Genetic Counseling Program
Welcome to the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
We offer a 21 month (5 semester) program of graduate study leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) degree. The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) for the training of master's level genetic counselors.
The Mission of the University of Colorado Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling is to train competent, compassionate and innovative graduates who will effectively integrate professional practice and human genomics to deliver quality, client-centered genetic counseling services, promote informed health policy, and engage in scholarship, advocacy and leadership activities throughout their careers.
The program’s curriculum and the instructional objectives of each component of the training reflect and support students’ development of the Practice-based Competencies (PBCs) identified by ACGC as necessary for current and evolving genetic counseling practice. Through their training, students will learn to effectively assist patients, health care providers and the public to understand and appropriately utilize genetic information and testing to promote individualized and informed health care choices and wellbeing.
The comprehensive curriculum combines in-depth didactic coursework in the scientific, clinical, psychosocial and professional practice aspects of genetic counseling with extensive,
hands-on clinical experience in pediatric, prenatal, adult, oncology and specialty genetics clinics.
Clinical training is provided through:
- Children's Hospital Colorado
- University of Colorado Hospital in the Anschutz Centers for Advanced Medicine and University of Colorado Cancer Center
- Telehealth Genetics Clinics serving patients throughout Colorado
- And other area genetic counseling centers
All students participate in clinical case conferences, genetics seminars, journal club, and clinical research activities.
The program’s graduates are in very high demand and typically receive employment offers prior to graduation. They work throughout the U.S. and Canada, and in all areas of genetic counseling practice. Their performance on the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) board certification examination is excellent, with a first-time passing rate of 94.4% for the past 3 years (2021-2023) and 97.9% for the past 8 years (2016-2023). The program's job placement rate during the same period is 100%. The program’s attrition rate during the same period is zero.
Learn more about the Learning Outcomes for Genetic Counseling MS Program
Important Information for Applicants: The MS Genetic Counseling Program participates in the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match through National Matching Services (NMS). The GC Admissions Match has been established to enhance the process
of placing applicants into positions in masters-level genetic counseling programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC). The Match uses a process that takes into account both applicants’ and programs’
preferences. All applicants must first register for the Match with NMS before applying to participating genetic counseling graduate programs. At the conclusion of all program interviews, both applicants and programs will submit ranked lists of preferred
placements to NMS according to deadlines posted on the NMS website. The binding results of the Match will be released to both applicants and programs simultaneously in late April.
Please visit the NMS website to register for the match, review detailed information about the matching process, and to view a demonstration of how the matching algorithm works. A match fee waiver program for qualifying prospective students is administered by the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors (AGCPD); prospective students should apply for a fee waiver before registering for an NMS number.
Questions?
Contact us at genc-ms@cuanschutz.edu
The Genetic Counseling Program at the University of Colorado Denver is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling, Inc., 7918 Jones Branch Drive, Ste. 300, McLean, VA 22102. Telephone: (703) 506 - 7667.