Admissions Scholarships and Expenses Program-Specific Policies Curriculum Summary- MCP Progress, Promotion and Graduation

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Barbara DuBray-Benstein, Ph.D., Program Director
Nadeem Zafar, M.D., Medical Director, Cytotechnology Program
Pamela Osborne, M.D., Medical Advisor, Histotechnology Program

Program Objectives

The curriculum for the Master of Cytopathology Practice (MCP) degree is designed to prepare competent entry-level histotechnologists and cytotechnologists with the skills necessary to prepare tissue and cytologic specimens for microscopic analysis, and  to  accurately  evaluate  and  interpret all types of cytologic material. Graduates of the program will be able to perform, interpret and correlate ancillary testing for proper triage of patients. They will be able to meet the current demands of the profession and will be prepared to engage future technology as it becomes standard in the anatomic pathology laboratory. Graduates of the program will also have the necessary skills in quality assessment to direct quality improvement activities and assume positions of leadership in management, research and education. Graduates of the program are qualified to sit for both the cytotechnologist and histotechnologist certification examinations offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification.

Curriculum Description

The program is designed as a full time “3 + 2” program that leads to a Master of Cytopathology Practice degree. Students complete three years of prerequisite courses at other colleges or universities, and then complete two years (21 months) of professional coursework on the campus of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Candidates are not required to have a baccalaureate degree prior to admission. Students receive both clinical experience and didactic instruction throughout the program, with the greatest emphasis on microscopic interpretation of cells for diagnosis of disease. Techniques of specimen collection, fixation, preparation, processing, embedding, microtomy and staining are mastered, as well as procedures for documentation and quality improvement. Students perform and interpret ancillary technologies including molecular diagnostic techniques and are introduced to laboratory management principles, and laboratory information systems. Required oral presentations by students include selected scientific literature reviews and case studies. Students also design and conduct a research project for presentation.

Accreditation

The UTHSC Program in Cytopathology Practice is accredited by  the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 25400 U.S. Highway 19 N., Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763; (727) 210-2350; www.caahep.org. The program is also accredited for histotechnology education by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119; (773) 714-8880; www.naacls.org.

Admissions

To be eligible for consideration for admission into the MCP program, applicants must meet the requirements listed below:

 

1. A baccalaureate degree and all pre-requisite courses must be completed prior to enrollment.
2. Completion of the following credit hours of prerequisite coursework with a grade of “C” or better in each course:

Prerequisite Course Work	Credit Hours
General Biology	8
General Chemistry	8
English or Communication	9
Social Science	6
Mathematics or Statistics	3
Upper Division Science*	15

*Recommended courses in upperdivision science include cell and/or molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, genetics, and histology

2. Minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 OR minimum overall grade point average of 2.5 with a competitive score on the GRE.
3. Submit official transcripts of above coursework
4. Personal interview with members of the admissions committee
5. Foreign applicants whose native language is not English must submit results of the TOEFL, with a minimum score of 550 on the written test, 213 on the computer test, or 80 on the TOEFL iBT®.
6. Completed application form including an essay describing the applicant’s reasons for choosing the profession and their career goals. A non-refundable application fee must accompany the application.
7. Pre-professional advisory committee recommendation from college or university attended OR two letters of recommendation from previous college instructors.
8. Ability to meet published technical standards of the College of Health Professions and the Master of Cytopathology Practice degree program.
9. Coursework from another professional degree program may not be transferred to meet the requirements for admission to or graduation from the MCP Program. There is no advanced standing or placement in the program.
10. No credit is awarded for prior experiential learning to meet the requirements for completion of the Master of Cytopathology Practice degree.

Applications
Applications are accepted online at www.uthsc.edu/admiss

Application deadlines:
Early deadline: Regular deadline: Late deadline:	January 30 April 15 June 15

Health Requirements

In addition to general UTHSC requirements, students admitted to the program must submit evidence of good health. The health examination should include a chest x-ray or tuberculin skin test and a comprehensive eye examination which includes a test for color vision. (Imperfect color vision is not a basis for excluding an applicant from the program but instructors should know if this defect exists.) Students are also required to be immunized against Neisseria meningitidis and the Hepatitis B virus.

Technical Standards

MCP students must have or must be able to acquire certain essential skills, functions and professional attitudes and behavior as described for the college and the program, in order to progress through the curriculum and to graduate. Prior to matriculation, students are required to indicate in writing they have reviewed and are able to meet the college-wide and program specific technical standards.  Descriptions of the technical standards for students in the Master of Cytopathology Practice program are provided below.

Sensory/Observational Skills:
Candidates for admission to the Master of Cytopathology Practice (MCP) Program must be able to observe demonstrations and participate in laboratory experiments as required in the curriculum. Candidates must have visual acuity corrected to 20/40 and visual perception with respect to depth and color. Candidates must be able to discriminate details and structures in objects under a microscope.

Physical and Motor Skills:
Candidates for admission to the MCP Program must have sufficient motor function to operate/manipulate and maintain a microscope, microtome and other laboratory instruments or equipment. Candidates must have dexterity with wrists, hands and arms, and dexterity with all fingers. Candidates must possess eye-hand coordination and have the ability to engage in laboratory procedures which involve grasping, pinching, pulling, fingering, holding, extending, rotating, and cutting. Candidates must be able to accurately judge distance and depth and manipulate or control small objects such as tissues with forceps and scalpels. Candidates must have the ability to obtain and/or verify patient samples and possess sufficient stamina to tolerate physically taxing workloads. Candidates must be able to tolerate sitting for long periods of time while working with a microscope or at a microtome. Candidates must be able to remain alert and concentrate for extended periods of time.

Communication Skills:
Candidates for admission to the MCP Program must be able to communicate in English in oral and written form. Candidates must have the ability to participate in discussion in the classroom, the clinical arena and with colleagues and patients. Candidates must be able to acquire information developed through classroom instruction, clinical experiences, independent learning, and consultation. Candidates must have the ability to understand and complete reading assignments and to search and evaluate the literature. Candidates must be able to complete written assignments and maintain written records. Candidates must acquire the ability to use a computer for instructional assignments and patient care activities.

Intellectual/Conceptual, Integrative and Qualitative Skills:
Candidates for admission to the MCP Program must have the ability to measure, calculate, analyze, interpret, synthesize and evaluate data. Candidates must have the ability to prioritize and perform laboratory testing. Candidates must have the ability to make sound judgments and formulate diagnoses after correlating clinical data with laboratory findings. Candidates must possess organizational skills and be able to solve one or more problems within specific time frames which are often short. Candidates must have the ability to perform duties and assignments in a timely fashion while under stress and in a variety of settings. In addition, candidates must have the ability to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of anatomic, histologic and cellular structures. Candidates must be capable of acquiring specified microscopic interpretative skills as presented by microscopic demonstrations and other experiences required by the curriculum.

Behavioral/Social Skills and Professionalism:
Candidates for admission to the MCP Program must demonstrate the ability to follow instructions/procedures with accuracy and precision. Candidates must possess the ability to maintain intellectual and emotional stability and maturity under stress, while also maintaining appropriate performance standards. Candidates must have the ability to manage time, organize workload and meet deadlines. Candidates must be able to learn and exhibit professional attributes.  Candidates must adhere to safety guidelines for self and others and be able to comply with standards and regulations required by external agencies. Candidates must have the ability to function as part of a team and to delegate responsibilities appropriately.

Scholarships and Expenses

The following scholarships are available to students entering the Master of Cytopathology Practice Degree program:

• UTNAA Scholarship
• Erickson-Rube Scholarship
• Chancellor’s Diversity Scholarship

Clinical Affiliations

Clinical affiliation sites are located in Memphis, throughout Tennessee, and in other states. Due to the limited number of clinical sites in Memphis, it is necessary for students to accept the financial impact of traveling and living out of town for a portion of their clinical assignments. The Master of Cytopathology Practice Degree Program will make every effort to place all students on clinical rotation.  Occasionally, a scheduled clinical experience at an affiliation site is unavailable due to circumstances beyond the control of the University.  However, because the experience is required for graduation, the program may arrange for other options that include placement at a more distant clinical site or a simulated laboratory experience on campus.  A student’s graduation due to lack of clinical placement may be delayed if a clinical rotation cannot be secured and the student is not able to take advantage of the other options provided.

Program-Specific Policies

Attendance Requirement

Cytopathology practice students are expected to attend all scheduled classes, student labs, and clinical lab assignments. In the case of absence due to illness or emergency, the student should notify the appropriate faculty member and clinical site no later than 8:30AM of the day missed. For any other absences, prior arrangements must be made with the specific instructor(s) involved. Appointments for health services should not be made during scheduled class time.

Grading Policy

Written and practical examinations and performance evaluations are a part of the educational program throughout the curriculum. All courses in each term must be passed before the student is allowed to progress to the next term. No credit for any course is awarded until the end of the term. The point- grade conversion scale used by the cytopathology program for all courses is as follows:

94-100 = A

92-93 = A-

89-91 = B+

85-88 = B

83-84 = B-

80-82 = C+

75-79 = C

73-74 = C-

Below 73 = F

 

Information about grading for incompletes and withdrawals is covered in the general college section of the bulletin. Students should reference this information about grade assignments in these situations.