Courses & Curriculum

 

Curriculum

Year	Semester	Course		Credit Hours
1	Fall	GENEC 601	Genetic Counseling Principles	3
		GENEC 602	Medical Genetics	2
		GENEC 603	Fetal and Prenatal Genetics	3
		GENEC 604	Principles of Counseling	2
		GENEC 605	Genetic Counseling Research	2
			Total Semester Hours	12

Year	Semester	Course		Credit Hours
1	Spring	GENEC 606	Cancer Genomics	3
		GENEC 607	Health and Genetic Deviation	3
		GENEC 608	Laboratory Methods	1
		GENEC 609	Principles of Public Health	2
		GENEC 631	Clinical Practicum I	1
		GENEC 641	Thesis Preparation I	2
			Total Semester Hours	12
Year	Semester	Course		Credit Hours
1	Summer	GENEC 632	Clinical Practicum II	6
		GENEC 642	Thesis/Capstone II	2
		GENEC 651	Professional Issues I	2
			Total Semester Hours	10
Year	Semester	Course		Credit Hours
2	Fall	GENEC 610	Advanced Genetics Topics	2
		GENEC 611	Advanced Genetic Counseling	2
		GENEC 652	Professional Issues II	1
		GENEC 633	Clinical Practicum III	5
		GENEC 643	Thesis Preparation III	2
			Total Semester Hours	12
Year	Semester	Course		Credit Hours
2	Spring	GENEC 612	Journal Club	1
		GENEC 613	Case Conference	1
		GENEC 653	Professional Issues III	2
		GENEC 634	Clinical Practicum IV	5
		GENEC 644	Thesis Preparation IV	3
			Total Semester Hours	12
			Total Credit Hours	58

Degree Requirements

View program degree requirements (PDF).

Course Descriptions

GENEC 601 - Genetic Counseling Principles (3 credit hours)
This course will introduce students to the fundamental components of genetic counseling including an overview of the history and development of the profession and skills utilized in prenatal, pediatric and adult counseling settings. Students will learn about case preparation, contracting, assessment of patient/family needs, family history and pedigree analysis, facilitating informed decision making, and resources to successfully conduct a patient visit. Additional skills include case follow-up, documentation and return of results. Reading, discussion and role-playing allow students to practice skills and gain familiarity with medical terminology. Other professional issues will be covered including the evolving landscape of genetics and genomics in medicine, cultural competence, genetic discrimination and related legislation, direct-to-consumer testing, and interprofessional skills for multidisciplinary teamwork.

GENEC 602 - Medical Genetics (2 credit hours)
This foundational course covers basic principles of human genetics and disease susceptibility including single gene, chromosomal and multifactorial disease and the underlying molecular and biochemical principles and patterns of inheritance. Population genetics topics include Hardy-Weinberg and Bayesian statistics in the context of real-world case examples.

GENEC 603 – Fetal and Prenatal Genetics (3 credit hours)
This course covers fundamental concepts of embryology and normal human development, as well as the range of deviations that can occur, including changes in anatomic development, genetic conditions, teratology and other pathologies. Students will explore human reproduction, genetic causes of infertility, and assisted reproductive techniques. Students will learn about preimplantation and prenatal screening and diagnostic techniques, ultrasound evaluation, carrier screening, pregnancy loss and termination, and build knowledge needed for practice in preconception and prenatal settings.

GENEC 604 – Principles of Counseling (2 credit hours)
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of counseling theory and various counseling models, with emphasis on facilitating the therapeutic process and understanding the genetic counselor’s role in a therapeutic relationship. Students will practice basic counseling and communication skills, interviewing techniques, active listening and effective nonverbal communication. The grief process and psychosocial impacts of genetic diagnosis, risk and uncertainty are explored in detail. Mental health issues and comorbidities are examined, and students will learn about crisis intervention and resources and referral processes for patient support beyond the genetic counseling session. Additionally, students engage in self-reflection, identify personal strengths and challenges as a counselor, and explore self-care techniques to reduce professional burnout and promote wellness.

GENEC 605 – Genetic Counseling Research (2 credit hours)
Basic concepts of research are emphasized, including methodology and study design, ethical principles, epidemiology and biostatistics. Students will apply concepts to critically evaluate published medical and genetic counseling literature. Students will define area(s) of interest for their thesis/capstone project and begin project design.

GENEC 606 - Cancer Genomics (3 credit hours)
The biologic and cellular bases of cancer are reviewed, along with cancer types, epidemiology, basics of treatments, and the psychosocial impacts a cancer diagnosis can have on a patient and family. Students learn to recognize and offer counseling and testing for rare and common hereditary cancer syndromes and explore familial and personal risk assessment in the context of role plays and case scenarios. Tumor genomics are also explored including pathology and genomic drivers that may guide prognosis, personalized treatment and/or clinical trial eligibility. Students will become familiar with existing technologies, therapeutics and patient resources and appreciate the importance of continuing education given the rapid evolution in the field.

GENEC 607 – Health and Genetic Deviation (3 credit hours)
This course covers the range of normal physical and cognitive development in childhood, as well as natural progression that occurs through adolescence, adulthood, and aging. Deviations are reviewed including inborn errors of metabolism, developmental delay, autism spectrum disorders, and classic genetic syndromes of childhood. Adult and variable onset conditions are also explored, with emphases on subspecialty areas of genetic counseling practice including cardiovascular genetics, neurogenetics, hematology, pulmonary and ophthalmology. Pathways to diagnosis, including newborn screening, are reviewed.

GENEC 608 – Laboratory Methods (1 credit hour)
Historical, modern and emerging laboratory techniques utilized for genetic testing are reviewed so that students gain familiarity with capabilities, limitations and the general process of each technique. This course provides fundamental preparedness for genetic counselors to work in a laboratory setting and/or order and interpret genetic testing, including variant classification and interpretation.

GENEC 609 – Principles of Public Health (2 credit hour)
This course explores psychosocial determinants of health and roots of health inequity. Cultural competence and disability awareness are fostered through didactic teaching, readings, discussion and reflection. The US healthcare system is examined including insurance, billing and reimbursement principles. Students engage in study and discussion of public policy issues such as genetic counseling licensure and other timely topics, and explore legislative, privacy and confidentiality topics in the context of genetic counseling.

GENEC 631 – Clinical Practicum I (1 credit hours)
Students engage with standardized patients under supervision to gain experience and build skills in prenatal, pediatric and cancer genetic counseling. Students begin building their logbook to demonstrate a minimum of 50 participatory cases over the course of the program.

GENEC 641 – Thesis Preparation I (2 credit hours)
Students finalize their thesis topic, advisor and committee and begin working on their project. Scholarly activities include background literature review and creation of an annotated bibliography, development of project timeline and proposal/protocol, identification or development of survey tools, study methods and analysis plan.

GENEC 632 – Clinical Practicum II (6 credit hours)
Students engage in a 1-month full time (or equivalent) internship to build genetic counseling skills through active clinical and professional roles. Students will be paired with a clinical supervisor in an area of practice that aligns with personal interests.

GENEC 642 – Thesis Preparation II (2 credit hours)
With support of the thesis advisor and committee, students create or compile documents and resources relevant to their thesis, which may include study invitations, informed consent documents, establishing data use agreements, networking with members of rare disease communities, etc. Submission to the institutional review board is expected during this summer session.

GENEC 651 – Professional Issues I (2 credit hours)
This course focuses on professionalism, skills and resources for the workplace, and ethical foundations in genetic counseling and healthcare. Students explore NSGC/CAGC Code of Ethics and present and discuss ethical dilemmas. Students practice utilizing genomics databases and tools to address clinical questions. Other topics include team theory, conflict resolution, professional communication and medical documentation.

GENEC 610 - Advanced Genetics Topics (2 credit hours)
This course focuses advanced topics including biochemical genetics pathways, markers, phenotypes and treatments. Psychiatric genetic counseling and testing are explored, and pharmacogenomics are explored in the context of case examples and drug metabolism/selection. Select rare diseases with targeted therapies are reviewed from a mechanistic perspective. Students research the current state of personalized medicine, gene therapy and gene editing and share findings with classmates through presentations.

GENEC 611- Advanced Genetic Counseling (2 credit hours)
In this course students learn and practice advanced psychosocial counseling skills. Family dynamics, coping strategies, and assessment of patient/family social and informational needs are explored. Students practice assessment of learner needs, including learning style and medical literacy level, and develop teaching tools including verbal, written, multimedia and hands-on teaching methodologies. Students will practice counseling and teaching skills through role plays and outreach to a variety of patient groups, community and peer/professional groups.

GENEC 652 – Professional Issues II (1 credit hour)
Professional networking resources, the genetic counseling job market and career trajectories, and interviewing strategies are topics of focus in this professional issues seminar. Students update their curriculum vitae in preparation to apply for genetic counseling jobs and engage in mock interviews.

GENEC 633 – Clinical Practicum III (5 credit hours)
Students continue to gain experience in diverse genetic counseling practice areas under supervision. With flexible scheduling, students will complete at least 150 contact hours split between at least 2 subspecialties, during this semester. Most cases are now participatory, as students build confidence in their counseling style and take on an increasing number of roles.

GENEC 643 – Thesis Preparation III (2 credit hours)
Thesis methods should be conducted during this Fall semester of year 2. Students continue to work with their thesis committee to accomplish specified project goals. Ideally, at the end of this session students have a complete data set ready for analysis.

GENEC 612 – Journal Club (1 credit hour)
This interactive course engages students in critical evaluation of medical genetics literature. Each student leads chooses a journal article that is timely, and/or of interest to the student’s professional goals or the profession at-large. The student will conduct critical evaluation and present the article to peers for stimulating group discussion.

GENEC 613 – Case Conference (1 credit hour)
This interactive course allows for presentation of actual cases encountered for purposes of both peer teaching and soliciting input from peers on challenging or complex cases. All students will present and engage in case discussion.

GENEC 653 – Professional Issues III (2 credit hour)
The processes of applying, preparing for and taking the ABGC board certification exam are highlighted. Students have the opportunity to identify content areas where additional instruction or review may be useful prior to graduation. The process of applying for state licensure (where applicable) is also covered, along with emerging professional issues and self-care strategies as students prepare to enter the workforce.

GENEC 634 – Clinical Practicum IV (5 credit hours)
Students continue to gain experience in diverse genetic counseling practice areas under supervision. With flexible scheduling, students will complete at least 120 contact hours split between at least 2 subspecialties, and additionally will identify an area of choice for a 30-hour elective rotation. Most cases and professional roles are now participatory, and at the completion of this semester students will have demonstrated successful performance of all practice-based competencies and completed their logbook with the ABGC required 50 participatory cases.

GENEC 644 – Thesis Preparation IV (3 credit hours)
The final semester focuses on data analysis and dissemination of results. Students will take a leadership role in performing these tasks with guidance from their thesis advisor and committee. Students will identify a professional journal and prepare a first-author manuscript in accordance with journal-specific formatting guidelines. Additionally, students will prepare and submit an abstract to the spring MUSC Research Day and, if accepted, present a poster or oral presentation at this event. Students are also encouraged to submit their abstract to professional meetings such as NSGC or ABGC. Finally, students will present their thesis project and results to their peers and genetic counseling faculty at the culmination of the semester.