Prospective Students

Dear Prospective Clinical Science’s Student:

Welcome and thank you for your interest in the Clinical Science Department at California State University Dominguez Hills. The rapid expansion of basic medical information, methodology and technology in recent years has increased the demand for highly skilled professional personnel in the clinical, research and teaching laboratories. The training of such specialists as medical technologists and cytotechnologists is all within the broad scope of the field of clinical science.

The Program is available as either a BS degree or a Post Baccalaureate Certificate. Two clinical options are available: Medical Technology (aka CLS/MLS) and Cytotechnology. Each clinical option provides didactic coursework in clinical and natural sciences and offers the opportunity to apply for clinical internships at the Program’s affiliated clinical laboratories approved by the California State Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services.

Undergraduate Preparation

High school students are encouraged to take chemistry, biology, and physics in addition to English, a foreign language, fine arts, and computer science courses. College transfer students should contact their counseling office, the CSU Dominguez Hills' Clinical Science Office, or the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing Student Services Center to identify appropriate lower division major/minor preparatory courses. Courses in general and quantitative chemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, physics, general biology, and mathematics are recommended.

Post Baccalaureate Preparation

For those who have a related science undergraduate degree, the PB Certificate Program in Medical Technology or Cytotechnology provides an academic and clinical route to professional certification and California state licensure. The applicants must first apply to the University and the Program at CSUDH via CalState Apply website (https://www.calstate.edu/apply ). The new application cycle starts opens on October 1st each year. The program only admits the PB students in the fall semester each year. If applicants are admitted, the academic records will be evaluated, and a roadmap will be specifically generated for each applicant. All preclinical course requirement (based on the roadmap) must be completed before starting the clinical internship. The Clinical Science Program at CSUDH does not have direct admission to the program, and a minimum of 2 semesters in residence at CSUDH is required to meet the requirements.

Note: Internship seats are competitive and are not guaranteed. The selection process will be conducted by a committee of CSUDH clinical affiliates according to the Supplementary Admission Criteria. The PB Certification gives students an opportunity to take the National Board Exam (BOC-ASCP) and earn the California license to practice as a clinical laboratory scientist in California.

Clinical Training/Internship

The clinical internship program is a full-time 52-week training program provided at an affiliated state approved clinical laboratory. Students who have completed pre-requisite coursework apply for clinical training in March for Cytotechnology or October for Medical Technology for training the following summer. Students must meet Supplemental Criteria as noted in the University Catalog in order to be eligible for training. Clinical placement is limited to the number of positions made available for training in our affiliated facilities. In addition, clinical positions may not be available to foreign student visa holders or students not proficient in English.

Who is the program designed for?

• Individuals who are interested in a career as a Medical Technologist (CLS/MLS) or Cytotechnologist.
• Individuals who wish to take the national certification examination and the CLS licensure from the California State Department of Health.

Why CSUDH?

• One of the few Clinical Sciences curricula with clinical internship placement in California.
• Medical Technology Program accredited through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
• Cytotechnology Program accredited through the Greater Los Angeles Consortium by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP).
• Available for either the undergraduate seeking a BS degree and the post baccalaureate graduate seeking the clinical internship Certificate.
• Nationally recognized and professionally certified academic and clinical faculty
• State-of-the-art technology and instrumentation via clinical affiliates.
• Excellent rotating clinical training sites available.
• Outstanding pass rate of over 90% on national certifying exams and state licensure
• Excellent professional and clinical skills development and job opportunities.
• Affordable tuition.