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 teaching counselor adaptability and humility throughout the curriculum and incorporating emerging trends that allow for flexibility beyond the practice-based competencies.
- Graduate a student body that consistently represents unique perspectives specific to the genetic counseling field by increasing the depth and breadth of the qualified applicant pool 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 – ✅
Up to 6 scholarships are available to incoming students. Each scholarship is worth $1000, but if awarded to an out-of-state student, qualifies that student for in-state tuition regardless of residency status. The scholarships are renewed in the second year of study for students in good standing.
- The Jacqueline T. Hecht Founding Director Scholarship (2) and the James T. and Nancy Beamer Willerson Scholarships (2): these academic scholarships are awarded to three top students ranked by the program who match to the UTGCP.
- Resilience Scholarship (2): these scholarships are awarded to incoming students who have shown resilience, or the ability to recover quickly during difficulty, as it is one important characteristic that can contribute to success in graduate school and a career in genetic counseling. Applicants need to submit an additional essay (Resilience Essay) in the online application to the program. This allows students the potential to be ranked on this additional track in the UTGCP match process.
Additional Support for Students: In addition to the tradition first year -second year – faculty member pairings at the UTGCP, students may request an additional mentor. The Program will pair the student with GC from a similar perspective who is a UTGCP supervisor, Houston area GC, or UTGCP Alumni. Mentor-mentee pairs are encouraged to meet once a month in the first semester and then once per semester in the remaining semesters.
- Houston, TX
- Flexible summer rotation opportunities – ✅
Texas Medical Center: At the UTGCP, we pride ourselves on the breadth and depth of our students’ exposures in the genetic counseling arena. Our students’ didactic training enables them to be prepared to support the patients who come to the Texas Medical Center for their treatment from all over the world representing various cultural, religious, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Houston itself is one of the most multicultural 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.
