Genetic Counseling is an allied health profession. Genetic counselors work with individuals and families to help them understand how genetics, both inherited and not, influence someone’s health, future health, disease diagnosis or treatment.
Genetic counseling is a master’s-terminal field where graduates complete two years of intensive coursework and fieldwork prior to sitting for a board exam. Genetic counselors work in healthcare settings across the lifespan, as well as in research, public health and policy, education, leadership, laboratories and industry. Clinically, genetic counselors work with physicians and other allied health professionals to diagnose and personalize treatment and management plans based on genetic information from testing or family history.
UNCG’s Masters of Science degree program is the first program in the state of North Carolina with over 20 years of experience training genetic counselors, fully accredited by the Accreditation Council of Genetic Counselors (ACGC). As one of only a few genetic counseling programs housed at a university campus, we have interdisciplinary experiences and a community focus not typically found in a traditional medical school training environment. Our central location and longstanding relationships across the state result in a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical training opportunities. Small, close-knit cohorts provide a low instructor to student ratio. Students benefit from a high degree of personalized faculty support as well as an emphasis on the development of community within the program and between the program and the populations we serve.
Genetic Counseling is one of the fastest growing healthcare fields with incredibly high demand for graduates. The average starting salary of a genetic counselor is $77,600 and the overall average salary is $102,000. Our program has a board pass rate of over 98% since 2010 and a 100% job placement rate within three months of graduation, with most students securing jobs prior to graduating. The Genetic Counseling Program at UNCG works to build skills that help students to be compassionate, culturally humble, curious, resilient healthcare providers.
Department Highlights
- Very high acceptance rate of abstracts at national conferences (100% for past 6 years, including some who have had more than one abstract submitted)
- Process-driven approach resulting in transferable skills across subspecialities
- Access to experts in the state, region and nationally for critical education and networking
- Differentiated instruction and support by tailoring to each student’s background, goals and needed skills as much as possible
- Training in genetic counseling covers all facets of the field, from clinic to laboratory, research, public policy, education and leadership, allowing graduates to practice and apply skills wherever they want.
- Content in all areas builds upon skills throughout the program, providing solid foundation and introductory experiences to increase involvement with expectations over time
- Emphasis on personal and professional development along with processes transferable to all areas of genetic counseling
Accreditation
The M.S. Genetic Counseling Program at UNC Greensboro is fully accredited:
Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) , Inc.,
7918 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 300,
McLean, VA 22102.
Telephone: 703.506.7667.
The program was designed in accordance with guidelines provided by the ACGC.
Graduates are eligible to apply to the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) for Active Candidate Status and to sit for the ABGC Certification Examination.
