Master of Genetic Counselling

The goal of this courses-only program is to meet the current and future demand of healthcare system for highly qualified, competent, and culturally sensitive genetic counsellors in Saudi Arabia and in the region. Students graduating from the program will be recognized by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS) as a Specialist in Genetic Counselling.

Classes

MGC 501: Topics in Genetic Counselling I

This course will serve as an introduction to the profession of Genetic Counselling and will provide students with the information necessary to function in the clinical setting. Basic skills used by genetic counsellors will be introduced and practiced. Psychodynamic approaches to counselling and their relevance to the field of genetic counselling will be reviewed.

MGC 502: Topics in Genetic Counselling II

The course will build upon the foundation established in the second semester and continue to develop the clinical skills used in genetic counselling. Interview and letter writing skills will be reinforced; techniques for presenting genetic information to different age groups, to individuals with cognitive delay and to individuals from different cultural backgrounds will be reviewed. Available medical and social services for the individual/family with a genetic condition will be discussed.

MGC 503: Psychosocial Aspects of Genetic Counselling

This course will deal with ethical issues in genetic counselling with special emphasis on prenatal diagnosis. The student will be expected to understand the psychological and social impact genetic disease has on patients and families and how counselling techniques can be modified accordingly. The student will be expected to demonstrate skillful assessment of psychosocial needs of patients and families and to provide appropriate counselling intervention.

MGC 504: Genetic Basis of Inherited Disease

This course describes the chromosomal basis of human disease and stresses the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying inherited disorders. Diagnostic laboratory methods will be an important aspect of this course.

MGC 505: Cancer Genetic Counselling

This course will introduce students to the molecular basis, clinical characteristics and management of hereditary cancer syndromes. Specific types of cancer syndromes will be reviewed with emphasis on pedigree evaluation, pathology, management and genetic testing options. The psychosocial impact of these conditions on the family and individual will also be examined.

MGC 508: Molecular Genetics Practicum

Students will develop an understanding of general molecular biology methods, sample requirements, set up, molecular genetic techniques such as DNA isolation, PCR, multiplex PCR, Southern blotting, analysis of results and development of accuracy estimates.

MGC 509: Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology

An introduction to the structure and function of human body systems, such as the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, respiratory, nervous, digestive, renal, reproductive and endocrine systems, including metabolism and homeostasis.

MGC 510: Observational Clinic Rotation

In their second semester, students will have the opportunity to observe in wide variety of specialty clinics to learn first-hand about some of the clinical issues faced by individuals/families with these genetic conditions. Students are expected to attend two half-day clinics per week.

MGC 511: Medical Genetics Clinic Practicum

In the third semester, students will gain practical experience performing supervised counselling for patients referred to the medical genetics’ clinic for a variety of health concerns. Students will be responsible for researching the reason for referral, establishing a management plan, obtaining all necessary and available historical information, eliciting and constructing a pedigree, and presenting the patient to the attending physician. Students will have increasing responsibility for counselling patients in clinic, under the supervision of a staff genetic counsellor and/or geneticist.

MGC 512: Prenatal Clinic Practicum

This rotation will provide students with practical experience performing genetic counselling for patients referred for prenatal diagnosis.

MGC 513: Advanced Medical Genetics Clinic Practicum

This 8-wk. rotation, in the students second year, provides them with an opportunity to further develop and refine their genetic counselling skills. Students will perform supervised genetic counselling for patients referred for a variety of health concerns. Students will have increasing responsibility for counselling including results follow-up and counselling letters.

MGC 514: Ultrasound Clinic Practicum

This 8-wk. rotation will provide students with practical experience performing genetic counselling for patients referred for prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies on ultrasound.

MGC 515: Genetic Counselling & Islam

This course will deal with an exploration of the teachings of Islam as they apply to the practice of genetic counseling within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This course will also introduce students to the basic principles and methods of analysis from ethical theories applicable to contemporary moral problems in biomedical research and professional practice. Course content consists of; Foundations of Bioethics: ethical theories, moral principles, and medical decisions; Ethics of Termination: abortion; impaired infants; euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide; Teachings of Islam as they apply to the practice of genetic counseling within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

MGC 516: Cytogenetics Laboratory Practicum

Students will develop an understanding of general cytogenetic laboratory methods, sample requirements and set up, timing, harvesting, slide preparation and analysis. Under the supervision of a technologist, students will perform and complete chromosome analysis on a sample of their own blood (students may request use of another specimen if they wish). Observation of molecular cytogenetic techniques will provide students with an understanding of the process necessary to perform fluorescence in-situ hybridization analysis (FISH).

MGC 518: Introduction to Medical & Population Genetics I

This course is designed to introduce fundamental principles of medical genetics with emphasis on the genes and molecular mechanisms operating in human diseases. The general principles of disease inheritance, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and counselling will be reinforced through case studies. Principles of Population Genetics will be taught including the Hardy-Weinberg Law, mutation selection & genetic drift, Association, linkage disequilibrium, and pedigree & Bayesian analysis.

MGC 519: Introduction to Medical & Population Genetics II

This course is designed to introduce fundamental principles of medical genetics with emphasis on the genes and molecular mechanisms operating in human diseases. The general principles of disease inheritance, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and counseling will be reinforced through case studies. Principles of Population Genetics will be taught including the Hardy-Weinberg Law, mutation selection & genetic drift, Association, linkage disequilibrium, and pedigree & Bayesian analysis.

MGC 601: Research/Capstone Project

This intent of this project is to enable to the student to learn to pursue a chosen topic through a literature search on atopic approved by the graduate advisor, collection and analysis of data, project report preparation and defence. Actual submission to a journal will be encouraged, but not required. Although this course officially begins in second year the trainees are encouraged to identify a project topic and supervisor in their first year so that they are able to begin their research project in the fall of their second year.