Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions is launching a new Master of Science degree in genetic counseling that will prepare students help patients understand their risk of a variety of genetic conditions.

The new Master of Science in genetic counseling degree from the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University will fill this shortfall and important need.

Developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic and accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling, the master’s degree in genetic counseling started this August with its first cohort of students. The full-time, two-year program is based in the College of Health Solutions with classes taking place at the Health Futures Center in north Phoenix.

Those pioneering students, and the ones who follow, will be prepared to step into a growing field. Program Director and Clinical Professor Katherine Hunt Brendish said the new degree was created in response to demand for more genetic counselors.

“Genetics is a hot topic right now in general,” Hunt Brendish said. “Everyone is interested in genetics and genomics. And for students, I think the field is attractive because it’s a two-year master’s degree, and after graduation, there are a plethora of jobs.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of genetic counselors is projected to grow by 18% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 300 openings per year.

ASU’s College of Health Solutions is the largest academic college on the Phoenix Bioscience Core, offering degrees in undergraduate and post-secondary programs. The college is led by Dean Deborah Helitzer and recently added more than 20 faculty members to its staff. In addition to its academic programming, the college also has a robust research component, as well.

Read more on ASU News.