Master of Science in Genetic Counseling

Admissions Standards

Applicants for the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling (MSGC) Program must meet the following admissions standards. Applicants who do not meet all standards may be admitted with the approval of the Program Director; exceptions are made on an individual basis.

• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • If a cumulative GPA is lower than 3.0, the applicant must provide a showcase portfolio that includes professional accomplishments for holistic consideration.
• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher learning or a degree from a non-U.S. institution of higher education that is judged equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree by the Admissions Office.
• Official transcripts for all undergraduate coursework including verification of successful completion of all pre-requisite coursework.
• Successful interview with the MSGC Program Admissions Committee.
• Meet the physical and technical requirements to successfully complete the program, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Pre-Requisite Coursework for Admissions:

• A minimum of 18 semester credits (27 quarter units) of life and physical science courses with a grade of C or higher, including but not limited to:
  • Biochemistry (3 credits)
  • Biology (3 credits)
  • General Chemistry (3 credits)
  • Psychology (3 credits)
  • Statistics (3 credits)
• The GRE is not required.

Application Timeline, Fall 2026

• Application Opened: August 1, 2025
• Application Closed: December 1, 2025
• Review of Applications: August-December 2025
• Virtual Interview Process: January-March 2026
• Match Process: March-April 2026
• Matriculation: September 2026

The results of the Match are released to applicants and programs. Following the release of Match results, unmatched applicants are permitted to seek positions, and programs are permitted to fill positions that remain available independently of the Match.

While the program has received ACGC approval for Candidacy and is accepting applications it has not yet received New Program Accreditation from ACGC.

The timeline is subject to change and one cohort is accepted per academic year (Fall matriculation).

3-Step Application Process

The SCU MSGC program participates in and adheres to the policies set forth by the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match program (“the Match”) administered by the National Matching Services, Inc. (NMS). The purpose of “the Match” is to consider both the applicants’ and the programs’ preferences, and to place master’s level genetic counseling applicants into respective genetic counseling programs.  For more information, please visit National Matching Services for Genetic Counseling.

• Currently accepting students for the Fall 2025 intake
• The MSGC program currently does not admit international students
• SCU will review and contact eligible applicants for interviews

The MSGC program admission standards do not allow advanced placement, transfer of credit, or credit for experiential learning.

Match Fee Waiver

The Genetic Counselor Education Association (GCEA) has established a waiver for the $100 fee associated with the NMS Match. Prospective students who demonstrate financial need AND have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater can apply for a match fee waiver. Prospective students should apply for a fee waiver BEFORE registering for an NMS number. Match fee waivers cannot be awarded to applicants who have already registered for the Match and paid the registration fee.

Applications for the match fee waiver are due by October 4, 2025. Applicants will be notified by October 30, 2025, as to whether they have received a waiver. There are a limited number of waivers, so not all applicants will receive a waiver. Instructions for how to register for the NMS match will be provided to those who receive a waiver.

Waivers are non-transferable to future match cycles or other prospective students. Prospective students who are applying for a match fee waiver will be required to write a short essay and upload at least one of the following documents demonstrating financial need:

1. A copy of a letter verifying unemployment benefits received within the past two years.
2. A copy of a letter on official letterhead from a government agency verifying that you or your family have qualified for public assistance based on low-income criteria anytime within the past 5 years.
3. A copy of your financial aid award letter from another / previous institution dated within 5 the past years.
4. A copy of your approved GRE fee waiver (for tests taken within 5 years of the application deadline).
5. A copy of your federal Student Aid Report (SAR) that verifies you qualified for financial aid within the past 5 years based on a family contribution of:
   • Not more than $1,500 if the student is a dependent student
   • Not more than $1,900 if the student is an independent student

To apply, click here

Program Questions?

• Connect 1-on-1 with SCU Faculty – schedule a phone appointment with an SCU Master of Genetic Counseling faculty member to discuss your path to becoming a future healthcare professional and any questions about the SCU program. Schedule by sending an Email to GeneticCounseling@scuhs.edu with any questions.

Degree Completion Requirements

The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling may be conferred upon those who have fulfilled the following requirements:

• Completed 60 credits within the required 5 terms of the MSGC program. Didactic courses can be completed 100% fully online. Students are not required to come on-campus to complete online courses.
• Successful completion of the MSGC Capstone Project.
• Successful completion of all Fieldwork Practicum requirements, including core clinical cases and supplementary experiences. A minimum of one in-person fieldwork rotation is required unless otherwise authorized. This requirement may include local, regional, or national in-person travel to clinical and fieldwork placement sites depending on the student’s home base location and the availability of supervisors at the time of placement. Some fieldwork placements require in-person attendance, and some rotations may be able to be completed online. This is at the discretion of the practicum supervisor.
• Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
• Successfully passed the Comprehensive Exam, administered in Term 5 of the program.
• Completed all degree requirements within a minimum of 21 months, but no more than 5 years, of matriculation.
• Submitted a Petition to Graduate.

Additional Standards for Enrollment

Once the class is fully seated, information about additional requirements will be provided. These may include the following requirements which must be completed prior to matriculation.

• A physical examination completed by a licensed healthcare provider confirming the student’s ability to perform duties
• Proof of current immunization status
• Government-issued photo ID
• Active medical insurance
• Criminal background check*
• Drug screen
• Pre-matriculation reading and/or assignments

*Any student that has resided or is currently residing in New York may be subject to additional fees for the criminal background check retrieval per state law of New York.

Student Employment Policy

• Due to the rigorous nature of the program, students are discouraged from working. Clinical schedules will not be altered for employment.
• Students are not mandated to hold any position of employment in the institution. University or program employment is not a term of acceptance or continuation in the program.
• Students of the program are not employees of the hospitals or clinics and, therefore, work entirely under the preceptor’s supervision. Students are not to substitute for paid clinicians, clerical staff, or other workers at their assigned clinical sites.