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Aug 27, 2026
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2026-2027 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog
Public Health Genetics Certificate
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Return to: School of Public Health
Advances in genetics are occurring at a pace that challenges our collective ability to respond to the many social, legal, ethical, and public health policy implications generated by this revolution of knowledge. The purpose of this certificate is to provide graduates with a basic grounding in public health genetics that will enable them to function as public health professionals at the cutting edge of this important new area. You will be trained to incorporate knowledge of how genes, together with the environment and behavior, influence health and apply this insight into their area of practice or research. Additionally, you will:
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Demonstrate basic knowledge of the role that genetics plays in the development of disease
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Identify the limits of your genetic expertise
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Identify ethical and medical limitations to genetic testing, including uses that don’t benefit the individual
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Determine the role that cultural, social, behavioral, environmental, and genetic factors play in the development and prevention of genetic-related diseases
Contact Information
Certificate Director
3129 PUBHL
130 DeSoto St.
412-624-3190
Certificate Staff
3139 PUBHL
130 DeSoto St.
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Required Courses
10 Credits
Basic Science of Genetics Competency Courses
At least 6 credits from the following six courses are required to achieve competency in the basic science of genetics.
Elective Courses
5 Credits
Maximum 2 Credits
The following courses can be taken to fulfill the certificate program, but a maximum of 2 credits may come from these courses.
- HUGEN 2021 - SPECIAL STUDIES
→ Can be taken if a student’s essay/thesis/dissertation project is related to Human Genetics or Public Health Genetics or if the student wishes to conduct a small independent research project on a topic in Public Health Genetics. A final written document must be submitted and reviewed. This can be in the form of the student’s essay/thesis/dissertation or a research paper on the independent project.
→ If a public health genetics HUGEN course is being offered as a “current topics” course under HUGEN 2021 - Special Studies, students may take the course and have all special studies credits count towards the certificate. - HUGEN 2028 - HUMAN GENETICS JOURNAL CLUB AND PEER REVIEW
- HUGEN 2047 - CLINICAL GENETICS CASE CONFERENCE
- HUGEN 2050 - PUBLIC HEALTH GENETICS PRACTICUM
→ Can be taken if the student’s practicum or other practice-based experience is related to Human Genetics or Public Health Genetics. A written document summarizing the experience and the Human Genetics competencies that the student worked on must be submitted to Certificate Leadership.
Additional Courses to Fulfill 15 Credit Requirement
Additional courses permitted for the certificate to fulfill the 15 credit requirement include, but are not limited to, the following courses. Other courses may be permitted but must be pre-approved by the Director of the Public Health Genetics Certificate Program in the Department of Human Genetics.
Certificate Requirements for Students in a HUGEN Degree Program
Students in a HUGEN degree program other than the MPH are eligible to receive the Public Health Genetics Certificate by meeting the requirements below:
- Students must complete six credits of coursework not already required by the student’s degree program
- Students must complete the following courses:
- The additional two credits of coursework can come from any of the following:
- The list of HUGEN core courses, the list of approved additional courses, or must be approved by the Public Health Genetics Certificate Program Director in the Department of Human Genetics.
- Up to two credits of a project or practicum work (HUGEN 2050 or HUGEN 2021 ). A paper (8-10 double-spaced pages, plus references) describing the project or practicum is required to receive a grade for these credit hours. Writing guidelines will be provided to students.
- If a public health genetics HUGEN course is being offered as a “current topics” course under HUGEN 2021 - Special Studies, students may take the course and have all special studies credits count towards the certificate.
Total Credits for Students in a HUGEN Degree Program: 15
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Return to: School of Public Health
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