Healthcare Genetics, PhD

Program Description

The interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Healthcare Genetics, provided through the School of Nursing, offers individuals from multiple health-related disciplines the opportunity to achieve a terminal degree in Healthcare Genetics. The curriculum builds partnerships with more than six disciplines focusing on genetics, health policy and ethics, theory development and quantitative and qualitative research methods. Three specialty research tracks promote advanced study in Translational Genetics [Bench Research], Applied Population Genetics as an Interventionist, or Genetics in Ethics/Health Policy.

The PhD program in Healthcare Genetics prepares interdisciplinary scientists to extend the knowledge base relevant to healthcare genomics, translate research to advance the application of genomics in healthcare and collaborate in interdisciplinary research and practice.

Summary of Degree Requirements

HCG students are required to complete the following over the course of the program:

• 34 hours of 12 core courses
• 18 hours of specialty cognate seminars and electives
• 18 hours of dissertation

Note: Students without previous biochemistry courses are required to take GEN 3020 or the equivalent.

Coursework

Core Courses

• HCG 9010 - Advances in Human Genetics 3 Credits  
• HCG 9040 - Knowledge Development 3 Credits  
• HCG 9050 - Genomics, Ethics and Health Policy 3 Credits  
• HCG 9070 - Applied Health Genetics 3 Credits  
• HCG 9330 - Interdisciplinary Research 3 Credits  

Cognate Courses

Molecular Genetics, Bioinformatics, Human Genetics, Statistics I, Statistics II, Research methods, HCG 9100 - Research Seminar 1-9 Credits , HCG 9890 - Selected Topics 1-9 Credits  (Grant Writing; Pharmacogenomics), Population Genetics, Biochemistry, Epidemiology, Qualitative research,

Coursework includes a variety of online settings. Some core classes are offered on Clemson’s main campus and students may find alternate courses online and transfer course credits to meet requirements with approval from the School of Nursing.

Outcomes, Learning Objectives, and Graduation Requirements

The program offers graduate students the opportunity to be mentored by faculty from multiple disciplines. All students take five HCG core courses. In addition, students take required or elective cognate courses based on each student’s previous coursework and research interests in healthcare genetics and/or genomic research. With its highly collaborative research and practical-application structure, the program prepares students to:

• Plan and conduct research focusing on genomic aspects of health.
• Formulate health promotion, disease prevention and screening, and treatment strategies that translate and integrate genomic knowledge from a variety of disciplines.
• Demonstrate leadership that facilitates the development and application of ethical guidelines, interdisciplinary research, and health policy in genetics.