Over the course of the two-year program, students learn through a combination of direct classroom and hands-on experience working with genetic counsellors, medical geneticists, and other health care professionals. The core competencies of genetic counselling, as defined by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling and the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors, are taught through a combination of didactic lectures, seminars, and practice-based learning.
Our program curriculum is constantly evolving to equip students with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed and adapt to advances in the field of genetic and genomic medicine.
Year One
In the first year of the program, the majority of the course work will take place during the winter session (September to April). Courses may include the following:
Topics covered: Genetic variation, genome analysis, cloning of genes for diseases and normal functions, mutation detection, animal models of human genetic disease.
Credits: 3
Details: This course takes place from September through December and is taken in conjunction with all graduate students, genetic residents and clinical fellows in the Department of Medical Genetics.
Topics covered: Human Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance, and clinical applications of genetics.
Credits: 3
Details: This course takes place from January through April and is taken in conjunction with all graduate students, genetic residents and clinical fellows in the Department of Medical Genetics.
This course is intended to serve the diverse needs of genetic counseling students, research graduate students in genetics, genetic residents and clinical fellows, other health professional students, and graduate students from other sciences and humanities.
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: This course takes place from January through April.
Topics covered: Practical applications, theories, and principles of medical genetics as they apply to genetic counseling. Lectures are primarily led by genetic counsellors and medical geneticists with clinical expertise in the subject area.
Credits: 6
Details: This course takes place from September through April and is restricted to students in the MSc Genetic Counselling Program.
Topics covered: Medical and genetic interviewing and family history taking; decision making; family dynamics; impact of congenital defects, genetic disease, and chronic disease on individuals and families; support groups and other community resources; computer resources; cross-cultural issues.
Credits: 2
Details: This course takes place from September through April and is restricted to students in the MSc Genetic Counselling Program. Part of the coursework is taken in conjunction with students from the second year of study.
Topics covered: Fieldwork experience across a broad range of settings including clinical, research and laboratory. Visit the Clinical Rotations webpage for more information.
Credits: 3
Details: This course takes place from September through April and is restricted to students in the MSc Genetic Counselling Program.
Topics covered: Development of basic interviewing skills for counselling and guidance.
Details: This course takes place from September through December and is taken in conjunction with undergraduate students from a diverse range of study.
Year Two
In the second year of the program, the focus is on practice-based learning and the completion of a directed studies research project. Courses may include the following:
Topics covered: Patient attitudes toward genetic counselling; the grieving process in response to pregnancy loss, death, and disability; risk perception, attitudes toward prenatal testing, dealing with results of genetic testing, crisis counselling, giving bad news; ethical dilemmas; legal and professional issues.
Credits: 3
Details: This course takes place from September through April and is restricted to students in the MSc Genetic Counselling Program. Part of the coursework involves second year students developing their teaching skills through leading role plays and seminars for their peers and the first year students.
Prerequisite: MEDG 560 and acceptance into M.Sc. Genetic Counselling program.
Application of genetic counselling skills in a diverse range of clinical settings. Visit the Clinical Rotations webpage for more information.
Credits: 10
Details: This course takes place from September through April and is restricted to students in the MSc Genetic Counselling Program.
Project development begins in year one and is completed by end of year two. Students receive mentorship for research project development, implementation and reporting through a combination of seminars, group and one to one supervision.
Credits: 3