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UCI Program
About Genetic Counseling
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Genetic counselors are health professionals with graduate education and clinical training in medical genetics and counseling. Most are certified by a nationally recognized board, and a few states have developed a mechanism to license them. UCI was one of the pioneers in genetic counselor education. Our program was started in 1973,
at which time only five other institutions offered a master’s degree in genetic counseling. UCI’s first class of three students graduated in 1975, and we now have 90 alumnae.
The program is based in the Division of Human Genetics at UC Irvine Medical Center (UCIMC). The hospital is located in Orange, California—about 15 miles from the main university campus in Irvine. Most classes, clinics and rounds in which students are involved are held at UCIMC.
In 1998, the graduate program was fully accredited by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) for the maximum period of six years. An external review of the program in 2000 (periodically required of all University of California graduate programs) was also highly positive.
