The Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics

Home of the nation’s first—and still the largest—program in human genetics, Sarah Lawrence has trained more than half of the country’s genetic counselors. Characterized by innovation at the nexus of health, science, and society, this world-renowned program prepares students for careers educating not only patients, but also doctors, other health professionals, and the public at large. Students learn that the field of genetics now includes genetic disorders ranging from rare diseases to prevalent conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. Each student is placed at a total of seven sites from a wealth of fieldwork options at nearly 50 centers in the New York City area. At the hub of international growth in the field, the College recruits top scientists to its faculty from the area’s genetic centers and brings leading researchers and speakers to campus weekly to discuss current topics. Each student also develops a community outreach project, targeting an audience to educate about a particular set of relevant genetic information.

Fourth Annual Genetic Counseling Summer Camp

Monday, June 4, 2012
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Join us on campus to learn more about the field of genetic counseling, meet professional genetic counselors and hear about the various roles they have within the healthcare arena, and much more.

Learn more and register»

Graduate Profiles

Caroline Lieber MS '80, director of the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics, weighs in on the rise of direct-to-consumer genetic tests and the risks they pose in a U.S. News & World Report article titled, "Do At-Home Genetic Tests Tell Too Much and Explain Too Little?"

Who is a Genetic Counselor?

Genetic counselors are health professionals with specialized graduate degrees and experience in the areas of medical genetics and counseling. Most enter the field from a variety of disciplines, including biology, genetics, nursing, psychology, public health, and social work. Those considering a career in genetic counseling will also find valuable information here to guide them on their journey to a degree and career in genetic counseling.

Learn more about the field» (pdf)

GeneScene Newsletter

The Winter 2012 issue of the GeneScene newsletter is now online!

Read the newsletter»

GenetAssist Goes Global

GenetAssist is an organization created to provide global access to genetic counseling. It was founded by three second-year Human Genetics students—Gillian Blaber, Lindsey Alico and Ny Hoang—and program director Caroline Lieber. The GenetAssist Team Blog chronicles the group's progress, especially during their pilot program trip to Antigua, Guatemala in March, 2011.

Read the blog»