Dual Degree Program in Public Health and Genetic Counseling

To learn more about this program, please visit the U-M School of Public Health website.

Master of Public Health (MPH) / Master of Sciences (MS) in Genetic Counseling

This unique dual-degree program, founded in 2008, provides students with an innovative learning experiences that includes academic training, research skill development, and clinical instruction. The goals of the program are to: 1) promote health, prevent disease, and manage chronic illness; 2) understand the genetic and genomic basis of common, complex diseases; 3) understand how our genome interacts with social, environmental, and structural factors to influence health outcomes; 4) help individuals, families, and communities understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease; and 5) guide the evolving practice of genomic medicine and public health genomics.

Requirements

The 3-year course of study provides students with academic, research, and clinical training. Prospective students must apply separately to both the Health Behavior & Health Education and Genetic Counseling programs, and be accepted into both in order to enroll in the dual-degree program. Acceptance in one program does not guarantee acceptance in the other. While students complete requirements for both Public Health (48 credit hours) and Genetic Counseling master’s degree (58 credit hours) programs, the overlapping perspectives in public health and genetic counseling allow students to dual count some of these require hours. Students have some flexibility in the sequencing of their program, which is design in consultation with the program directors. Students typically spend the first year based in Genetic Counseling and the second year in Public Health, with combined training in the third year.

Alumni

Program graduates have gone on to rewarding careers in academic medical centers, research, and industry. They have obtained positions at the following sites:

Boston Children’s Hospital
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Huntsman Cancer Institute
University of Michigan Health System
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
University of California – San Francisco
Guardant Health
Myriad Genetics
Humana

Additional Information

For more information, contact the program co-directors:

Public Health: Scott Roberts, PhD (Professor in Health Behavior & Health Education)

Genetic Counseling: Beverly Yashar, MS, PhD (Clinical Professor in Human Genetics)