Genetic Counseling/Counselor

Types of Degrees Genetic Counseling/Counselor Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many genetic counseling/counselor graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Master’s Degree	360
Undergraduate Certificate	1

What Genetic Counseling/Counselor Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, genetic counseling/counselor majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Genetic Counseling/Counselor Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in genetic counseling/counselor should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Skills for Genetic Counseling/Counselor Majors

A major in genetic counseling/counselor prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities for Genetic Counseling/Counselor Majors

A major in genetic counseling/counselor will prepare for your careers in which the following abilities are important:

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

What Can You Do With a Genetic Counseling/Counselor Major?

People with a genetic counseling/counselor degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Genetic Counselors	29.0%	$80,370

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Genetic Counseling/Counselor

Some degrees associated with genetic counseling/counselor may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for genetic counseling/counselor careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Master’s Degree	100.0%

Online Genetic Counseling/Counselor Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	1	1
Certificate (2-4 Years)	0	0
Associate’s Degree	0	0
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	38	2
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Majors Related to Genetic Counseling/Counselor

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to genetic counseling/counselor.

Major	Number of Grads
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor	9,563
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling	5,724
Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling	3,908
Other Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions	3,475
Clinical/Medical Social Work	3,189
Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	2,648
Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling	2,378
Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling	177
Trauma Counseling	108
Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy	12
Medical Family Therapy/Therapist	5
Hospice and Palliative Care	2

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.