Program Overview

Genetic Counselor Studies (GENECSLR)

The Genetic Counselor Studies program at the University of WisconsinMadison is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in genetic counseling. The program includes a range of courses that cover the principles of genetic counseling, as well as the latest advances in genetics and genomics.

Course Descriptions

• GENECSLR 713 INTRODUCTORY PRACTICUM IN GENETIC COUNSELING: This 3-credit course provides opportunities for students to develop skills in interviewing, data collection, case management, and counseling through didactic work and observational and experiential clinical activities.
• GENECSLR 714 INTRODUCTORY PRACTICUM IN GENETIC COUNSELING: This 3-credit course provides additional opportunities for students to develop and improve skills in interviewing, data collection, case management, and counseling.
• GENECSLR 721 INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL GENETICS: This 2-credit course provides an integrative introduction to the mechanisms of clinical genetic disease at the molecular, individual, and population level.
• GENECSLR 724 CANCER GENETICS RISK ASSESSMENT AND COUNSELING: This 2-credit course provides a background in cancer genetics from a medical, biological, and clinical perspective.
• GENECSLR 731 ADVANCED CLINICAL GENETICS CONCEPTS: This 3-credit course covers advanced clinical genetic concepts, including phenotype, genetic mechanisms, approach to diagnosis, and natural history.
• GENECSLR 737 CONTEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN GENETICS COUNSELING: This 1-credit course covers selected basic issues and topics that are core curricular requirements specific to genetics counseling.
• GENECSLR 739 RESEARCH STRATEGIES AND ANALYSIS IN CLINICAL GENETICS: This 1-credit course introduces students to a variety of tools and resources commonly used in clinical genetics.
• GENECSLR 740 LABORATORY GENETICS AND GENOMICS FOR THE GENETIC COUNSELOR: This 2-credit course provides an introduction to clinical laboratory genetics with a particular focus on the relevance of human cytogenetics and molecular genetics to the practice of medical genetics.
• GENECSLR 741 INTRODUCTION TO GENETIC COUNSELING: This 1-credit course emphasizes the tasks necessary to complete a genetic counseling session.
• GENECSLR 742 CLINICAL EMBRYOLOGY AND PRENATAL GENETICS: This 1-credit course reviews human development and the influence of genetic disorders and teratogens.
• GENECSLR 743 ADVANCED INTERVIEWING AND COUNSELING FOR THE GC I: This 1-credit course covers advanced topics in clinical communication skills for the genetic counselor.
• GENECSLR 744 APPLICATIONS OF BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS FOR GENETIC COUNSELORS: This 2-credit course provides a comprehensive overview of clinical biochemical genetics.
• GENECSLR 745 SEMINAR IN MEDICAL GENETIC COUNSELING RESEARCH: This 1-credit course practices qualitative and quantitative research methods in genetic counseling.
• GENECSLR 748 SPECIAL TOPICS IN GENETIC COUNSELING: This 1-credit course covers advanced topics in the discipline of genetic counseling.
• GENECSLR 813 ADVANCED PRACTICUM IN GENETICS COUNSELING: This 4-5 credit course provides an advanced practicum experience for second-year genetic counseling students.
• GENECSLR 814 ADVANCED PRACTICUM IN GENETICS COUNSELING: This 4-5 credit course provides an advanced practicum experience consisting of participatory fieldwork experiences in a diversity of clinic specialties and service delivery methods.
• GENECSLR 990 RESEARCH IN GENETIC COUNSELING: This 1-8 credit course involves research and/or scholarly work supervised by faculty and/or staff members with appropriate content expertise and/or experience in research mentorship.

Learning Outcomes

The Genetic Counselor Studies program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in genetic counseling, including:

• A depth and breadth of understanding and knowledge of genetics and genomics core concepts and principles
• The ability to integrate knowledge of psychosocial aspects of conditions with a genetic component to promote client well-being
• The ability to construct relevant, targeted, and comprehensive personal and family histories and pedigrees
• The ability to identify, assess, order, facilitate, and integrate genetic/genomic testing options in genetic counseling practice
• The ability to assess individuals' and their relatives' probability of conditions with a genetic component or carrier status based on their pedigree, test result(s), and other pertinent information
• The ability to demonstrate the skills necessary to successfully manage a genetic counseling case
• The ability to critically assess genetic/genomic, medical, and social science literature and information
• The ability to establish a mutually agreed-upon genetic counseling agenda with the client
• The ability to employ active listening and interviewing skills to identify, assess, and empathically respond to stated and emerging concerns
• The ability to use a range of genetic counseling skills and models to facilitate informed decision-making and adaptation to genetic risks or conditions
• The ability to promote client-centered, informed, non-coercive, and value-based decision-making
• The ability to adapt genetic counseling skills for varied service delivery models
• The ability to apply genetic counseling skills in a culturally responsive and respectful manner to all clients
• The ability to effectively educate clients about a wide range of genetics and genomics information based on their needs, their characteristics, and the circumstances of the encounter
• The ability to write concise and understandable clinical and scientific information for audiences of varying educational backgrounds
• The ability to effectively give a presentation on genetics, genomics, and genetic counseling issues
• The ability to act in accordance with the ethical, legal, and philosophical principles and values of the genetic counseling profession and the policies of one's institution or organization
• The ability to demonstrate understanding of the research process
• The ability to advocate for individuals, families, communities, and the genetic counseling profession
• The ability to demonstrate a self-reflective, evidenced-based, and current approach to genetic counseling practice
• The ability to demonstrate the methods, roles, and responsibilities of the process of clinical supervision of trainees
• The ability to establish and maintain professional interdisciplinary relationships in both team and one-on-one settings, and recognize one's role in the larger healthcare system
• The ability to demonstrate understanding of the research process

Requisites

The program has various requisites for each course, including:

• Declared in Master of Genetic Counselor Studies
• GENECSLR 713
• GENECSLR 714
• GENECSLR 721
• GENECSLR 739
• GENECSLR 745
• GENECSLR 813

Course Designation

The courses in the program are designated as:

• Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit

Some courses in the program are repeatable for credit, including:

• GENECSLR 737 (repeatable for 4 number of completions)
• GENECSLR 990 (repeatable for 3 number of completions)

Last Taught

The courses in the program were last taught in various semesters, including:

• Fall 2025
• Spring 2025