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
Spring Semester
- Advanced Medical Genetics: 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
Summer Semester
- Clinical Practicum in Genetic Counseling (GENE 532) (2 credits)
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)
- Foundations in Bioethics (BETH 401) (6 credits)
- Genetic Counseling Journal Club (GENE 535) (0.5 credit)
Spring Semester
- Foundations in Bioethics and Medical Humanities II (BETH 402) (6 credits)
- Clinical Practicum in Genetic Counseling (GENE 532) (5 credits)
- Clinical Applications of Bioethics in Genetic Counseling (GENE 540) (2 credits)
- Genetic Counseling Journal Club (GENE 535) (0.5 credit)
Summer Semester
- Research in Genetics (GENE 601) (3 credits)
- Bioethics and Medical Humanities Capstone (BETH 402C) (1.5 credits)
Third Year
Fall Semester
- Research in Genetics (GENE 601) (4 credits)
- Clinical Ethics Rotation (BETH 405) (3 credits)
- BETH Course Elective (3 credits)
- Bioethics Mini Elective (BETH 603) (1.5 credits)
Courses in Bioethics
BETH 401 Foundations in Bioethics and Medical Humanities I
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.
BETH 402 Foundations in Bioethics and Medical Humanities 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.
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.