Genetic Counseling Students

Welcome, incoming Genetic Counseling students! This page contains very important information as well as forms that need to be completed and returned prior to matriculation in the Genetic Counseling Program. We hope this information will assist you in making the transition to being a Master of Science student at Baylor College of Medicine. Please review the details and recommendations provided. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the GCP Program Office.

Please carefully read the Essential Student Information document. This document contains information about orientation, financial aid, health insurance and required immunizations, as well as other important details regarding matriculation and the start of classes. Updates to this website will continue throughout the spring, please check back periodically for new information.

Required Textbooks

Advanced GC I & II

  • LeRoy, B., McCarthy-Veach, P., and Callanan, N.. Genetic Counseling Practice: Advanced
    concepts and skills. 2nd Edition, Wiley-Blackwell, New York, 2021. ISBN: 978-
    1119529859

Foundations of GC I & II

  • Pan, V.Y., Schuette, J.L., Wain, K.E., & Yashar, B.M.. A Guide to Genetic Counseling. 2nd
    Edition, Wiley-Blackwell, 2024. ISBN: 978-1-119-89208-3
  • Bennett, R.L.. The Practical Guide to the Genetic Family History. 2nd Edition, WileyBlackwell, March 2010. ISBN: 978-0-470-04072-0

Health Behavioral Counseling

  • Rollnick, S., Miller, W., & Butler, C.. Motivational Interviewing in Health Care: Helping
    Patients Change Behavior (Applications of Motivational Interviewing). 2nd Edition,
    Guilford Press, 2022. ISBN: 978-1462550371

Research Methods in GC

  • MacFarlane, I.M., Veach, P., LeRoy, B.. Genetic Counseling Research: A Practical Guide.
    Oxford University Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0199359097

Laboratory and Variant Interpretation and Counseling

  • Goodenberger, M.L., Thomas, B.C., & Kruisselbrink, T.. Practical Genetic Counseling for
    the Laboratory. 1st Edition, Oxford University Press, 2017. ISBN: 978-0190604929

Not required but strongly recommended and referenced

Embryology

  • Sadler. Langman Medical Embryology Us Ed Pb. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, ISBN:
    978-1-4511-1342-6

Fundamentals in Epidemiology & Genetic Epidemiology and Population Genetics

  • Oleckno, W.. Essential Epidemiology: Principles and Applications. 1st Edition, Waveland
    Press, 2002. ISBN: 1577662164
  • Rothman, K.J.. Epidemiology: An Introduction. 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press,
    2012. ISBN: 0199754551

Medical Genetics I & II

  • Cohn, Scherer, Hamosh. Thompson and Thompson Genetics in Medicine. 9th Edition,
    Saunders, 2023. ISBN: 0323547621
  • Saul, R.A.. Medical Genetics in Pediatric Practice. American Academy of Pediatrics, 2013.
    ISBN: 978-1-58110-496-7
  • Veach, P., LeRoy, B., and Bartels, D.. Facilitating the Genetic Counseling Process: A
    Practice Manual. 2nd Edition, Springer, 2021. ISBN: 978-3-319-74798-9

Other recommended texts

  • Jones, K. (Editor). Smith’s Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformations. 7th Edition,
    W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 2013. ISBN: 1437706967
  • Robertson, D., and Williams, G.H.. Clinical and Translational Science: Principles of
    Human Research. 2nd Edition, Elsevier (Academic Press), 2016. ISBN: 978-0128021019
  • Clarke, Angus. Harper's Practical Genetic Counseling. 8th Edition, October 2019.
  • Reardon, W.. The Bedside Dysmorphologist. Oxford University Press, New York, 2007.
    ISBN: 978-0195300451
  • Medical Dictionary – any good medical dictionary is fine.. ISBN: $30-$40
  • Schneider, K.A., Chittenden, A., & Mahoney Shannon, K.. Counseling about Cancer:
    Strategies for Genetic Counseling. 4th Edition, Wiley-Blackwell, 2023. ISBN: 978-
    1119466468
  • Young, I.D.. Introduction to Risk Calculation in Genetic Counseling. 3rd Edition, Oxford
    University Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0195305272
  • Gardiner and Sutherland. Chromosomal Abnormalities and Genetic Counseling. 5th
    Edition, Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0199329007

Optional texts

  • Weil, J.. Psychosocial Genetic Counseling. Oxford University Press, New York, 2000.
  • Harper, P.. Practical Genetic Counseling. 8th Edition, 2020. ISBN: 9781444183740

Required Reading Before Orientation

Please visit and read the School of Health Professions Handbook in advance of the SHP Orientation on Aug. 2, 2024. At the orientation, you will be asked to attest to having read this handbook as well as the Genetic Counseling Program Manual (by signing attestations).