Typical Course of Study
First Year
Fall Semester
- Embryology (online course - summer prior to 1st year)
- Advanced Medical Genetics: Prenatal Genetics (GENE 521) (1.5 credits)
- Advanced Medical Genetics: Cytogenetics (GENE 523) (1 credit)
- Advanced Medical Genetics: Molecular Genetics (GENE 524) (1 credit)
- Advanced Medical Genetics: Clinical Genetics (GENE 525) (3 credits)
- Principles and Practices of Genetic Counseling (GENE 528) (1.5 credits)
- Preparing for Genetic Counseling Practice (GENE 534) (1 credit)
- Genetic Counseling Journal Club (GENE 535) (0.5 credit)
- Research Seminar I (GENE 536) (1 credit)
- Interprofessional Education Seminars (0 credits)
Spring Semester
- Quantitative Genetics (GENE 522) (1 credit)
- Advanced Medical Genetics: Biochemical Genetics (GENE 527) (1 credit)
- Psychosocial Issues in Genetic Counseling (GENE 529) (3 credits)
- Cancer Genetics (GENE 531) (2 credits)
- Preparing for Genetic Counseling Practice (GENE 534) (1 credit)
- Genetic Counseling Journal Club (GENE 535) (0.5 credit)
- Research Seminar II (GENE 538) (1 credit)
- Interprofessional Education Seminars (0 credits)
Summer Semester
- Clinical Practicum in Genetic Counseling (GENE 532) (2 credits)
- Research in Genetics (GENE 601) (1 credit)
Second Year
Fall Semester
- Advanced Medical Genetics: Genomics (GENE 526) (1 credit)
- Advanced Medical Genetics: Therapeutics (GENE 530) (1 credit)
- Clinical Practicum in Genetic Counseling (GENE 532) (5 credits)
- Genetic Counseling Journal Club (GENE 535) (0.5 credit)
- Research in Genetics (GENE 601) (2 credits)
- Fieldwork Processing Group
- Professional issues seminar
Spring Semester
- Bioethical considerations in Genetic Counseling (GENE 540) (2 credits)
- Clinical Practicum in Genetic Counseling (GENE 532) (5 credits)
- Genetic Counseling Journal Club (GENE 535) (0.5 credit)
- Research in Genetics (GENE 601) (2 credits)
- Fieldwork Processing Group
- Professional issues seminar
Course List
GENE 521 Advanced Medical Genetics: Prenatal Genetics
In this course, students will be introduced to the various aspects of prenatal genetics including normal and abnormal pregnancy and fetal development. Students will become familiar with genetic testing and screening options that are used to investigate risk for genetic conditions in pregnancy and appropriate clinical applications of these tests. Using maternal, familial, and fetal factors, population data, and genetic screening and testing results, students will formulate personalized risk assessments. Topics such as infertility, pregnancy loss, and other pregnancy management options will be explored. Students will appreciate the psychosocial elements specific to prenatal genetic counseling and continue to develop skills in presenting information in a balanced manner.
GENE 522 Advanced Medical Genetics: Quantitative Genetics
The purpose of the course is to provide a foundation in quantitative genetics. We will cover concepts related to risk assessment and calculation and its application to medical genetics including principles and application of Hardy Weinberg equilibrium as well as applying Bayes' Theorem as a mechanism to refine risk assessment based on data specific to a patient.
GENE 523 Advanced Medical Genetics: Cytogenetics
This course provides an in-depth forum for discussion of fundamental principles regarding clinical cytogenetics and its relevance to medical genetics, genomics and genetic counseling. Following a historical overview, topics include a discussion of numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations, sex chromosome abnormalities, issues regarding population cytogenetics, clinical relevance of such findings as marker chromosomes, mosaicism, and contiguous gene deletions.
GENE 524 Advanced Medical Genetics: Molecular Genetics
This course provides an in-depth forum for discussion of fundamental principles regarding molecular genetics and their relevance to medical genetics, genomics and genetic counseling. The course will cover principles of molecular genetics including structure, function and regulations of genes (DNA, RNA, proteins), genetic variation, inheritance patterns and molecular laboratory techniques in the clinical laboratory.
GENE 525 Advanced Medical Genetics: Clinical Genetics
Fundamental principles regarding congenital malformations, dysmorphology and syndromes. Discussion of a number of genetic disorders from a systems approach: CNS malformations, neurodegenerative disorders, craniofacial disorders, connective tissue disorders, skeletal dysplasias, hereditary deafness, cardiovascular genetics, etc. Discussions include diagnosis, etiology, genetics, prognosis and management.
GENE 526 Advanced Medical Genetics: Genomics
The purpose of this half-semester course is to focus on genomic approaches and technologies which have greatly expanded our understanding of not only rare genetic disorders but common ones as well. We will focus on understanding the clinical implications of the interpretation of next generation sequencing results, identify limitations of genomic technologies, and practice curation/annotation and interpretation of genomic testing results. In addition, we will discuss resources and bioinformatics tools including national databases and clinical labs to aid in the interpretation of genomic test results including variants of uncertain significance.
GENE 527 Advanced Medical Genetics: Metabolic Genetics
The purpose of this half-semester course is to examine the biochemical basis of human disease. We will cover we clinical phenotypes, diagnosis, treatment, and genetic counseling for inborn errors of metabolism. Fundamental principles of metabolic testing, amino acid disorders, organic acid disorders, carbohydrate disorders, peroxisomal disorders, and mitochondrial disorders will be covered. Discussion of screening principles and newborn screening as well as approaches to diagnosis, management and therapy for metabolic diseases.
GENE 528 Principles and Practices of Genetic Counseling
This course provides an in-depth focus on the clinical skills necessary to function in a medical genetics setting. Topics covered include why a family might seek genetic counseling, how a genetic counselor obtains and analyzes medical, developmental, and family history information, and how a genetic counselor presents information to families and other medical professionals. Patterns of inheritance, pedigree construction and analysis, as well as the genetic physical examination, procedures and methods used in the genetic evaluation are presented. Information regarding normal growth and development is presented first, followed by discussions of abnormal findings.
GENE 529 Psychosocial Aspects of Genetic Counseling
Fundamental principles regarding the psychosocial aspects of genetic disease and birth defects, its psychological and social impact on the individual and family. Topics include the genetic counseling interview process, issues regarding pregnancy and prenatal diagnosis, chronicity, death and loss. Cultural issues and their impact on the genetic counseling session are addressed. Resources for families are also explored. Basic interviewing skills are presented. Students will have an opportunity for practice of skills through role play and actual interviewing situations.
GENE 530 Advanced Medical Genetics: Therapeutics
The purpose of this half-semester course is to examine the rapidly evolving area of treatment for genetic disorders, both rare and common. We will discuss the mechanisms of therapy for genetic disorders, as well as the ethical issues, risks, benefits, and limitations of each treatment.
GENE 531 Cancer Genetics
This seminar will discuss basic concepts in cancer epidemiology, principles of cancer genetics, inherited cancer syndromes, cytogenetics of cancers, predigree analysis for familial cancer risk and approaches to the differential diagnosis of inherited and familial cancers. Additionally, topics of risk assessment, genetic testing, screening, management and psychosocial issues in providing genetic counseling to patients with familial and inherited cancers will be discussed.
GENE 532 Clinical Practicum in Genetic Counseling
There are six rotations; five in the clinical areas and one in the laboratory. These begin over the summer semester with a six-week General Genetics/Prenatal Diagnosis/Cancer Genetics/Specialty Clinic Rotation at Akron Children's Medical Center Hospital and a two -week Clinical Cytogenetics/Molecular Genetics Laboratory rotation. Rotations continue through the second year of the program with four 8-week rotations including General Genetics and Specialty Clinics rotation (includes children and adults); Prenatal Diagnosis Rotation; and Clinical Cancer Genetics. In addition, there is one 8-week rotation that consists of two 4-week electives. There are several potential areas for elective rotations including rotations with genetic counselors in commercial labs, the opportunity for “advanced” rotations in areas such as prenatal genetics or cancer genetics, and specialty rotations such as ophthalmology or cardiomyopathies. Students rotate at the Center for Human Genetics in University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, the Genomic Medicine Institute at the Cleveland Clinic and at MetroHealth Medical Center. In addition, students start observational experiences at these institutions beginning early in the first year.
GENE 534 Preparing for Genetic Counseling Practice
This course is designed to provide students with a practical foundation in preparing for clinical participation in various practice areas. This hands-on course will build on didactic content learned from Gene 528: Principles of Genetic Counseling and Gene 529: Psychosocial Genetic Counseling and will serve as an applied course. Students will have the opportunity to practice empathy and listening skills, patient education, and counseling techniques through patient role plays. In addition, students will attempt practical skills such as chart review, interpretation of screening and testing reports, pedigree risk assessments, online risk models, simulated coordination of testing, application of practice guidelines in a clinical context, completion of requisition forms, and identification of genetic testing options based on insurance considerations. This practice-based exploration of clinical genetic counseling will be a safe space to practice counseling skills and will equip students to participate in patient care on clinical rotations.
GENE 535 Genetic Counseling Journal Club
This in-person seminar course will discuss current topics in genetic counseling by reading and reviewing recently published articles in the scholarly literature. This will allow students to practice and hone critical appraisal of the literature and apply recently published literature to genetic counseling practice. The format is a group seminar, problem-based learning in which a student will lead a semi-structured interactive presentation and facilitation of group discussion of the research article. For each session, students choose articles with the instructor’s guidance, prepare discussion questions, and lead the group discussion. Articles can be selected from any peer-reviewed journal.
GENE 536 Research Seminar I
This course serves as an introduction to the thesis research process. The course will provide an overview of research methods, both qualitative and quantitative, with a focus on when each type of method should be used. The second aspect of the course is to provide an interactive forum for students and faculty to discuss the research process and provide the student with tools to progress through the process so that the end result is a nearly completed research proposal. This semester will focus on the research process in general, identifying research ideas & questions, working on writing your research question and specific aims and learning to critically review and write a literature review/background as the "underpinnings" of your research question. This seminar course also provides a forum for vetting your ideas and discuss difficulties with your peers. Throughout the course, there will be several "roundtable" opportunities when updates will be expected on your progress. Additionally, this is the time to help your peers, and the expectation is that you will participate in these discussions to assist your classmates. Guest speakers will come to augment specific class topics. Prereq: Enrolled in the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling program.
GENE 538 Research Seminar II
This seminar course is a continuation of GENE 536 Research Seminar I, and is designed to provide the student the tools to develop a complete research proposal in an NIH grant format. This semester will focus on some of the specific aspects of the research process such as developing the methods section of your research proposal, statistical approaches to analyzing research data; and ethical issues in human research--protecting research subjects, IRBs, etc. The seminar class is also a forum for vetting your ideas and discuss difficulties with your peers. Throughout the course, there will be several "roundtable" opportunities when updates will be expected on your progress. Additionally, this is the time to help your peers, and the expectation is that you will participate in these discussions to assist your classmates. The class will be split in half to allow more in-depth discussion and mentorship on your research project. Guest speakers will come to augment specific class topics.
GENE 540 Clinical Applications of Bioethics in Genetic Counseling
This course is designed to prepare genetic counseling students to thoughtfully navigate the ethical issues that arise when working with individuals and families pursuing genetic counseling, screening, and testing. Topics will include foundational bioethics principles; the historical context of genetics and genetic counseling, including eugenics and structural inequities; genomic sequencing in the newborn period; pediatric and adult genetic and genomic testing; carrier and prenatal screening ethics, including disability perspectives and contemporary legal considerations; direct to consumer testing; gene therapy and genome editing; the NSGC Code of Ethics; conscience clauses; and the practical use of ethics committees and ethics consultations in genetic counseling. The course will be conducted as a seminar featuring discussion, reflection, and engagement with guest experts.
Interprofessional Education (IPE) Seminar
This year-long seminar course will include entry-level health professions students and will focus on learning how to work in interprofessional teams with didactic coursework, simulation sessions, case studies and leadership mentoring throughout. Genetic counseling students will participate in this course alongside students from dental medicine, nursing, medicine, psychology, physician assistant, speech-language pathology and social work, among other disciplines. Seminars will occur twice per month, with one session involving all professionals, and the other seminar session involving a smaller group of allied health professionals (PA, nursing and speech-language pathology).
Online Clinical Embryology
This online course, developed by the faculties of the Genetic Counseling Program and Department of Anatomy at the University of Cincinnati, provides students with an in-depth review of normal human development and provides a basis for explaining the process of developmental anomalies. Moreover, the course provides an introduction to the treatment of patients with congenital anomalies as well as counseling options for families of affected individuals. Students are given access to the course prior to being classes of the first year. They are required to have completed the course by the end of September of the first year.
GENE 601 Research Requirement
The Program requires a research project to be carried out for the completion of the program. This scholarly project may be a clinical or counseling project, or laboratory-based project and must relate to some aspect of genetic counseling. At the completion of the project there is a committee oral defense. The final research project is submitted to the research committee in manuscript format suitable to submit for consideration of publication. All students present their research to the department faculty, staff and students at the annual Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences poster sessions.
Additional seminars:
Professional issues seminar:
The second-year professional issues seminar is an opportunity for students to discuss professional issues as they prepare to graduate at the end of their 2nd year. The intent of the seminar is to a forum to discuss pertinent and timely topics regarding professional practice. The seminar covers such topics as an overview of the professional societies (NSGC, ABGC, ACGC, AGCPD, ABMG, ACMG, ASHG), billing & reimbursement for genetic services, credentialing, writing effective resumes, tips on interviewing and negotiating for genetic counseling positions, developing effective talks & slide presentations, examining non-traditional roles in genetic counseling, aspects of clinical supervision, preparing for their first genetic counseling position, including a discussion on financial planning.
Fieldwork Reflection and Processing Groups
This student-led seminar is intended to create a space for second year students to process clinical cases, give and receive feedback to each other in a small group setting, brainstorm ideas together, potentially identify psychosocial counseling theory and techniques used in patient scenarios, and share personal and professional experiences with the aim of supporting growth, improvement, and maintenance of genetic counseling skill development. The time in class is utilized for students to explore and develop their professional self and gain deeper insight into their own and their patients’ experiences, while also taking on more clinical responsibilities for each case. students will work together on processing how their own thoughts, attitudes, traits, and biases impact a genetic counseling appointment.