Curriculum Overview

The Genetic Counseling curriculum at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison is a carefully structured sequence of courses and clinical practicums scheduled over approximately 21 months. Experiences include:

Science Courses

• Medical Genetics
• Clinical Genetics
• Genetic Counseling for Inborn Errors of Metabolism
• Human Cytogenetics
• Cancer Genetics
• Human Embryology Teratology, and Abnormal Development
• Human Genetics Seminar
• Academic Methodologies

Counseling Courses

• Theory and Practice of Interviewing
• Interviewing and Counseling for the Genetic Counselor
• Family Process: Health and Illness
• Clinical Practicum Seminars
• Contemporary Professional Issues

Clinical Practicums (Counseling Experience)

The clinic rotations are supervised by genetic counselors who are certified by the American Board of Genetic Counselors, and by clinical geneticists who are certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics.

The first-year clinical practicum in genetic counseling consists of five six-week rotations designed to acquaint the student with the basic practice skills required, protocols used and professional issues encountered in genetic counseling. Clinical experiences in a variety of specialty clinics provide opportunities for initial development of skills in interviewing, data collection and counseling.

Experiences in laboratory and public health settings provide an opportunity for students to explore non-clinical roles and become better acquainted with career-related disciplines. Each trainee participates in experiences at each of the following sites:

• Biochemical Genetics Clinic and General Genetics Clinic
  • Inherited Arrhythmias Clinic
  • Cystic Fibrosis Clinic
  • Comprehensive Genetics Services Laboratory
• Bone Dysplasia Clinic
• Specialty Clinics
  • Craniofacial Clinic
  • Primary Immune Deficiency Clinic
  • Spina Bifida Clinic
  • Muscular Dystrophy Clinic
  • Fragile X Clinic

• Lab and Public Health Experiences

  • State Lab of Hygiene (cytogenetic, molecular and newborn screening)
  • Wisconsin Public Health
  • Center for Patient Partnerships 

The second-year clinical practicum is an integrated program of clinical experiences consisting of five eight-week rotations, which take place during the intervening summer and each semester of the second year. The advanced practicum provides many opportunities for trainees to work toward perfecting skills in counseling, interviewing, data collection, case coordination and in ongoing care of families with genetic concerns. Clinics that students rotate through are as follows:

• UW Carbone Cancer Center
• Meriter Hospital Perinatal Care Clinic
• St. Mary's Hospital / Dean Health Perinatal Care
• University of Wisconsin Clinical Genetics Center
• Specialty clinics at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee
  • Sickle Cell Clinic
  • Neurofibromatosis Clinic

Research Requirement

In keeping with our mission of training students to think critically and participate in research, all students enroll in four research credits during the second year of the program. They work under the direction of a research professor toward the goal of producing a publishable research or other project that contributes to the body of knowledge of the discipline.

Other Program Requirements

All students are required to take a comprehensive final examination. It is divided into a multiple-choice component (that is similar to the certification examination of the American Board of Genetic Counseling) and a written component.