MGCS Curriculum
The Master of Genetic Counselor Studies (MGCS) curriculum at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is a carefully structured sequence. The training program is full time, scheduled over 21 total months, and graduates will complete a minimum of 42 credit hours in science and counseling course work and clinical rotations, as well as a research project.
Sample Schedule
Please consult UW–Madison’s course guide for full course descriptions.
Semester 1 (Fall) — 12 credits
- 713 Introductory Practicum in Genetic Counseling (3 credits)
- 741 Introduction to Genetic Counseling (1 credit)
- 620 Clinical Communication Skills for the Genetic Counselor (2 credits)
- 721 Introduction to Clinical Genetics (2 credits)
- 744 Applications of Biochemical Genetics for Genetic Counselors (2 credits)
- 739 Research Strategies and Analysis in Clinical Genetics (1 credit)
- 737 Contemporary Professional Issues in Genetics Counseling (1 credit)
Semester II (Spring) — 11 credits
- 714 Introductory Practicum in Genetic Counseling I (3 credits)
- 743 Advanced Interviewing and Counseling for the GC I (1 credit)
- 740 Laboratory Genetics and Genomics for the Genetic Counselor (2 credits)
- 742 Clinical Embryology and Prenatal Genetics (1 credit)
- 724 Cancer Genetics Risk Assessment and Counseling (2 credit)
- 745 Seminar in Medical Genetic Counseling Research (1 credit)
- 737 Contemporary Professional Issues in Genetic Counseling (1 credit)
Summer Session
- Build-A-Lab-GC with PreventionGenetics
- Second-year clinical rotations begin
- Optional Supplemental Educational Experiences (e.g. CPP, CIPE)
Semester III (Fall) — 11 credits
- 813 Advanced Practicum in Genetic Counseling (4 credits)
- 748 Special Topics in Genetic Counseling (1 credit)
- 731 Advanced Clinical Genetic Concepts (3 credits)
- 990 Research in Genetic Counseling (2 credits)
- 737 Contemporary Professional Issues in Genetic Counseling (1 credit)
- Elective (1-4 credits)*
*Students must register for at least 8 credits to maintain full time status and there is a maximum allowance of 15 credits per semester.
Semester IV (Spring) — 8 credits minimum
- 814 Advanced Practicum in Genetic Counseling (4 credits)
- 990 Research in Genetic Counseling (2 credits)
- 737 Contemporary Professional Issues in Genetic Counseling (1 credit)
- Elective (1-8 credits)*
*Students must register for at least 8 credits to maintain full time status and there is a maximum allowance of 15 credits per semester.
Clinical Experience
As a trainee, you will rotate through a variety of high-quality clinical settings — most of them in Madison — including a comprehensive cancer center, tertiary perinatal care centers and a children’s hospital. The clinical rotations are supervised by genetic counselors with American Board of Genetic Counseling certification. UW faculty and our clinical training sites serve the needs of many culturally rich and distinct communities. We are committed to providing our students with experience that represents the broad expanse of the communities we serve.
First Year Experience
Clinical rotations start in the first semester and consist of three, 9-week clinical rotations and one lab and public health rotation which spans the entire academic year. Rotations acquaint you with basic practice skills, protocols and the professional issues commonly encountered in genetic counseling.
Exposure to a variety of specialty clinics helps you develop skills in interviewing, data collection and counseling. Experiences in laboratory and public health settings allow you to explore non-clinical roles and become better acquainted with career-related opportunities.
First Year Clinical Rotations
First year students have the opportunity to observe and participate in a variety of clinics, including:
- Medical Genetics Clinic
- Biochemical Genetics Clinic
- Bone Dysplasia Clinic
- Comprehensive Program for Bleeding Disorders
- Cleft and Craniofacial Anomalies Clinic
- Cystic Fibrosis Clinic
- Inherited Arrhythmias Clinic
- Neuromuscular Disorders Clinic
- Neurocutaneous Clinic
- Preventative Cardiology Clinic
- Pediatric Immune Deficiency Clinic
- Sickle Cell Anemia Clinic
- Spina Bifida Clinic
- Madison Women’s Health
- Genetic Support Foundation
First Year Lab and Public Health Experiences
- Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene (cytogenetic, molecular and newborn screening)
- Build-a-Lab-GC in collaboration with PreventionGenetics
- Genetics in Wisconsin: University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
- Center for Patient Partnerships
Second Year Experience
The second year clinical experiences consist of three 10-week rotations, which take place during the intervening summer and each semester of the second year. The advanced clinical rotations provide many opportunities to work toward mastering skills in counseling, interviewing, data collection, case coordination and ongoing care of families with genetic concerns.
Second Year Clinical Rotations
Research
In alignment with our mission to train critical thinkers who contribute to research that advances the field, all students will complete a research experience. In their first year, students take two research-focused strategies and methods courses; in their second year, they complete four independent-study research credits. Guided by a research mentorship team, each student produces a scholarly project and a publishable product that meaningfully contributes to the discipline’s body of knowledge.
Research Examples
- Parents’ perspectives of non-informative germline genetic testing in children with Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome
- Impacts of student debt on the professional and personal lives of genetic counselors: A 10-year perspective
- Spanish language opportunities in genetic counseling training programs in the United States
- Leadership development in genetic counseling graduate programs
- Assessment of the current status of real-world pharmacogenomic testing: informed consent, patient education, and related practices
- Picture this: Evaluating the efficacy of genetic counseling visual aids
- Use of gender-inclusive language in genetic counseling to optimize patient care
- Genetic Testing Utilization: Discrepancies Between Somatic and Germline Results in Patients With Cancer Reviewed at the UW Health Precision Medicine Molecular Tumor Board
- Genetic counseling training program perspectives on delivering disability-related education
- A Review of Newborn Screening for VLCADD: The Wisconsin Experience
Comprehensive Examinations
All students are required to complete a two-part comprehensive examination. The first part is a written examination that assesses your approach to the genetic counseling process as related to the Practice-Based Competencies. The second part is a single-best-answer, multiple-choice examination, similar to the certification examination of the American Board of Genetic Counseling.