GENETIC COUNSELING PROGRAM

School of Health and Human Sciences

About: The Program

The UNCG Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program is a full-time 21-month program designed to prepare students with the knowledge and proficiency to practice as genetic counselors in a variety of settings including prenatal, pediatric, adult, and cancer genetics.

The UNCG Genetic Counseling Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) and was designed in accordance with guidelines provided by the ACGC.

Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) for Active Candidate Status and to sit for the ABGC Certification Examination. Our graduates have found exciting employment opportunities, from the first graduating class of 2002 to date!

Quick Facts about the UNCG Genetic Counseling Program

 

Background

  • We have 18 available standard rotation placements across 9 institutions, with additional opportunities out-of-state and abroad!
  • Before being accepted, all of our students shadowed or interviewed a genetic counselor
  • The national average GPA of students accepted to genetic counseling programs is 3.5

Our Graduates

  • We have 158 UNC Greensboro Genetic Counseling graduates to date — a phenomenal network!
  • Our graduates are employed across 25 states in the United States, and in Canada
  • Since 2010, 97.7% of graduates passed the ABGC Board Exam, with 96.5% passing on the first attempt (national average pass rate is 80%, with 82% passing on the first attempt)
  • In the last three years, 19 of 23 students passed on the first attempt
  • In the last three years, two students elected to leave the program and the profession
  • All of our graduates (100%) were employed within six months of graduation, with over 95% being before or within 3 months of graduation
  • From the classes of 2016-2021, students had a 100% acceptance rate for capstone abstracts submitted to NSGC — some students had more than one abstract accepted!

Financial facts

  • Two-year tuition estimates (based on 2021-2022):
    • In-state: $24,900
    • Out-of-state: $55,750
  • All out-of-state students are eligible to apply for in-state tuition in their second year
  • Graduate assistant positions with out-of-state tuition waivers are awarded to 3 first-year students every year
  • Every student who matches receives some funding to off-set tuition costs
  • Additional forms of financial aid are also available annually
  • Don’t forget to fill out your FAFSA!

Quick Facts about the Genetic Counseling Profession

  • Main genetic counseling specialties:
    • Cancer
    • Pediatric
    • Prenatal
    • Laboratory
    • General genetics
  • 9 out of 10 genetic counselors report being satisfied with their job
  • Projected job growth from 2016-2026 is 29%, compared to the national growth average of 7%
  • As of 2020, the national average salary for a full-time genetic counselor is $94,957 – a 7% growth from 2018

(Data from the NSGC 2020 PSS)