About the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program

The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program is dedicated to cultivating skilled and compassionate genetic counselors. We achieve this through a comprehensive educational approach that integrates advanced coursework, innovative research, and diverse clinical experiences, ensuring our graduates are well-prepared to deliver exceptional healthcare to all communities.

Core Values of the Program

We honor the distinct perspectives, experiences and voices of each individual, recognizing that they fuel innovation, enhance collaboration and fortify our program’s impact on the community. Our core values encompass integrity, respect, teamwork, creativity, excellence, advocacy and empathy.

The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program develops future genetic counselors who are innovative, adaptive and compassionate experts committed to making a difference in the lives of others, both nationally and internationally, The program’s faculty are experts in teaching, scholarship and service to the profession.

The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program achieves its mission by doing the following:

• Offering students a rigorous, innovative and contemporary education and training
• Contributing to patient-centered genetic counseling both in person and via telegenetics
• Contributing new knowledge to the profession through research and scholarship
• Advocating for and serving our communities, patients and profession

The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program measures progress toward achieving its mission in the following areas:

• Didactic curriculum
• Fieldwork experiences
• Faculty and student scholarship
• Faculty and student community engagement

The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program strategy and goals are aligned with the Practice-Based Competencies necessary for an entry-level genetic counselor as established by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling.

The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program is a full-time day program that consists of four fall and spring semesters with one intervening summer semester session.

The program stands apart from other genetic counseling programs in a few important ways.

First, students learn how to provide genetic counseling over interactive video (telemedicine) through the internationally renowned UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation High-Risk Pregnancy Program — formerly called “ANGELS.”

Second, the majority of our courses are blended in that they provide live instruction along with complementary online components. None of our courses are provided solely online.

Third, some students spend their second year of graduate school at one of our satellite sites. Students at a satellite site join their classes via interactive video but complete their clinical training at the satellite site.

Other features of the program include the following:

• Clinical Skills Center that uses standardized patients (patient actors) for video-taped role plays
• Service-learning
• Interprofessional education
• Faculty and guest lecturers from across the United States
• Diverse research opportunities
• Clinical training that is based on a developmental progression (novice, intermediate and advanced skills)

Graduates of the UAMS program are competitive in the marketplace. Alumni are working in diverse settings and 100% of employers surveyed state that they would hire another UAMS graduate (Employer Survey, 2015).

Students in the program can live in various locations. Applicants can be matched to three program tracks.

For complete information about the three tracks and how they compare and contrast, download this guide.

Track One

The first and second years of this track are completed at the main UAMS campus in Little Rock, Arkansas. The intervening summer consists of clinical rotations that students can do outside of Arkansas.

Three students can be matched to Track One.

Track Two

The first and second years of this track are completed at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The intervening summer consists of clinical rotations that students can do outside of Arkansas.

Three students can be matched to Track Two.

Track Three

The first year of this track is completed at the main UAMS campus in Little Rock, Arkansas. The second year of this track is completed in Louisville, Kentucky, for clinical training while joining UAMS classes via interactive video. The intervening summer consists of clinical rotations that students can do outside of Arkansas.

Two students can be matched to Track Three.

The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program enrolls one cohort of eight students beginning each fall semester. These students are distributed among the three program tracks.

Upon successfully completing all academic requirements, including each of the fieldwork clerkships and an individual master’s thesis on an approved topic, candidates will earn a Master of Science in genetic counseling from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. This achievement qualifies them to apply for eligibility with the American Board of Genetic Counseling to sit for the national board examination, a prerequisite for becoming a certified genetic counselor.

Successful completion of the program does not itself ensure licensure and/or certification. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with state licensure and national certification requirements.

Graduates are responsible for preparing for the examination and familiarizing themselves with the applicable certification and licensing requirements for the state in which they wish to work.