About

The mission of the Master of Genetic Counseling (MGC) program is to educate diverse genetic counselors who will be leaders in genomic medicine, striving to increase access to care, education, and research in genetic counseling.

The program goals are to:

• Matriculate diverse graduate students in genetic counseling who are empowered to succeed in the expanding field of genetics, genomics, and personalized medicine.
• Facilitate faculty and student collaboration with Vanderbilt researchers to enable significant contributions in the areas of genetics and genomics, genetic counseling, and personalized medicine.
• Improve access to genetic services by increasing the number of providers and expanding awareness about the field.

Graduates of the MGC program will:

• Expand their knowledge about genetics and genomics and practice the application of this understanding in medicine as set forth by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) standards.
• Develop skills to sensitively convey complex medical information to health care consumers and providers, utilizing appropriate evidence-based approaches to practice, as outlined in the ACGC competencies.
• Evaluate and analyze research to formulate important questions, and apply critical thinking and appropriate investigational methods to pursue answers to those questions.

Program Data

• ABGC Board Exam Performance for past 3 years [2022-2024]

  81% pass rate of all graduates (National Average 68%)

  76% first-time board pass rate (National Average 71%)

• Graduation & Job Placement rate 

  100% of graduates completed their degree in May as expected

  8% attrition rate [2023-2025]

  100% job placement within 3 months of graduation [2002-2024]

Vanderbilt University Master of Genetic Counseling Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC). Status granted November 2022.