“Companies now provide individuals with their own genotypes and associated risks extrapolated from association studies. The best outcomes would be to convert patients into active investigators and navigators of their own health, to make genetics the foundation of medical education and to expand the scope of genetic counseling as a profession (Nature Genetics, February, 2008)."
Graduate Program of Study in Genetic Counseling at the University of Minnesota
- At the University of Minnesota we have one of 32 graduate programs accredited by the American Board of Genetic Counseling to educate genetic counseling practitioners in North America. The program at the University of Minnesota was established in 1989 and has admitted over 120 students since its inception. The program was awarded full re-accreditation by the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2006.
- We have over 50 genetic counselors practicing in a wide variety of settings in Minnesota and most participate in the clinical preparation of our students. Students in our program typically graduate having had experience with more than 150 clinical cases in a broad range of traditional and nontraditional settings.
- Currently there are more jobs than there are graduates to fill them and because of this, many of our students secure a position prior to graduation. Our graduates are employed in a wide variety of positions in clinical settings, research, public health and industry both nationally and internationally.
- The program currently accepts 6-7 new students each year. Most of our students secure teaching assistantships that help fund a portion of their studies.
- We work closely with the University of Minnesota’s Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology program. This program offers a Master’s degree leading to a career as a licensed mental health provider. Because of this collaboration, we are able to offer the option of earning a master’s degree in both programs over a 3 year time period.
- In the past 5 years 29 of our graduates have had an abstract accepted from their research work by the National Society of Genetic Counselors or the American Society of Human Genetics for either a platform or poster presentation at the annual education meeting. In addition, many of our students go on to work with program faculty to publish their master’s degree work in a peer reviewed journal.
- Our graduates perform well on the national certification board exams - 90% of graduates who were eligible and elected to sit the boards are certified.
- Our graduates remain in the profession - 89.4% of graduates are working in the field in some capacity.
- Many of our graduates have attained leadership roles in this rapidly expanding profession.
