Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes a successful Genetic Counselor?  What types of students will do well in this program? 

Genetic Counselors are generally highly motivated individuals.  They want to advocate strongly for their patients/clients, become valuable members of the health care delivery team, remain on the forefront of the dissemination of genetic knowledge and advancements to the medical community, and participate in the education of the general public.  Counselors are intelligent, hard-working, compassionate, and reliable individuals. 

Our program is seeking potential genetic counselors who are qualified to take Master’s level science and counseling courses.  Ideal for candidates are mature, confident, organized, and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.  As this program is largely based on distance education, good candidates will have experience with distance based course work and/or be very conversant with computer/internet technology. 

Candidates will have a strong understanding of genetic counseling, the need for genetic counselors in a variety of settings, and the directions/future of the profession.  These insights can be gained by spending time with a practicing genetic counselor in a variety of settings.

How many students generally will apply to this program?  How many will be accepted?

The number of students that apply will vary from year to year.  In general we receive between 30-40 applications each year.  We're able to admit 5-6 students per first year class to the UAMS - Little Rock campus.  The ability to admit a student to the UNMC - Omaha campus varies from year to year.  The total number of students may increase as the program progresses and as additional clinical rotation sites become affiliated with the program. 

Students will only be accepted to begin the program in fall semesters.

What is a “genetics education consortium”?  Where will I obtain my degree if I am accepted to this program? 

This program arose from the common need for well-trained genetics professionals in the central region of the country.  The consortium, MAGEC, consists of institutions and genetics professionals who have worked together on a variety of projects, grants, and educational forums over the past twenty years.  We can best prepare genetic counseling professionals by combining our resources as a consortium.  This approach brings a wider variety of faculty members and lecturers, as well as clinical and research opportunities to our students.  UAMS, OUHSC, KUMC, and UNMC are the participating institutions in MAGEC.

The consortium-based approach will also facilitate students who wish to remain in their “home” MAGEC states while taking all of their lecture/didactic course work.  Clinical opportunities are available in each MAGEC state.  Residents of Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma will be eligible for Arkansas resident tuition rates if they have permanent addresses in those states for at least six months prior to acceptance into the program.  Residents of non-MAGEC states are welcome to apply although are not eligible for Arkansas resident tuition rates. 

UAMS is the degree-granting institution for this educational consortium, unless you are independently accepted to the OUHSC program. 

What are the deadlines for application for admission to the program?

February 15 - All admissions materials are due to the UAMS Graduate School (http://www.uams.edu/gradschool/).

February - March - Complete applications are reviewed by UAMS.

March - April - Competitive applicants are invited to interview with the program faculty.

ABGC Universal Acceptance Date - Interviewed students are informed of their acceptance status:  Accepted, Wait-List, or Not Accepted.  This date changes from year to year, though typically occurs the beginning of May.

What are the most important criteria in considering my application for admission?

We seek students who are genuinely interested in the field of genetic counseling and are involved in activities that evidence this interest.  Successful applicants have the required academic scientific background that is vital to understanding of human genetics.  An applicant’s overall academic and GRE performance is important for acceptance to our program.  See "Admission Requirements" for details.

Does UAMS offer financial aid?

The Graduate School encourages interested applicants to apply for financial aid through the UAMS Financial Aid Office (www.uams.edu/studentfinancialaid/).

What Computer Requirements are Necessary?

Computer Requirements

Can I visit the program?

We encourage interested applicants to visit with any of our faculty members and/or observe clinical activities.  We offer counseling to prospective students who want to tailor their undergraduate coursework for future application to our genetic counseling program.  Please contact the department to arrange a visit.  A visit to a consortium institution may be requested irrespective of the state in which you live.

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