Cytotechnology

Cytotechnology Track

A cytotechnologist is an allied health professional and is involved in the microscopic study of cells for evidence of disease and cancer. Cytotechnologists are trained to accurately identify precancerous, malignant, and infectious conditions using cytological techniques. The "Pap test" (an evaluation of cells from the uterine cervix) is the best known test in this field. The four-year curriculum consists of three years spent at the university completing the required courses and the fourth year is a 32 credit internship spent in professional education at Mayo School of health-Related Sciences in Rochester, MN or Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, IA. The BS degree is awarded by the university after successful completion of the internship year. Graduates are then eligible to take the certifying examination. Cytotechnologists are employed in hospital laboratories, universities, and private laboratories in the areas of research, education, and administration.

Cytogenetics Track

Cytogenetics is the specialized area of laboratory medicine involving the study of normal and abnormal chromosomes and their relationship to human disease. Cytogenetic technologists analyze chromosomes using tissue cultures and preparations from peripheral blood, bone marrow, amniotic fluid, products of conception, and tumor samples. Cytogenetic technologists use fluorescent-labeled DNA to detect chromosome abnormalities associated with birth defects, retardation, infertility, miscarriage, and cancers. Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization or FISH has become the most rapidly growing area in cytogenetics. The four-year curriculum consists of three years spent at the University completing the required courses and the fourth year is a 32-credit internship spent in professional education at Mayo School of Health Sciences in Rochester, MN. Admission into the fourth-year hospital clinical internship is competitive. Therefore, admission to the program does not ensure placement into the fourth-year internship. The BS degree is awarded by the university after successful completion of the internship year. Graduates are then eligible to take the certifying examination. Cytogenetic technologists are employed in hospitals, clinical laboratories, research laboratories, and cytogenetic-related biotechnology companies. All emphases require BIOL 105, BIOL 106, BIOL 211, CHEM 201, and ENG 271W.

Emphasis Required General Education (choose 4 credits)

BIOL 105 General Biology I (4)
BIOL 106 General Biology II (4)
BIOL 211 Genetics (4)
CHEM 201 General Chemistry I (5)
ENG 271W Technical Writing (4)
MATH 112 College Algebra (4)
MATH 113 Trigonometry (3)
MATH 115 Precalculus Mathematics (4)
MATH 121 Calculus I (4)

Emphasis Required Support Courses (choose 13 credits)

Choose from the following to total at least 13 additional credits in Chemistry.

CHEM 202 General Chemistry II (5)
CHEM 305 Analytical Chemistry (4)
CHEM 322 Organic Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 323 Supplemental Organic Functional Group Chemistry (1)
CHEM 360 Principles of Biochemistry (4)

Emphasis Core Courses (choose 16 credits)

BIOL 220 Human Anatomy (4)
BIOL 270 Microbiology (4)
BIOL 320 Cell Biology (4)
BIOL 330 Principles of Human Physiology (4)

Emphasis Restricted Electives (choose 3-4 credits)

BIOL 430 Hematology/Introduction to Immunology (4)
BIOL 434 Developmental Biology (3)
BIOL 435 Histology (4)
BIOL 479 Molecular Biology (4)

Professional Education (choose 32 credits)

Clinical internships for the Cytotechnology and Cytogenetics programs are at Mayo School of Health Sciences in Rochester, MN. Adjunct faculty at the clinical sites include: Jill Caudill, CT (ASCP), Michael Henry, M.D., and Peggy Stupca, MS, CLSp (CG). Internship sites are required by law to do background checks on all students admitted to their programs.

BIOL 493 Cytotechnology Clinical Internship I (1-12)
BIOL 494 Cytotechnology Clinical Internship II (1-12)
BIOL 495 Cytotechnology Clinical Internship III (1-12)
BIOL 496 Cytotechnology Clinical Internship IV (1-12)