The application process for Fall 2025 is now open.
Application deadline - August 5, 2025 (or until the program is filled)
All Masters students take the same courses covering the multifaceted aspects of Medical Genetics and Genomics. The Intro the Human Genetics course is equivalent to the first year Medical Genetics course offered in the medical school. Medical Biochemistry is equivalent to a first-year medical school first course.
Students must complete 30 hours of coursework and are required to write a literature-based research paper on a subject in the field of Medical Genetics and Genomics to receive their Master’s degree.
Schedule by Semester
Fall Semester | ||
Course Number | Course Name | Number of Credits |
| HMGN 7010 | Seminar in Human Genetics | 1 |
| HMGN 7020 | Introduction to Human Genetics | 3 |
| HMGN 7030 | Clinical Aspects of Human Genetics I | 3 |
| HMGN 7040 | Human Cytogenetics | 3 |
| HMGN 7060 | Molecular Genetics and Genomics | 4 |
| ||
Spring Semester | ||
Course Number | Course Name | Number of Credits |
| HMGN 7010 | Seminar in Human Genetics | 1 |
| HMGN 7030 | Clinical Aspects of Human Genetics II | 3 |
| HMGN 7050 | Medical Biochemistry | 3 |
| HMGN 7100 | Populations Genetics | 3 |
| HMGN 7950 | Advanced Topics in Genomics | 3 |
| HMGN 7980 or HMGN 7990 | Special Topics | depends on course choice |
Course Descriptions (Click on the semester to see the descriptions)
HMGN 7010 - Seminar in Human Genetics (1 credit hour): This class meets weekly for one hour. Human Genetics faculty, other Tulane faculty and guests from other institutions, as well as graduate students, and medical residents are invited to speak on topics of interest. Topics include basic, applied, and clinical research and reviews to canvass the latest developments in the field of genetics.
HMGN 7020 - Intro to Human Genetics (3 credit hours): This class is an overview of basic disciplines and content areas within human genetics. The emphasis is clinical application of this knowledge within selected topic areas in biochemical, molecular, and population genetics as well as cytogenetics.
HMGN 7030 - Clinical Aspects of Human Genetics I (3 credit hours): This is a class taught by genetic counselors that reviews the clinical aspects of genetic disorders seen in clinic, and provides tools for assessing patients with these conditions. The class is meant to convey to the student the problems of diagnosing and managing genetic disease from the physician's and patient's standpoint. Students are also allowed to attend a limited number of genetics clinics as observers.
HMGN 7040 - Human Cytogenetics (3 credit hours): This course provides the student an overview of the field of cytogenetics. Topics include laboratory diagnostic procedures, mechanisms of chromosomal rearrangement, loss, and duplication, classical and recently described chromosomal abnormalities leading to disease, and molecular cytogenetics including fluorescent in situ hybridization techniques (FISH) and other molecular techniques.
HMGN 7060 - Molecular Genetics and Genomics (4 credit hours): This course will take a detailed look at molecular genetics in humans. It will cover the structure and organization of the human genome; DNA replication, DNA mutation and repair; current molecular techniques used in research; the details of gene expression including transcription, RNA processing, translation and how expression is regulated at the various levels; and the molecular basis of human disease.
HMGN 7010 - Seminar in Human Genetics (1 credit hour): This class meets weekly for one hour. Human Genetics faculty, other Tulane faculty and guests from other institutions, as well as graduate students, and medical residents are invited to speak on topics of interest. Topics include basic, applied, and clinical research and reviews to canvass the latest developments in the field of genetics.
HMGN 7030 - Clinical Aspects of Human Genetics II (3 credit hours): This is a class taught by genetic counselors that reviews the clinical aspects of genetic disorders seen in clinic, and provides tools for assessing patients with these conditions. The class is meant to convey to the student the problems of diagnosing and managing genetic disease from the physician's and patient's standpoint. Students are also allowed to attend a limited number of genetics clinics as observers.
HMGN 7050 - Medical Biochemistry (3 credit hours): This course is an overview of genetic metabolic diseases. It concentrates on inborn errors of metabolism and lysosomal storage diseases. The student is presented with the clinical phenotypes, current methods of treatment, diagnostic procedures, and the biochemical defects resulting in the specific clinical presentation of selected metabolic diseases.
HMGN 7100 - Population Genetics (3 credit hours): This class will acquaint the student with the various theories and methods used in population genetics and genetic epidemiology. Topics include Hardy-Weinberg theory, Bayesian theory, forensics, paternity testing, segregation, linkage and association analyses.
HMGN 7950 - Advanced Topics in Genomics (3 credit hours): This course will focus on familiarizing students with the current, published scientific literature. It will include introductory lectures by faculty on the research methods used in various fields of Genetics. Students will be required to read current literature articles and present the research findings to the class in the form of short seminars.
HMGN 7980 or HMGN 7990 - Special Topics (depends on course): Credit hours for writing a 20 to 30 page literature research thesis-type paper.
