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Program Description

The Public Health Genetics Interdepartmental Concentration (PHGIC) is a competitive program for students pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Mission

The purpose of the PHGIC is to provide graduates with a base of knowledge and skills in public health genetics that will enable them to function as public health professionals at the cutting edge of this important new field. Students enrolled in the PHGIC are trained to incorporate a knowledge of how genes, together with the environment and behavior, influence health and apply this insight into their area of practice or research. All areas of public health can be improved and expanded by examining the role of genetics in public health issues.

Read about the development of "Public Health Genetics: An Education Model" at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.


The PHGIC is not a degree-granting program. The School of Public Health believes that public health genetics is an inherently cross-disciplinary field of study that requires experience in multiple public health disciplines. Therefore, the PHGIC is done in conjunction with a departmental graduate degree program at the School of Public Health. Completion of the PHGIC requirements is indicated on a graduate's transcript and on a certificate of completion.

Requirements

To complete the PHGIC, a student must:

  • Apply and be admitted to the PHGIC
  • Maintain a B average or better in coursework
  • Participate in the PHGIC seminar
  • Complete the three PHGIC core courses in Track A or Track B
  • Choose and complete a course from the PHGIC list of electives or an internship focusing on public health genetics

The 13 credits of coursework can typically be completed in two years by a student enrolled in a 60-credit departmental masters-degree program, without adding additional credit hours, by using their program's elective credits. Students pursuing a departmental degree involving fewer credits may apply to the PHGIC, but should anticipate having difficulty fitting the PHGIC requirements into their coursework.

All students are required to take the 1-credit seminar course during their first fall semester and are encouraged to take a second semester of the seminar course during fall semester of their second year, to follow their internships and facilitate interaction between 1st and 2nd year students. 9 of the required credits in the PHGIC are in courses specific to "track". Finally, students may either complete 3 credits of coursework from the PHGIC list of electives or design and complete an internship focusing on public health genetics as the remaining 3 credits needed to complete the PHGIC.

PHGIC students are also strongly encouraged to participate in special events (including speakers, presentations, receptions, dinners, etc.) that are organized for, or relevant to, to PHGIC, and consider additional coursework when possible.

Tracks

Students who are admitted to the PHGIC come from a diverse range of backgrounds. Students with little or no background in the biological sciences or genetics take the courses in Track A. Students who enter the program with two or more courses in genetics follow the Track B course schedule.

The Track A course schedule is designed to provide the fundamentals of genetics during the first semester of public health gaduate study in an “Introduction to Public Health Genetics”. Students then receive a more in-depth examination in “Genetics in Public Health” fall semester of the second year, followed by an examination of the ethical, legal, and social implications in “Issues in Public Health Genetics” in winter of the second year.

Track B begins more in depth with “Genetics in Public Health” during the first fall enrolled in the PHGIC followed by “Genomics in Epidemiology” during the winter semester of the first year where students explore the genomics of disease. Students take “Issues in Public Health Genetics” during the winter semester of their first or second year depending on their individual course schedules.

Advising

Before beginning work towards their departmental graduate degree in Public Health, students are assigned a faculty advisor that is a part of both the student's department and a PHGIC faculty member. These advisors assist students with course selection and help them identify internship, job, and research opportunities in genetics-related areas. Students should contact their Departmental Student Services Representative with questions regarding faculty advising.

Doctoral students in the School of Public Health should work with their mentor or Dr. Kardia to outline a course schedule that fits their needs and backgrounds. There are no fixed requirements for doctoral students but those who wish to have formal recognition of completion of the training program should follow the course schedule for either Track A or B.

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