University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Genetic Counseling Program
Location: Houston, TX
Program Length: 21 months
Mission: The University of Texas Genetic Counseling Program (UTGCP) excels in the training of versatile genetic counselors by facilitating competency-based learning, supporting personalized growth, and immersing students in the depth and breadth of genetic counseling practice.
Vision: The UTGCP is the leader in the education of genetic counseling students who support and advance genetics in healthcare.
UTGCP 2021-2026 Strategic Plan:
- Ensure graduates are prepared for the multitude of roles in the constantly evolving genetic counseling field by developing a framework for teaching counselor adaptability that incorporates emerging trends and allows for flexibility beyond the practice-based competencies.
- Graduate a student body that consistently includes underrepresented minorities specific to the genetic counseling field by increasing the diversity of the qualified applicant pool, minimizing admission bias, and expanding the community participating in the education of our students.
- Evaluate opportunities for acquiring new sources of revenue to support faculty and students and develop a plan for pursuing selected funding sources.
- GRE – ❌
- International students – ✅
- GPA requirement = 3.0*
- In-state priority – ❌
- Interviews – Virtual & In-person
* below 3.0 GPAs may be considered.
- In-state: $12,423.06
- Out-of-state: $30,783.06
- International: $30,783.06
- Tuition reduction options – ✅
- On-campus work opportunities – ✅
- Match and/or Application Waivers – ✅
- Houston, TX
- Flexible summer rotation opportunities – ✅
In recognition of the unique needs of students who identify with an underrepresented group in genetic counseling, the UTGCP piloted a program in 2020 to match URM students with an additional faculty mentor who identifies as being from a similar underrepresented background. The UTGCP plans to expand and enhance this program moving forward.
We additionally established the UTGCP DEIJ Committee. The mission of this committee is to graduate a student body that consistently includes underrepresented minorities, to nurture and grow an inclusive environment for underrepresented genetic counselors, to actively make the profession of genetic counseling accessible and equitable to all interested students, and to continue learning from our mistakes to ensure this commitment.
At the UTGCP, we pride ourselves on the breadth and depth of our students’ exposures in the genetic counseling arena. Patients come to the Texas Medical Center from all over the world for treatment; therefore, the cases seen represent a wide variety of different genetic conditions and the people seen identify with various cultural, religious, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Houston itself is one of the most diverse cities in the nation, with a large number of residents who have roots all over the world, including Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Vietnam, China, Korea, Nigeria, Columbia, India, and Pakistan. Students average over 200 countable cases at the UTGCP, and are therefore well prepared in all medical and psychosocial aspects of genetic counseling upon graduation.
For more information, please contact GSBS.Admissions@uth.tmc.edu.
