[Music and Title card] MS in Genetic Counseling at Boise State University
[Susie]: Hi everyone, I’m Susie, the Administrative Assistant for Boise State’s Genetic Counseling program. Thanks for checking out this video!
I just thought it might be helpful If I created a short video to share the topics I’m asked most about when prospective applicants contact me. So let’s get started.
To start, and most of you will already know this because you are already watching this video, but there’s a great deal of information on our website, which can be found at www.BoiseState.edu/geneticcounseling. So make sure you have a look around. Most of the stuff I’m going to cover today can also be found on the website.
Today I’m going to start with fieldwork, which is also known as clinical rotations. This can be found on our Fieldwork page. Fieldwork takes place in the second year during the semesters of Summer, Fall and Spring. The rotations last 7 to 14 weeks, and there is a minimum of 210 hours each semester.
Clinical rotations take place at clinics and hospitals affiliated with Boise State University in the following states: Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Texas and Montana. Occasionally there are opportunities for rotations in other places, but the majority of rotations will occur in these states.
Participation in our program will require travel (temporary relocation). It is our hope that our students will work in a different clinic each semester in order to see different patient demographics and to get experience with the three main placements of prenatal, pediatrics and cancer genetics.
While travel is required to complete clinical rotations, keep in mind there is no requirement to come to Boise at any point in the program – unless your clinical rotation is here of course – or for interviews. Interviews for our program are done virtually, so there’s a lot of freedom in that.
Moving on to prerequisites. I get asked about prerequisites a lot. Prerequisites can be found on our Admissions page, so let’s go over them quickly.
Prerequisites include a general Biology course, a general Chemistry course, which must include a lab. There is a Biochemistry prerequisite that has an additional requirement of a grade of B- or better. This is a hard requirement. If you apply with a C+ or less in Biochemistry, your application will be considered ineligible and will not be forwarded to the Admission Committee for review.
Prerequisites also include a Genetics course. This course needs to have been taken within the last five years. It also has the hard requirement of a grade of B- or better. Embryology is also prerequisite, which we have added recently.
Finally, there is a General Psychology prerequisite and a Statistics prerequisite. While we will not accept AP courses to fill a prerequisite, advanced university-level courses in the same subject are acceptable.
Prerequisites can be taken at any accredited university, including online courses. All prerequisites must be completed by the application deadline. If you are taking a course in the semester in which you are applying to the program, please see the MSGC Admissions in-Progress Policy, to ensure you’re following all the requirements. Updated transcripts must be submitted by December 30th in this case.
If you’re worried about whether or not a course you are considering taking will meet the prerequisite, please reach out. I can help determine that for you. Please be sure to read the Admissions page carefully, as there are additional requirements and preferred qualifications. If you decide to apply to the program, please make sure to follow the Application Guidebook carefully.
Thank you, I hope I answered some questions for you today. Please feel free to reach out if I can help you in any other way. The best way to reach me is by email at geneticcounselingms@boisestate.edu. I am the only one who monitors this email, so we can communicate back and forth as needed until all your questions are answered.
Thank you – and good luck!