second-round interviews occur throughout an entire business day.

Prerequisite Courses

• Are there courses that applicants are required to take in order to be eligible for admission? Yes, there are three required prerequisite courses that an applicant must complete in order to qualify for admission to our program.
• I took AP Statistics in high school. Will this satisfy the requirement for an undergraduate course in statistics? If your undergraduate institution accepted the credits earned for an AP Statistics course you took in high school, and this is listed on your official undergraduate transcript, we will evaluate this as meeting our requirement.

Recommended Experiences

• What types of additional experiences are recommended for applicants? We recommend that applicants gain exposure to the field of genetic counseling by completing internships and/or shadowing experiences.
• There are limited opportunities for shadowing or internship experiences in my area. What should I do? The M.S. Genetic Counseling Program is able to provide out-of-state tuition waivers and Graduate Assistantships for some admitted students.

Costs

• What does it cost to attend the UNCG M.S. Genetic Counseling Program? You can find the most up-to-date information about the tuition and fees on the Graduate School's Estimated Fees page.
• Is financial aid available? The M.S. Genetic Counseling Program is able to provide out-of-state tuition waivers and Graduate Assistantships for some admitted students.

Applying to the M.S. Genetic Counseling Program

• How do I apply? All applications should be submitted online.
• What is the application deadline? The application deadline for admission to our program is December 15th.
• What needs to be included with my application? You should review information on the Graduate School website to learn what must be included in your application.