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MS in Genetic Counseling Program

Welcome! The OU MSGC Program has been successfully training board-eligible Genetic Counselors since 2003. The Program is accredited through the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counselors (ACGC) to 2027. The Program was granted reaccreditation in the Fall of 2019. Our students receive a distinctive education, built upon the rich tradition of innovative curricula and cutting edge research at OUHSC.

 

  • This is a full time, two year Master of Science Program that will successfully prepare you to be a practicing Genetic Counselor. 
  • The overall objective of the program is to educate and train master level candidates to become capable of providing genetic counseling to patients and families with known or suspected genetic conditions and to perform basic and/or clinical research in all areas of genetics. 
  • Centered in the Department of Pediatrics of the College of Medicine, our program involves close collaboration with other departments in the College of Medicine, the College of Public Health, and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
  • Students receive a strong science, research, and psychosocial curriculum. Didactic course work encompasses medical genetics, psychosocial theory, counseling techniques, clinical and molecular genetics, and cytogenetics. 
  • Clinical practicums provide the students with supervised experience in many areas of clinical genetics including; prenatal diagnosis counseling, cancer genetics counseling, clinical metabolic genetics, and laboratory techniques in cytogenetics and molecular genetics, and others.
  • Students complete an original investigation, a written thesis, and oral comprehensive defense examination.  Our students routinely present their research with a poster presentation at  OUHSC Pediatric Research Day. 
  • Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for Active Candidate Status through the ABGC and to sit for the Board Certification Examination. 
  • Our graduates are working throughout the U.S.  in diverse clinical settings, including pediatric genetics, hereditary cancer, and prenatal genetics.

Mission Statement

To guide the development in thought, action, and attitude of exemplary professional genetic counselors through academic pursuits, clinical and laboratory experiences, research success, and community opportunities.

Facilities

All coursework and clinical rotations are held in the on the 300-acre University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center campus in the heart of Oklahoma City.  Additionally, we are able to contract with outside institutions for clinical rotations as directed by individual student interest.

Contact

Program Director
Darcy J. HuismannMS, CGC
Darcy-Huismann@ouhsc.edu

Program Coordinator
Veronica "Rubi" Garcia
Veronica-Garcia@ouhsc.edu