Genetic Counseling Program

The University of South Carolina Genetic Counseling Program matriculated its first students in 1985, as the 10th program in the United States and the first in the southeastern region. Now one of 32 programs in the nation, the Program has reached a level of maturity with over 150 genetic counselors graduated, many of whom are leading the profession today. The core faculty and clinical rotation faculty are committed to mentoring genetic counseling students in this special dimension of healthcare.

The two year curriculum includes course work, clinical rotations, and a research-based thesis. Students are afforded a wide range of clinical opportunities in prenatal, pediatric and adult settings as well as specialty clinics through our clinical rotation network.

In 1991 and 1998, the Program received rare “Commendation for Excellence” citations from the South Carolina Commission of Higher Education. The Program was awarded American Board of Genetic Counseling accreditation in 2000 and reaccreditation in 2006.

We invite you to explore the University of South Carolina Genetic Counseling Program through this site. Please also visit the National Society of Genetic Counselors and the American Board of Genetic Counseling websites to learn more about the profession. See also the Oct 17, 2007 article, "DNA Masters" in Nature (Vol 449, 940-941). The future is bright for genetic counselors!

Message from the Director

janice edwards imageWhat does it mean to be a genetic counseling student at University of South Carolina? It means you become part of the team from day one, an engaged learner in our genetics center. It means you have an experienced primary faculty who are open door mentors in your preparation for this career. It means you have access in the classroom and in the clinic to the geneticist and genetic counselor faculty in our clinical rotation network of ten genetic centers. It means the world of genetic counseling unfolds for you in two very busy years, preparing you to take on the dozens of roles open to genetic counselors today.

We’ve built a curriculum over these past twenty five years that connects the knowledge with the skills you’ll need to be a genetic counselor. Our reputation for excellence is known at home and abroad. We carefully review more than 100 applications per year to select the 6-8 students who will graduate from the School of Medicine Genetic Counseling Program. Our alumni are our proudest accomplishment…..working in the best genetic centers throughout the country….they build on our foundation to achieve goals in clinical care, education, research and industry beyond what we imagined.

The future of genetic counseling is yours. Invest your talents ….you’ll be amazed at the deeply satisfying opportunities to serve. We welcome your interest in Genetic Counseling.

Janice G. Edwards, MS, CGC
Professor and Director