Pamela Flodman, Graduate Program Director
UCI Medical Center, City Tower, Suite 800
714-456-7570 / 714-456-5789
https://www.pediatrics.uci.edu/gcprogram/
The Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine in the School of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics offers a Master of Science degree program in Genetic Counseling. The program is an intensive, full-time, two-year program, and consists of didactic coursework, supervised clinical experience, and the completion of a required research project (thesis). The goal of the program is to graduate students who have developed the practice-based skills and competency of an entry-level genetic counselor. In order to develop these professional skills, students gain practical experience in a variety of clinical settings (including prenatal, cancer, pediatrics, and adult clinics), under the supervision of faculty genetic counselors and medical geneticists. Many graduates of the program join academic or hospital-based genetics teams providing clinical services, teaching, and research. Others work for local, state, or federal genetics programs, for commercial genetics laboratories, in research studies, or in education. The graduate program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling.
Division faculty and staff are engaged in teaching, research, and patient service. Clinical activities center on diagnostic evaluation, management, genetic test interpretation, and genetic counseling for genetic disorders, including birth defects, developmentally disabling conditions, hereditary cancers, and adult onset conditions. Faculty research interests include clinical genomics; gene mapping and identification using molecular and quantitative methods; characterization and management of malformation and chromosomal syndromes; genetic variant identification and classification; counseling for late-onset genetic conditions including familial cancers and neurogenetic disorders; factors causing chromosome abnormalities, genomic disorders, and congenital malformations; cancer genetics and cytogenetics; biochemical genetics; psychosocial and cultural issues associated with genetic conditions, prenatal diagnosis, genetic screening, testing, and genetic services delivery; treatment of genetic disease; and ethical and public policy issues in genetics.