Fieldwork Training in the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program

The UAMS Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program offers diverse fieldwork training. Students receive excellent clinical experience in prenatal, pediatric, adult, cancer and multidisciplinary clinics. Students also provide genetic counseling using telemedicine and opportunities to explore non-clinical fieldwork placements.

First Year

Clinical exposure begins in the first semester of a student’s training. Students participate in field placements and observations in a variety of genetic clinics in Little Rock, Arkansas; Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville and Lowell), which is approximately three hours from Little Rock; Memphis, Tennessee, which is approximately two hours from Little Rock; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which is approximately three hours from Northwest Arkansas.

During the second semester, students enroll in Genetic Counseling Fieldwork I and begin participating in cases in the core specialties of Adult, Cancer, Pediatric and Prenatal Genetics.

Summer Term

Students enroll in Genetic Counseling Fieldwork II and complete two fieldwork rotations. Students are encouraged to complete these rotations outside of Arkansas, but placements in Arkansas may be possible.

Second Year

During the second year of the program, students enroll in Genetic Counseling Fieldwork III during the fall semester and complete three to four fieldwork rotations. For their final spring semester, students enroll in Genetic Counseling Fieldwork IV and complete two to three fieldwork rotations. During Fieldwork III and IV, students rotate through prenatal, pediatric, adult, cancer and specialty clinics in Little Rock, Arkansas; Northwest Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Springfield, Missouri. Not all students travel to all sites. In addition, some students spend one or two semesters in either Oklahoma City, Oklahoma or Louisville, Kentucky where they live and complete their fieldwork training while connecting for classes over interactive video.

Students must complete a minimum of 50 required participatory cases to be eligible for graduation and the American Board of Genetic Counseling certification examination. UAMS students typically have 100 or more participatory cases.

Students are required to have their own transportation. Most of the clinics are not within walking distance of the UAMS campus and are not easily accessible by public transportation or taxi.