Typical Course of Study
Typical Course of Study
First Year
Fall Semester
- Advanced Medical Genetics: Molecular & Cytogenetics (GENE 524) (2 Units)
- Advanced Medical Genetics: Quantitative Genetics & Genomics (GENE 526) (2 Units)
- Principles and Practices of Genetic Counseling (GENE 528) (3 Units)
- Research in Genetics (GENE 601) (2 Units)
- Preparing for Genetic Counseling Practice (GENE 534) (1 Unit)
- Collaborative Practice I
Spring Semester
- Psychosocial Issues in Genetic Counseling (GENE 529) (3 Units)
- Advanced Medical Genetics: Clinical Genetics (GENE 525) (2 Units)
- Cancer Genetics (GENE 531) (2 Units)
- Research in Genetics (GENE 601) (1 Unit)
- Preparing for Genetic Counseling Practice (GENE 534) (1 Unit)
- Collaborative Practice I
Summer Semester
- Clinical Practicum in Genetic Counseling (GENE 532) (3 Units)
Second Year
Fall Semester
- Advanced Medical Genetics: Biochemical Genetics (GENE 527) (2 Units)
- Clinical Practicum in Genetic Counseling (GENE 532) (4 Units)
- Foundations in Bioethics I (BETH 401) (6 Units)
Spring Semester
- Ethical Issues in Genetics/Genomics (BETH 412) (3 Units)
- Clinical Practicum in Genetic Counseling (GENE 532) (4 Units)
- Bioethics Capstone (BETH 604) (1.5 Units)
- Foundation in Bioethics II (BETH 402) (6 Units)
Summer Semester
- Research in Genetics (GENE 601) (3 Units)
Third Year
Fall Semester
- Research in Genetics (GENE 601) (3 Units)
- Clinical Ethics Rotation (BETH 405) (3 Units)
- BETH Elective (3 Units)
- Bioethics Mini Elective (BETH 603) (1.5 Units)
Course List
GENE 524 Advanced Medical Genetics
Molecular and Cytogenetics An in-depth forum for discussion of fundamental principles regarding clinical cytogenetics and molecular genetics and their relevance to medical genetics, genomics and genetic counseling. Following a historical overview, topics include a discussion of numerical and structural aberrations, sex chromosome abnormalities, issues regarding population cytogenetics, clinical relevance of such findings as marker chromosomes, mosaicism, contiguous gene deletions and uniparental disomy. The course will cover principles of molecular genetics including structure, function and regulations of genes (DNA, RNA, proteins), genetic variation, inheritance patterns and both cytogenetic and molecular laboratory techniques (fluorescence in situ hybridization, micro-array, SNP analyses, sequencing) 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: Quantitative Genetics and Genomics
This course provides a foundation in quantitative genetics as well as genomic approaches and technologies which have greatly expanded our understanding of not only rare genetic disorders but common ones as well. Concepts related to risk assessment and calculation and its application to medical genetics including principles and application of Hardy Weinberg equilibrium and applying Bayes' Theorem as a mechanism to refine risk assessment based on patient-specific data are covered. The clinical implications of interpreting next-generation sequencing results, identifying limitations of genomic technologies, and practicing annotation and interpretation of genomic testing results are also covered. In addition, resources and bioinformatics tools including national databases and clinical labs to aid in the interpretation of genomic test results including variants of uncertain significance are discussed.
GENE 527 Advanced Medical Genetics: Metabolic Disorders
Fundamental principles of metabolic testing; amino acid disorders; organic acid disorders; carbohydrate disorders; peroxisomal disorders; mitochondrial disorders; etc. Discussion of screening principles and newborn screening as well as therapy for metabolic diseases.
GENE 528 Principles and Practices of Genetic Counseling
Fundamental principles needed for the practicing genetic counselor. Topics include skills in obtaining histories (prenatal, perinatal, medical, developmental, psychosocial and family); pedigree construction and analysis, physical growth and development; the genetic evaluation; the physical examination and laboratory analyses; prenatal issues, prenatal screening and diagnosis; and teratogenicity.
GENE 529 Psychosocial Aspects of Genetic Counseling
Fundamental principles regarding the psychosocial aspect of birth defects and genetic disease, its psychological and social impact on the individual and family. Topics include the genetic counseling interview process, issues regarding pregnancy, chronicity, death and loss, as well as the impact of cultural issues. Resources for families are also explored. Basic interviewing skills are addressed. Students will have an opportunity for practice of skills through role play and actual interviewing situations.
GENE 531 Clinical Cancer Genetics
This seminar discusses basic concepts in cancer epidemiology, principles of cancer genetics, inherited cancer syndromes, cytogenetics of cancers, pedigree 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
This clinical practicum provides the student an opportunity to function as a genetic counselor by preparing for cases; obtaining appropriate histories; determining risks; performing psychosocial assessments; discussing disease characteristics, inheritance, and natural history; providing anticipatory guidance and supportive counseling; using medical and community resources; and follow-up. Students rotate through four clinical areas and one laboratory and will register for a total of 12 hours over the course of the program. Recommended preparation: Admission to Genetic Counseling Training Program.
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
Collaborative Practice I
This new year-long course will include curriculum that focuses on community-based projects and includes classroom instruction and simulation which supports the students’ work. This course will include entry-level health professions students and other interested students. Students will learn how to work in interprofessional teams by completing community-based projects, with didactic coursework and leadership mentoring throughout. Genetic counseling students will participate in this course alongside students from dental medicine, nursing, medicine, psychology, physician assistance and social work, among other disciplines.
GENE 601 Genetic Counseling Research Seminar
This required research seminar is a continuation of the fall research seminar. The major focus of the spring semester will be to provide guidance regarding the development of a research proposal. Discussion continues regarding quantitative, qualitative and mixed research approaches except now in the context of specific research projects. Students will identify their specific research question and specific aims, discuss issues regarding review of the literature, develop the appropriate research design (study population, data collection, data analysis) to answer the research question, discuss the required format of the proposal, human subjects' protection (IRBs) issues and the proposal defense. The end product of the seminar will be a written research project proposal.
BETH 401 Foundations in Bioethics
The first of the two required seminar courses, this course covers five basic topic areas in bioethics: death and dying; health professional-patient relationship; method and theory in bioethics; organ transplantation; and ethics and children. The course meets twice weekly and is taught in seminar format by Center faculty members who are experts on specific topics. Pre-entry.
BETH 402 Foundations in Bioethics II
This course completes the required seminar core and covers the basic bioethics topic areas: health care justice; defining 'health care needs;' reproduction and fertility ethics; research ethics; and ethics in genetics. The course meets twice weekly and is taught in seminar format by Center faculty members who are experts on specific topics. Recommended preparation: BETH 401.
BETH 405 Clinical Ethics Rotation
In this course, students will become familiar with the clinical, psychological, social, professional, and institutional context in which ethical problems arise. This course exposes students to clinical cases, to hospital ethics committees and ethics consultation programs, to institutional review boards (IRB), and to hospital policies covering the "do not resuscitate" orders (DNR), advance directives, withdrawal of artificial feeding, organ procurement and transplantation, and medical futility. Requires minimum of 8 total hours of rotation experience per week during two-semester 10-week rotations. Locations for this course include: MetroHealth Medical Center, University Hospitals of Cleveland, and the Hospice of the Western Reserve. Recommended preparation: BETH 401 or concurrent enrollment.
BETH 412 Ethical Issues in Genetics and Genomics
This course is designed to familiarize graduate students with the major controversies regarding the generation and use of new human genetic information. Topics will include the growth of susceptibility and predictive genetic testing, prenatal diagnosis, genetic discrimination, human genetic variation research, eugenics, genetic counseling, and the limits of human gene therapy. The course will be conducted as a seminar, involving discussions of readings, guest speakers, and student presentations.