University of Oklahoma Health Science Center

College of Medicine
Genetic Counseling
OU Medical Center - Children's Hospital
940 NE 13th
Genetics, room 2B 2418
Oklahoma City, OK 73190
(405) 271-8685

John Mulvihill, M.D., Program Medical Director

Susan Hassed, M.S., CGC, Licensed Genetic Counselor
Program Co-Director and Graduate Liaison
Susan-hassed@ouhsc.edu

Lori Williamson Dean, MS, CGC, LGC
Program Co-Director
Lori-Williamson@ouhsc.edu

11.1 FACULTY ROSTER
For a complete listing of the departmental graduate faculty visit this web site http://idgweb4.ouhsc.edu/facappt/

11.2 DEGREES OFFERED
Master of Science

11.3 AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
 
11.4 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
 The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling is centered in the Department of Pediatrics of the College of Medicine, but involves close collaboration with other departments in the College of Medicine, the College of Public Health, and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. The overall objective of the program is to educate and train master level candidates to become capable of providing genetic counseling to patients and families with known or suspected genetic conditions and to perform basic and/or clinical research in all areas of genetics.

11.5 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

·        BS/BA in biology, sociology, psychology, or a related field with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater in upper division courses

·        Completed Course Work, Recommended, if available - Molecular Genetics; Embryology; Anatomy; Medical Terminology; Upper Division Sociology and/or Psychology; Basic Computer Proficiency

·        Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

·        500 word essay addressing the choice of genetic counseling as a career

·        Three letters of recommendation

·        Any international applicant whose native language is not English and who does not have a master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. graduate school, is required to submit a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  The test must have been taken within the two years immediately preceding the requested semester of admission.  An original score report is required.  Any international applicant who is a resident alien should submit a copy of the Resident alien card along with the application for Admission.

11.6 MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Taken on a full-time basis, course work will require twenty-one months of study. The total time for classroom courses, practicums, and thesis will be 48 semester hours.  Didactic course work will encompass medical genetics, psychosocial theory, counseling techniques, applied clinical and molecular genetics, and cytogenetics.  A major element of the educational program will be clinical practicums to provide the students with supervised actual experience in clinical genetics, prenatal diagnosis counseling, cancer genetics counseling, clinical metabolic genetics, and laboratory techniques in cytogenetics, and molecular genetics.

Candidates for the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling must meet requirements for the master’s degree as described elsewhere in this bulletin. The full 48 hours of course work must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 as well as attendance and/or participation in departmental journal club, grand rounds, clinic case conferences, committee meetings, teaching opportunities, and support group meetings is required. There must be satisfactory completion of a thesis proposal, an original investigation, a written thesis, and oral comprehensive defense examination. The student must pass a written comprehensive examination.

Application deadline is March 1, of the year of admission.

Application can be made online at http://www.ouhsc.edu/admissions/PDF/APP.pdf

You may submit the essay via email to Susan Hassed at the email address above.

11.7 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Genetic counseling as a profession includes positions in private industry, laboratories, research units, and private physician groups as well as in academic centers. Many genetic counselors function as co-investigators or primary investigators for varied projects from clinical studies to laboratory investigations including work on the Genome project. For more detailed information about genetic counseling as a career visit the website for the National Society of Genetic Counselors at http://www.nsgc.org/

11.8 COURSES IN GENETIC COUNSELING

GENC 5002 Human Population Genetics
Human Population Genetics: will provide the student with an understanding of population genetics and risk analysis. It will cover the quantitative methods of analyzing genetic data in theoretical and practical terms. The information will be provided via WebCT an internet educational platform.

GENC 5013 Topics in Genetic Counseling
Second semester of an introduction to the profession of Genetic Counseling that provides information on selected topics.

GENC 5024 Psychosocial Aspects of Genetic Counseling
Provides an overview of child and family development in the context of inherited, chronic disease in order to interview, assess, and counsel an individual and/or family with a genetic disorder. The student will be expected to understand the psychological and social impact genetic disease has on patients and families and how counseling techniques can be modified accordingly. The student will be expected to demonstrate skillful assessment of psychosocial needs of patients and families and to provide appropriate counseling intervention.

GENC 5091 Introduction to Clinical Research
Serves as an introduction to clinical research design and will provide the student with the basic information and skills needed to complete literature searches, formulate research questions, apply ethical principles to and satisfy all regulatory requirements for the conduct of clinical research.

GENC 5092 Clinical Research Methods
Provides students with the theoretical and applied skills needed to plan, design and conduct clinical research projects. Students completing this course will be able to meet the programmatic requirement of completing a research thesis in Genetic Counseling.

GENC 5102 Genomics, Environment and Lifestyle
Will provide an overview of the intersection of environment, lifestyle and genomics across the lifespan, in the context of the US public health system.

GENC 5123 Molecular Genetics Laboratory Practicum
Provides the student with practical experience in the Molecular Genetics laboratory to enable the student to develop an understanding of the laboratory processes required for chromosome analysis, molecular cytogenetics testing, and molecular testing that will include DNA analysis and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). This will include general laboratory methods, sample requirements, DNA isolation, set up, timing, harvesting, and slide preparation for routine cytogenetics, DNA analysis, and aCGH.

GENC 5202 Cancer Genetics
The course will be delivered via a web-based platform. It will consist of fourteen units covering cancer prevalence, nomenclature, epidemiology, etiology, familial aggregation, molecular basis for neoplasia, preneoplastic syndromes, chromosome breakage syndromes, cancer risk assessment and counseling, ethical, legal and social issues, psychosocial implications, research, and specific topics relevant to the practice of genetic counseling. Each unit will consist of required reading with links to additional information available on the internet, assignments, and discussion threads.

GENC 5203 Medical Genetics Clinic Practicum
Provides the student with practical experience performing supervised genetic counseling for patients referred for a variety of health concerns. The student will attend the genetics clinic and will have increasingly independent responsibility for counseling including follow up and counseling letter for two patients each week. In previewing each patient, the student will research the diagnosis/referral reason and management plan, if available. The student will obtain all necessary and available historical information, elicit and construct the family pedigree, and present the patient to the physician, all under supervision of staff genetic counselor. He/she will draft the counseling letter and will be responsible for reporting patients in case conference.

GENC 5212 Systems Disorders for Genetic Counselors
This course will be delivered via a web-based platform. It will consist of fifteen units covering genetic basis of disorders in various body systems and specific topics relevant to the practice of genetic counseling. Each unit will consist of required reading with links to additional information available on the internet, assignments, and discussion threads.

GENC 5213 Amniocentesis Clinic Practicum
Provides the student with practical experience performing genetic counseling for patients referred for prenatal diagnosis. The student will attend the Amniocentesis clinic and will have increasing responsibility for counseling, including follow up and drafting the counseling letter for two patients each week.

GENC 5221 Cytogenetics and Molecular Cytogenetics
Provides a comprehensive introduction to Cytogenetics, Molecular Cytogenetics, and clinical laboratory techniques in the genetics laboratory. The course will introduce topics of chromosomal structure and function, chromosome abnormalities and clinical presentations, chromosomal basis of cancer, and cytogenetic laboratory techniques. The laboratory techniques will provide a basis of understanding that will prepare the students for their practical rotations in the genetics laboratory.

GENC 5222 Molecular Genetics
Will be delivered via a web-based platform. It will consist of six units covering basic genetics, DNA technology, genetic abnormalities, the Human Genome Project, clinical aspects of molecular genetics, and specific topics relevant to the practice of genetic counseling. Each unit will consist of required reading with links to additional information available on the internet, assignments, and discussion threads.

GENC 5232 Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Provides a comprehensive introduction to biochemical genetic disorders, and clinical laboratory testing employed in the diagnosis and management of inborn errors of metabolism. The course will introduce topics of metabolic pathways, clinical presentations and diagnostic methods, patient metabolic management, and reproductive issues. There will be a tour of the state newborn screening laboratory that will provide a basis of understanding regarding the public health issues around metabolic disorders.

GENC 5303 Advanced Genetics Clinic Practicum
Provides the student with practical experience performing supervised genetic counseling for patients referred for a variety of health concerns. The student will see patients at the Breast Health Institute, in Hemophilia clinic, and inpatient clinics with increasingly independent responsibility for counseling including follow up and counseling letters. The student will prepare for patients with disorders generally seen in those clinics and be available to see patients as consultations arise. Inpatient diagnoses will be researched as appropriate.

GENC 5313 Prenatal Ultrasound Clinic Practicum
Provides the student with practical experience performing genetic counseling for patients referred for prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies and teratogen exposure. The student will attend the Prenatal Ultrasound clinic and will have increasing responsibility for counseling, including follow up and drafting the counseling letter for two patients each week. The student will report to the clinic supervisor before the patient leaves clinic and will be responsible for presenting patients in case conference.

GENC 5980 Research for Master's Thesis – two semesters