• Each of these programs involves an initial year of core classes and the opportunity to perform short research projects in departments throughout the University of Utah, including Human Genetics, before joining a laboratory to initiate a thesis research project.
  • Research opportunities within Human Genetics include a wide range of labs pursuing genetic studies in humans as well as in model organisms, including zebrafish, C. Drosophila, and mice. Human Genetics faculty and students collaborate actively with medical faculty in the Departments of Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, and the Division of Medical Genetics.
  • The twenty-one (21) month program is comprised of 67 credit hours in the Department of Human Genetics
  • Genetic Counseling Journal Club will introduce genetic counseling students to the process of evaluating and presenting literature relevant to clinical practice and research
  • Journal Club will meet three to four times annually. Both 1st and 2nd-year students will participate along with faculty facilitators. Other guests and/or program faculty members will be invited to participate and present articles.
  • Genetic counseling students are required to complete six six-week fieldwork placements.
  • In addition, first-year students are required to attend at least 50% of Medical Genetics Case Management Conferences (CMC). The CMC is a weekly conference that reviews cases seen in the Medical Genetics Clinics with digital photos and/or imaging studies of most patients.
  • Second-year students in the first six weeks of the summer semester will have a block fieldwork in the laboratory, industry, and teratology settings
  • Starting in the second half of the summer, second year students begin rotating through the following required fieldwork Placements
  • Students will be evaluated by their fieldwork supervisors’ on the development and improvement of their skills in genetic counseling activities including the practice based competencies (or the progress of their research for a research placement), completion of all required tasks in a timely manner, their ability to maintain appropriate professional conduct, meeting fieldwork objectives, and adherence to the written requirements of the placement.