Genetic Counseling Program

Our location in the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical complex, gives our students access to several of the nation’s leading hospitals, including Texas Children's Hospital, which is ranked #4 overall in the U.S. Our exceptionally diverse patient care activities, including the nation’s largest clinical genetics program with prenatal, pediatric, adult and cancer clinical encounters, allows rich exposure to patients and families.

Our students have access to research activities within the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, which surpasses all other genetics departments nationally in funding from the National Institutes of Health. The partnership between the diagnostic laboratory, Baylor Genetics, and the College provides unique educational experiences for students seeking either laboratory or industry related genetic counseling careers.

Houston is the most diverse large metropolitan area in the nation. In addition to the diversity of the local population, the institutions of the Texas Medical Center attract patients from around the world.  This exposure to health beliefs and practices influenced by cultural origins provides exceptional understanding of how to approach the provision of patient-centered care. Our students also gain valuable insights through community outreach programs and supplemental activities that transform perspectives on disease and redefine personalized medical care.

The education, research and clinical service roles of the more than 40 genetic counselors who form the principal faculty of the Genetic Counseling Program ensure student exposure to seasoned instructors, reputable researchers, and clinicians in active practice in the specialties of prenatal, pediatric, adult, cancer, and laboratory genetic counseling.

Team-based instruction occurs within the didactic and clinical phases of our curriculum with experiences involving a mix of disciplines including medical, genetic counseling, nurse anesthesia, physician assistant, pharmacy, social work, and nursing students ensuring a rich experience in the area of role socialization.

The College provides access to standardized patients, rotation evaluation tools, streaming videos of lectures, the TMC library system, and quality after-class environments for study. Academic and support services for students promote academic excellence, health and wellness, and student engagement.

100 percent of graduates from our 2020 inaugural graduating class passed the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling certification exam. Over the first two years of the program, employment of graduates has been 100% with all having secured jobs at least six weeks prior to graduation and there has been a 0% attrition rate during that same period of time.