Biomedical Laboratory Science

College of Science and Engineering
Dean: James C. Kelley

Center for Biomedical Laboratory Science
SCI 211
415-338-1696
E-mail: cbls@sfsu.edu
Director: William Bigler

Graduate Coordinator: William Bigler

Programs

 M.S. in Biomedical Laboratory Science

Clinical Laboratory Scientist Internship

Program Scope

Two graduate programs are offered by the Center for Biomedical Laboratory Science (CBLS). One leads to the Master of Science (M.S.) in Biomedical Laboratory Science. The other is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Internship. CBLS also offers a non-credit 160-hour program (through the SFSU College of Extended Learning) for professional certification of phlebotomists.

By working closely with an adviser, the M.S. student can select courses which provide an emphasis in: clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, laboratory management, microbiology, clinical laboratory science education, immunohematology, toxicology, or virology. For additional information regarding the master's program, please contact the director of CBLS at (415) 338-1696.

The 63-week Clinical Laboratory Scientist Internship prepares students for the State of California licensure examination for Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS), for the National Certification Agency for Clinical Laboratory Personnel's Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) examination, and for the Board of Registry examination for medical technology certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (MT-ASCP). For additional information regarding the CLS internship, contact the CLS program director at (415) 338-2332.

Career Outlook

Graduates of the M.S. tend to be employed in biotechnology companies, work in research laboratories, or continue to other advanced degrees. The job opportunities for CLS's are primarily in hospital and reference laboratories, but students are well prepared for careers as laboratory supervisors, research technicians, laboratory consultants, industrial technical representatives, marketing specialists for laboratory products, etc. There is a widespread shortage of training opportunities for clinical laboratory scientists and biomedical laboratory specialists. Consequently, the long term career outlook for graduates of CBLS's programs is excellent.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE

Graduate Advisers--Bigler, Blackwood, Romeo, Smith

Admission to Program

Students must have a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Clinical Science, or the equivalent. Individuals with related degrees who are working in biomedical laboratory science research or industry may be admitted. A detailed description of the program is available in the Policies and Procedures Manual at the CBLS office.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: must be completed by passing the Graduate Essay Test (GET). The GET is administered by the university Testing Center in the month before the start of each semester. Students must pass GET or the assigned English course(s) by the end of their second semester. Level Two: requires approval of a written research proposal by the faculty committee that supervises the student's research.

Graduate biomedical laboratory science courses are listed in groups by subject in the Announcement of Courses section of this Bulletin (consult Index for page reference).

Program Units
BIOM 801 Biomedical Laboratory Science Literature 1
BIOM 802 Biomedical Laboratory Science Research Design 1
BIOM 703 Biostatistics and Quality Control 2
Foundation graduate lecture course on advisement 2-3
Graduate laboratory course on advisement 2-3
BIOM 880 Reading and Presenting Clinical Science Papers (2) or
BIOM 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 886, 887 1-2
Plan A
Upper division or graduate elective courses selected with the approval of student's advisory committee 14-17
BIOM 896 Directed Reading 1
BIOM 897 Research 0-1
BIOM 895 Research Project 3
and Preliminary Oral Examination and
Oral Comprehensive Examination
Minimum total 31
Plan B
Upper division or graduate courses selected with the approval of student's advisory committee 9-13
BIOM 896 Directed Reading 1
BIOM 897 Research 2-6
BIOM 898 Master's Thesis 3
and Preliminary Oral Examination and
Oral Defense of Thesis
Minimum total 31

Examination. The oral examination may be repeated once at the discretion of the committee.

CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST INTERNSHIP

Graduate Advisers--Hermann, Howe, Rogers

Eight semester units (BIOM 703, 705, 708, 710) of the 30-unit program may be counted toward completion of SFSU's Master of Science in Biomedical Laboratory Science degree program.

Admission to Program

Prerequisites are: (1) admissibility as a SFSU graduate student, (2) the science course preparation of the SFSU Bachelor of Science in Clinical Science degree or the equivalent, (3) an active CLS-Trainee's license from the State of California Department of Health Services, (4) completion of the application forms available at CBLS, including letters of reference, and (5) interviews at CBLS at SFSU and at affiliated teaching laboratories. The department is available to advise applicants about these admissions procedures. Classes start in July and January.

Curriculum

Students enroll for fifteen units each semester and for an Extended Learning Intersession course for the non-semester periods of the program.

Program Units
First Semester
BIOM 9000 CBLS Intersession 0
BIOM 701 On-Campus Laboratory Internship 11-13
BIOM 703 Biostatistics and Quality Control 2
BIOM 708 Laboratory Instrumentation and Electronics 2
BIOM 710 Contemporary Clinical Science Issues 1
Second Semester
BIOM 702 Off-Campus Clinical Laboratory Internship 11-13
BIOM 705 Laboratory Administration 2
Minimum total 30