Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling

                     Important Program Update

After 32 years and 32 graduating classes the Brandeis University Genetic Counseling Program will be closing. The Class of 2023 will be the final cohort of graduates. We are proud of all who have graduated from the Brandeis Program, the impact they have made and will continue too for years to come.

Pioneers in Genetic Counseling Education

As the oldest program of its kind in New England, the Brandeis Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling was the first to harness the clinical and research communities in Greater Boston to provide training for future genetic counselors.

Today, our program and its nearly 250 graduates continue to play a pivotal role in the growth of the genetic counseling profession and the evolution of the genetic counselors' contributions — not only in the clinic, but also in research, education and industry.

Our students are intelligent, insightful and motivated to learn. They come to the program with a strong science background and experience in providing counseling to people in times of crisis. They leave with the skills and knowledge to combine the two, and provide meaningful and effective genetic counseling to patients under a wide variety of circumstances and from all walks of life.

Read more about our program history

A Disability-Focused Curriculum

As the mother of a child with a genetic condition, our program's founding director was the first to incorporate a strong focus on disability awareness into the training of genetic counselors.

Learning from individuals and families who are touched by disability or genetic disease is at the core our of students' education. From their community placements, to spending time with families, to hearing and reflecting on individual stories, our students gain valuable insights that we are confident will positively influence how they practice as genetic counselors.

discover how disability awareness is incorporated into our curriculum

Commitment to Diversity

Brandeis University is passionate about social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion at both the undergraduate and graduate levels — and our program's values align closely with this mission. In times of racial division in our society and our profession, we are reminded that there is still work to be done and we pledge to do our part.

We continue to adapt our curriculum to foster a rich and inclusive learning environment for students from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences. Our students are trained to recognize the specific needs of different patients and families; acknowledge and address health care disparities; and work to provide genetic counseling services to all who would benefit from them.

What Makes Our Program Distinctive

• Our campus is ideally situated not only near Boston, a major city with world-renowned research institutions and hospitals that provide exceptional clinical care, but also top-notch medical centers in Providence, Rhode Island; Worcester Massachusetts; and southern New Hampshire, as well as an ever-expanding list of diagnostic laboratories and a wealth of services for individuals with disabilities or genetic conditions.
• Our program incorporates individual and family stories throughout many aspects of the curriculum and places strong emphasis on an appreciation of the individual, both as a patient and a provider. This allows our students to not only better understand the varied perspectives patients may bring to the table, but also gain insight into their own contributions to patient encounters.
• Through their work both in and outside the classroom, our students forge strong and lasting connections with program leadership, faculty members, research advisers and genetic counselors in the community.
• Our expansive alumni network throughout the United States serves as a great resource for professional introductions, job leads, career advice and much more!