First Year Curriculum

Fall:

Introduction to Genetic Counseling
This course is designed to give students an introduction to the history and practice of genetic counseling. The class provides an overview of the genetic counseling process, including family history elicitation and interpretation, contracting, risk communication, and an introduction to cultural and ethical aspects of the field. Introduction to Genetic Counseling builds the foundation for developing the core genetic counseling skills used in all specialty areas.

Psychosocial Aspects of Genetic Counseling
This is an introductory course in the psychosocial elements of genetic counseling. This course explores how people react to and cope with genetic testing, diagnosis and living with a genetic condition. Both patient reactions and counselor's reactions are explored. Students learn various psychosocial counseling theories and techniques and their application to a genetic counseling session. Case materials and discussion are used to integrate human dynamics and counseling theory.

Clinical Practicum
The first quarter of Clinical Practicum is an opportunity to observe the second year students practice advanced counseling skills. Beginning students gain familiarity with role play and different counseling techniques.

Principles of Human Genetics
This course is the first of a three quarter series, and provides the foundation and background in medical genetics essential for effective genetic counseling, including basic and complex principles of human heredity. The course utilizes problem-based learning scenarios, supplemented by lectures, reviews, and examinations. The course will cover principles of cytogenetics, molecular technologies, modes of inheritance and principles of mathematical and population genetics.

Medical Communication
As a unit within the first year medical student curriculum, this course offers an active-learning approach to the basic clinical skills of communication and diagnostic reasoning. It incorporates small-group, patient-instructor, and peer-observation formats to encourage critical thinking and reflection. Students will role play sessions with professional actors and actresses. Videotaping of these medical encounters is used to provide self-review and feedback and increase awareness of verbal and non verbal cues.

Introduction to Epidemiology
This course is designed to be an introduction to epidemiology and its uses. Course topics include measures of disease occurrence, common sources and types of data, important study designs and sources of error in scientific studies, epidemiologic methods, and critical review of medical literature.

Additional Meetings:
Journal Club
Case Conference
Genetic Lecture Series

Winter:

Cancer Genetics and Beyond: Genetic counseling for complex adult genetic conditions
This class will consider the various adult onset complex disorders, ways to obtain and interpret family history for complex adult conditions, specific genetic risk assessment approaches, and ways to communicate risk to families. Lectures focus on the molecular basis of hereditary cancer syndromes, inherited cardiovascular diseases, and adult-onset neurological conditions.

Introduction to Clinical Genetics
The second in the three-quarter series, this course gives an overview of common genetic disorders presented by experts in each area. Lectures focus on the medical approaches to clinical genetics, including embryology and dysmorphology, teratology and a variety of genetic diseases. The application of medical and genetic information to genetic counseling is also addressed. As in the previous quarter, the course utilizes problem-based learning scenarios, supplemented by lectures, reviews, and examinations.

Research Methods
In this course, the student learns basic research methodology including critical review of the literature, development of a question/hypothesis, research study design (including quantitative and qualitative methods), data processing and management, choosing the right statistical test, survey design, presenting research data and information about the IRB. This class serves as a foundation for students to develop their independent research.

Clinical Practicum
The genetic counseling practicum allows students to practice components of the genetic counseling process through role plays with fellow students and faculty members. During the winter quarter the genetic counseling practicum focuses on communicating basic genetic information, and throughout the year it moves towards higher level counseling skills.

Clinical Rotation
See Clinical Rotations for more information on rotations.

Additional Meetings:
Journal Club
Case Conference
Genetic Lecture Series

Spring:

Psychosocial Aspects of Genetic Counseling II
This course focuses on the psychological and clinical aspects of genetic disease presented in previous classes in more depth. Class discussion, student presentations, and analysis of relevant literature allow students to integrate genetic practice with theory.

Disabilities and Illness
This class focuses on chronic illness and disabilities and the effect these situations have on the individual, family and society. Theories, ethics and practical issues of illness and disability are explored. The class includes class discussions and lectures, presentations by experts in the field, and talks by individuals who have first hand knowlege of what it is like to live with a disability or illness.

Advanced Principles of Human Genetics
The goal of this course (the third in the series) is to educate the student on biochemical genetics and the treatment of genetic disease. As with the previous two courses in the series, a combination of problem-based learning, lectures, reviews, and examinations are utilized.

Clinical Practicum
The genetic counseling practicum allows students to practice components of the genetic counseling process through role plays with fellow students and faculty members. During the spring quarter the genetic counseling practicum focuses on basic psychosocial counseling skills such as empathy, attending skills, validation and reflection.

Clinical Rotation
See Clinical Rotations for more information on rotations.

Additional Meetings
Journal Club
Case Conference
Genetic Lecture Series

Summer:

Research Project
Students continue to work on their research with their thesis committee. For more information, see Thesis Requirements.

Clinical Rotation
See Clinical Rotations for more information on summer rotations.