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Academic Programs

Genetic Counseling Program

The Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program (MSGC) is an interdisciplinary program between the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Bayh College of Education at Indiana State University. 

Indiana State University offers a two year master’s degree for genetic counseling.  The mission of the program is to consistently prepare students with exceptional technical knowledge and skills in genetics, genomics, and psychological counseling that will enable them to be successful in all aspects of genetic counseling.  The program will foster an environment that helps students develop ambition for educating others and generates a passion for lifelong learning.

During the first year, students are on the Indiana State University Campus for course work, laboratories, patient simulations through the Rural Health Innovation Collaborative, and clinical experience at the Indiana State University Genetic Counseling Clinic at Union Hospital.  During the second year of the program, the students have the opportunity to travel the country for a variety of clinical skills while continuing online course work.  Students participate in approximately six different clinical specialty experiences (prenatal, pediatric, oncology, ophthalmology, industry, etc.) to gain first hand skills as a genetic counselor.  By participating in different hospital/industrial systems, our students will have a wide breadth of knowledge and skills that will make them competitive in any job market.

Genetic counseling is a young and quickly growing profession that began in the early 1970s with 10 graduates from Sarah Lawrence College.  There are currently more than 4,000 certified genetic counselors in the United States and Canada with the demand growing more quickly than the current training programs can accommodate. 

For more information on our MS in Genetic Counseling Click Here

BD4ISU

Do you want to be a part of working on the most important and challenging problems in health care - curing cancer and other diseases?  Do you want to be a part of the "big data revolution" and be on the cutting edge of new technology?  Do you want to be a part of a program that combines the student-centered atmosphere of Indiana State University with the world-class expertise and facilities of The Ohio State University?  Then BD4ISU is the program for you at Indiana State University.

BD4ISU (Big Data 4 ISU) is a program to prepare ISU undergraduate students for high quality jobs and graduate programs in the area of big data and the biomedical sciences, one of the hottest areas nationally and in Indiana.  ISU is partnering with The Ohio State University (OSU) to develop a curriculum that includes biology, mathematics, and computer science, and a knowledge base and skill-set using big data and the latest tools.  ISU and OSU are grateful to have the support of the NIH (National Institutes of Health, citation below) to fund the program and small cohorts of student researchers from under-represented groups.  With NIH's support, select students will be paid researchers at ISU during the academic year and summer, spend a summer as paid researchers at OSU, receive cutting edge training from both ISU and OSU, and be a part of small cohorts of participating students who recieve individualized mentoring and assistance.

Key information of interest to ISU students and faculty is linked from the menu above.  This website will be kept up to date as the program is developed with more information and resources.

Computer Science 

The Department of Math and Computer Science offers degrees at the Undergraduate level, as well as Master's degrees at the graduate level with the following concentrations: Academic, Bioinformatics, Data Science, and Professional. Visit the Computer Science hompage for more information.

Biology

The Department of Math and Computer Science offers degrees at the Undergraduate level, as well as Master's and Doctoral degrees at the graduate level with the following concentrations: Ecology, Microbiology, and Physiology. Visit the Department of Biology homepage for more information.

Certification Program

References/Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the projected growth is an incredible 29% from 2014-2024.

The Boston Globe named genetic counseling one of the "30 fastest-growing jobs by 2022" with a projected 41.2% increase in job positions

Crain's Chicago Business named genetic counseling one of the "10 most in-demand Chicago jobs in 2016 (that pay $60,000 plus)"

 

Contact Information

Jeff Kinne, Ph.D., Director
Phone: (812) 237-3394
Email: jkinne@indstate.edu

Nathan Myers, Ph.D., Associate Director
Phone: (812) 237-2504
Email: Nathan.Myers@indstate.edu

Shaad Ahmad, Ph.D., Associate Director
Phone: (812) 237-2390
Email: Shaad.Ahmad@indstate.edu

Rusty Gonser, Ph.D., Chairperson of the Department of Biology
Phone: (812) 237-2395
Email: Rusty.Gonser@indstate.edu