General Information

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Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

Listed below are items that are required to complete this application for admission to UA Genetic Counseling Graduate Program:

• Match number from National Matching Services (NMS) https://natmatch.com/gcadmissions/
• Statement of Purpose (500 words maximum)
• CV/resume
• Unofficial transcripts for each college/institution attended
• GRE's: The UAGCGP has decided to discontinue the GRE requirement for applicants applying to our program - as with the fall of 2020, going forward, from Fall of 2021 on, we will not require or record GRE scores.  
• TOEFL or other English Proficiency Exam score (for international students only)
• Email addresses of 3 contacts to submit letters of recommendation on your behalf (3 letters of recommendation are required, 4 is the maximum allowed.) Competitive students will have at least one letter from a professor and preferably one from a practicing genetics provider or advocacy supervisor.

Admission Requirements:

• 3.0 GPA in undergraduate or graduate coursework
• Completion of BS or BA
• Completion of prerequisite coursework: In addition to the requirements from the UA Graduate College, the UAGCGP requires applicants to have the following prerequisites to ensure that they are adequately prepared for the program. All prerequisites need to be completed by the end of fall semester of the year applications are submitted. Please forward grades from these courses as soon as they are available. Required Classes:
• 2 Semesters of Biology
• 1 Semester of Chemistry
• 1 Semester of Biochemistry
• 1 Semester of Genetics
• 1 Semester of Statistics
• A total of 2 Semesters from ANY of the following areas: Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, or Public Health
• Please note: AP classes are not acceptable for these prerequisites. 
• Competitive applicants will show a demonstrated interest in the field of genetic counseling. This can include shadowing genetic counselors, participating in genetic counseling internship programs, or meeting and speaking with local genetic counselors. Individuals having experience working in other counseling settings, such as a crisis or suicide hotline, pregnancy counseling center, or other similar settings will also be considered as strong applicants for the program.

• For questions, please contact Kathy Ben at kben@email.arizona.edu or (520) 626-2713 or (520) 626-7406.

 

Standardized Tests

 For international applicants only: Minimum TOEFL: 79 (internet based test).  Please note, however, that the University of Arizona accepts a number of English Proficiency tests.  More information can be found at the Graduate College website: https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/requirements/international-applicants#english-proficiency

 

Funding Opportunities

Tuition and fees for each academic year will be announced the previous spring by the Arizona Board of Regents. 

Please note that a $3,000 program fee will be added to the cost of tuition each semester.  There is no difference in the rate of the program fee for in state and out of state students. 

The Genetic Counseling Graduate Program does not provide financial aid, however students may contact the Financial Aid office for assistance (https://financialaid.arizona.edu/graduate-students). The student is responsible for all expenses related to completion of the degree requirements.

The Graduate College has Graduate Access Fellowships (https://grad.arizona.edu/gaf/), to which interested students can apply.

 

Admissions Deadlines

The application period for the class commencing in the Fall of 2022 (class of 2024) will be open from Tuesday, September 7 to Friday, December 17, 2021. The application deadline is close of business on December 17, 2021.

 

International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information

The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

63 

Core Coursework Requirements

The Genetic Counseling Graduate Program requires the completion of 65 units with a grade of "C" or better.  Cumulative graduate GPA must be at least 3.0 to complete this program. Students in the program will take a clinical practicum course every semester throughout the program as well as in the summer to gain clinical experience. Students will also complete a research project culminating in a publishable thesis. 

Genetic Counseling Graduate Program Curriculum

Fall – Year I                                                                                                                      Units

CMM 518 – Fundamental Genetic Mechanisms                                                                 3

CMM 585 - Embryology, Teratology, Birth Defects                                                              3

CMM 527 -  Pathophysiology Basics                                                                                   1

CMM  528 -  Pathophysiology of Integumentary, Resp, & Dig. Systems                            1

CMM 529 - Pathophysiology of Urogenital and Endocrine Systems                                  1

CMM 519 - Introduction to Genetic Counseling                                                                  2

GENE 670 - Genetics Seminar                                                                                           2

CMM 600 - Introduction to Genetic Counseling Research                                                 1

CMM 594 -  Clinical Practicum                                                                                           2

TOTAL UNITS, Semester 1                                                                                            16

Spring – Year I

CMM 520 –  Clinical Cancer Genetics                                                                             2

CMM 620 – Foundations of Medical Genetics                                                                1

CMM 621 -  Genetic Counseling in Reproductive Health                                                2

BIOS 576a – Biostatistics                                                                                                3

CMM 595 -  Genetic Counseling Colloquium                                                                  1

CMM 624 - Advanced GC Skills                                                                                      2

CMM 900 – GC Scholarly Project/Thesis                                                                 2

CMM 594 -  Clinical Practicum                                                                                        2

TOTAL UNITS, Semester 2                                                                                          15

Summer – Year I

CMM 594 - Clinical Practicum (6-8 weeks)                                                                    4

Fall – Year 2

CMM 622 - Survey of Human Genetic Disorders                                                            3

CMM 521 - Molecular Diagnostics and Lab Testing                                                        1

CMM 623 - Contemporary Professional Issues in GC                                                    2

GENE 670 -  Genetics Seminar                                                                                      2

CMM 909/910 – GC Scholarly Project/Thesis                                                                2

CMM 594 - Clinical Practicum                                                                                         4

TOTAL UNITS, Semester 3                                                                                          14

Spring – Year 2

CMM 695d - Advanced Analysis of Human Genetic Disease                                       3

MCB 504 - Bioethics                                                                                                     4

CMM 595 - Genetic Counseling Colloquium                                                                 1

CMM 909/910 – GC Scholarly Project/Thesis                                                               2

CMM 594 - Clinical Practicum                                                                                      4

TOTAL UNITS, Semester 4:                                                                                       14

MS Degree TOTAL UNITS:                                                                                         63

In addition, completion of the UAGCGP requires evidence that a student has achieved competence in:

• Integration of knowledge of psychosocial aspects of conditions with a genetic component to promote client well-being.
• Use of a range of genetic counseling skills and models to facilitate informed decision- making and adaptation to genetic risks or conditions.

This may be accomplished with approval by the DGS (Director of Graduate Studies) by:

• Audit a course addressing psychosocial issues of death and loss such as PSY 456 Psychology of Death and Loss or a related course, or
• Submission of an annotated bibliography or literature review on a topic agreed to by faculty advisor or DGS

The UAGCGP Program Director must approve the method that each student will use to exhibit competence of the above components and when they will integrate this into their activities prior to the start of the fall semester of their second year in the program. Students may complete these requirements at any time during the course of the program. Documentation of the completion of one of these activities must be submitted to the UAGCGP prior to graduation.

Course substitutions are permitted with the approval of the UAGCGP Program Director

 

Elective Coursework

N/A

 

Additional Requirements

Students in the program will take a clinical practicum course every semester throughout the program as well as in the summer to gain clinical experience. All students in the UAGCGP are required to complete a scholarly project. Each student can choose to complete either a thesis or a non-thesis, capstone option. The major differences between the thesis and capstone options are the range of topics that students can choose to focus on and the composition of the committee. Topics for capstone projects are more flexible and allow for a broader scope of projects compared to the thesis option.

 

Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate	4.46%
Med. Time-to-degree (years)	n/a
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male	10%
Enrollment Percent Female	90%
Enrollment Percent International	0%
Enrollment Percent URM	10%

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