Genetic
Counseling
Welcome
from the Director
About
the Program
Faculty
Courses
Master
of Arts
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About
the Program
The Genetic Counseling Program is a full-time program (two academic
years and the intervening summer). Candidates for the Masters Degree
in Genetic Counseling will be expected to perform at high academic
and professional standards, defined as follows:
-
Successful
completion of 55 credit hours of coursework, research project development,
and clinical rotations
-
Satisfactory
grades, requiring a “B-“ grade or better in all courses
of credit. A grade of “C” in 8 credit hours or
more is not permissible and will result in termination or
temporary
exclusion from the program
-
Participation
in additional educational experiences, including 10 hours of teaching
activities, as well as attendance at case conferences, journal
clubs, grand rounds, and local support groups
Admissions
Requirements
Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited
institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale). The
majority of students will enter the program with an undergraduate
degree in biology, genetics, psychology, nursing, social work,
or public health. However, this program is available to individuals
from all majors as long as the following prerequisites have been
completed: one year of general biology, one year of general chemistry
(including both organic and inorganic chemistry), one semester
of biochemistry, one semester of psychology, one semester of
genetics, and one semester of statistics. Other courses that are
recommended
but not required are human genetics, physics, calculus, neuroscience,
and sociology. Personal experiences relevant to genetic counseling,
including working in a laboratory, counseling with a crisis hotline
or Planned Parenthood program, or shadowing a genetic counselor,
are strongly recommended. Satisfactory scores from the general
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required for all students;
subject GRE scores are optional. GRE scores cannot be more than
five years old, and for admission in Fall 2005, the GRE must
be taken no later than December 2004. TOEFL scores are required
for
applicants from countries where English is not the language of
instruction. Supporting material includes undergraduate transcripts,
3 letters of recommendation, and a personal statement addressing
the applicant’s interest and experience in the field. The
Genetic Counseling Program will use the admissions standards
set forth by the Boston University School of Medicine Division
of Graduate
Medical Sciences.
The
deadline for applications to the Genetic Counseling Program will
be February 1. Those students applying for financial aid must
submit the complete application packet no later than January 1.
Qualified
applicants will be invited to interview throughout March and
April, and interviewing applicants will meet with at least 3 members
of
the Admissions Committee. Notices of acceptance will be provided
via telephone on the national acceptance date designated by
the American Board of Genetic Counseling (typically in early May).
Individuals who receive offers will have five days to respond.
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