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Health Programs

Sarah Lawrence College leads the way in helping students prepare for cutting-edge careers in research, clinical service and policy. With our pioneering Health Advocacy and Human Genetics graduate programs and our new certificate programs in Applied Research Ethics and Public Health Genetics/Genomics, Sarah Lawrence is the place to be for a timely, challenging and rewarding educational experience. Learn more about the health programs available at SLC:

Student in classHealth Advocacy Graduate Program

In 1980, Sarah Lawrence College established the nation's first master's degree program in health advocacy. It has provided a leadership role in defining this new field and in educating professionals to improve health care and ensure access to an increasingly complex system. The health advocacy program, usually completed over four semesters and one summer, leads to a Master of Arts (or a Master of Professional Studies for students who have a previous M.A.) degree and meets the educational requirements for challenging and rewarding careers in this emerging field.

Visit the Health Advocacy Graduate Program Web site»

Students in classHuman Genetics Graduate Program

In 1969, Sarah Lawrence College established the first program in human genetics in the United States. It remains the largest program of its kind in the country and has trained half of the nation's genetic counselors, including the directors of many other human genetics programs in the United States and Canada. Sarah Lawrence alumnae/i also serve as the sole genetic counselors in several nations of South and Central America, Europe, and the South Pacific. The program strives to identify and train future genetic counselors who diversify the professional community and represent minority populations.

Visit the Human Genetics Graduate Program Web site»

Jamie Speer in classPublic Health Genetics/Genomics Certificate Program

Note: program is no longer offered.

A major change is taking place in the field of human genetics. The focus is shifting from rare, single-gene disorders to common complex disorders that involve multiple genes and/or gene-environment interactions. As health and illness become increasingly "geneticized? and as DNA technologies allow screening for genetic conditions to become more common, interdisciplinary training at the juncture of public health and genomics is more critical than ever before. Professionals trained in public health genomics will be essential to ensuring the translation of research into practice at both the individual and societal levels.

Rachel Grob and an ARE studentApplied Research Ethics Certificate Program

Note: program is no longer offered.

The research arena is growing increasingly complex and, as a result, in increasing need of health professionals who can knowledgeably work on research-related issues both from within and from outside the healthcare system?in clinical settings, with disease-specific groups, with research organizations, in oversight agencies and local communities. Such professionals need to employ a range of strategies to be effective in the research arena. Examining, developing and enhancing these strategies is the focus of the Applied Research Ethics Certificate Program.

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