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.

Graduate Profiles

Jordanna JoaquinaJordanna Joaquina '04, MS, CGC decided she wanted to be a genetic counselor in her high school AP Biology class. Today, she is merging her genetic counseling skills with the Internet—and becoming an entrepreneur in the process.

Human Genetics in the News

Human Genetics faculty member Robert Marion, MD, published his seventh book in October 2009, titled Genetic Rounds: A Doctor's Encounters in the Field that Revolutionized Medicine (view book on Amazon.com). In the book, Dr. Marion, director of clinical genetics at both Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY, shares stories from his twenty-plus-year career that underscore the day to day issues and dilemmas that geneticists face.

Genetic Counseling Summer Camp

Interested in genetic counseling? Join us for the Second Annual Genetic Counseling Summer Camp! Our program faculty—genetic counselors including SLC alumnae/i and current faculty—will introduce you to all aspects of the profession, including clinical roles in prenatal, cancer, pediatrics, and assisted reproductive technologies, as well as public health, health policy, and international and educational outreach. The program is designed to provide as broad and diverse a perspective on the genetic counseling field as possible.

Human Genetics Program Newsletter

Gene Scene is a newsletter published biannually allowing both students and alumni to connect and reconnect with the SLC genetic counseling community.

Apply to the Human Genetics Program

The deadline to apply for the Joan H. Marks Program in Human Genetics is January 15.