The UT Martin Pre-Cytotechnology Plan is designed to prepare students for application to a graduate program in cytotechnology. By following the Pre-Cytotechnology Plan recommendations, students will be eligible for admission into most graduate cytotechnology programs. The courses listed below are intended only as a guideline and students are strongly encouraged to review the requirements for their school(s) of choice as they vary from school to school. Additionally, the Pre-Cytotechnology Plan is not a major and does not fulfill the requirements for a baccalaureate degree at UT Martin. The courses listed below are recommendations and are not required for degree completion unless also listed under the student’s chosen major.
There are only a few cytotechnology graduate programs in the country. Most allow students to apply prior to earning a baccalaureate degree and some offer a combined bachelor’s/master’s program so that students may earn a B.S. and an M.S. simultaneously. It is important to note, however, that in order to be certified, an individual must have a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college/ university and have successfully completed a CAAHEP-accredited Cytotechnology program. Additionally, some states (including Tennessee) require individuals to be licensed in order to practice cytotechnology. For students wishing to earn a baccalaureate degree from UT Martin prior to enrolling in a graduate program, the Biology-Cell and Molecular Biology concentration and the Chemistry major include many of the courses listed below.
The admission criteria for graduate cytotechnology programs vary somewhat; however most programs require approximately 20 hours of biology and chemistry electives. The choice of electives is typically left to the student and, in general, only a few prerequisites are specified.
The most common prerequisites are:
- 8 hours of biology
- 8 hours of chemistry
- 6 hours of English
- 3 hours of statistics
When choosing biology and chemistry electives, students are strongly encouraged to choose upper division courses, particularly courses involving a lab. Classes in microbiology, zoology, and physics are recommended. While not an exhaustive list, the following courses are strongly recommended for students considering applying to a graduate program. Students should always check with their adviser and/or school(s) of choice before deciding which classes to take.