Course Descriptions
The program consists of an 12 months of instruction with integrated clinical practice throughout the year. Program hours are from 8:00AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Friday during the 11 week summer session. In the winter semester a minimum of 5-8 hours of classroom and laboratory or clinical practice sections are scheduled on campus each day with two 3 credit on-line courses. The Spring semester continues with required courses and 3 days each week of clinical practice. Approximately 2-4 hours of evening study time are necessary for preparation each day. Program schedule may not coincide with other university programs.
Please Note: Effective Fall 06 - Course numbers have changed!
| Summer (Course sequencing may vary) | |
| Course | Credit |
| CYTO--710 Gynecologic Cytopathology | 3 |
| CYTO--710L Gynecologic Cytopathology Laboratory | 5 |
| CYTO--715L Cyto. Prep. Techniques | 1 |
| CYTO--720L Clinical Practice in Cytopathology I | 1 |
| Subtotal | 10 |
| Fall | |
| Course | Credit |
| CLSC--710 Principals of Molecular Diagnostics (on-line course) | 3 |
| CLSC--720 Applications of Molecular Diagnostic Techniques (on-line course) | 3 |
| CYTO--730 Diagnostic Cytopathology I | 5 |
| CYTO--750 Diagnostic Cytopathology II | 4 |
| CYTO--780 Clinical Practice in Cytopathology II | 2 |
| Subtotal | 17 |
| Spring | |
| Course | Credit |
| CYTO--760 Diagnostic Cytopathology III | 2 |
| CYTO--801 Independent Study (or elective) | 2 |
| PATH--225 Cancer Pathology | 3 |
| CYTO--799 Clinical Practice in Cytopathology III | 5 |
| CLSC--650-- Clinical Laboratory Administration (or elective) | 2 |
| Subtotal | 14 |
| Total | 41 |
All students entering the Cytotechnology Program must have the minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and meet all prerequisite courses. Credits earned within the program of study are applied towards a Post bachelorate professional certificate in Cytotechnology issued by the Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, and University of North Carolina Hospitals. Criteria for credit hours offered through the program are as follows: 1 credit hour is equivalent to 15 lecture contact hours, or 30-45 hours of closely supervised laboratory practice, or 40-60 hours of clinical practice.
Course Descriptions
CYTO 210 - Gynecologic Cytopathology (3 credits)
Classroom instruction in the anatomy, histology, physiology, and
cytopathology of the female genital tract. Range of topics include inflammation, infection, cellular response to injury, pre-malignant and malignant cellular changes, as well as changes associated with therapeutic and hormonal effects on cells. This course presents the basic foundation and understanding of Cytopathology and is the prerequisite for all other courses within the Cytotechnology curriculum. (Lecture hours 45)
CYTO 210L - Gynecologic Cytopathology Laboratory (5 credits)
Corequisite; Cyto 210. Closely supervised Laboratory instruction and practice in cellular diagnosis of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases of the female genital tract, as they are presented in gynecologic Cytology lecture. Students learn to combine microscopic skills with theory to formulate differential diagnosis and solve complex problems encountered in clinical practice. This course develops the basic foundation for all laboratory courses within the Cytotechnology curriculum. (Laboratory hours 220)
CYTO 215L - Cytopreparatory Techniques (1 credit)
Corequisites; Cyto 210 & 210L. Theory and laboratory practice in Cytopreparation. Basic techniques include proper handling, preparation and staining of Cytologic specimens. Emphasis is placed upon laboratory preparation theory and the contribution of Cytopreparatory techniques to proper specimen interpretation. (Lecture hours 5, laboratory hours 30)
CYTO 220L - Clinical Practice in Cytopathology I (1 credit)
Corequisites; Cyto 210 & 210L. Laboratory practice in a diagnostic Cytology laboratory setting at UNC Hospitals and affiliated laboratory sites. Course includes microscopic examination and interpretation of gynecologic specimens with close supervision and review by clinical instructors. (Laboratory hours 60)
CYTO 230 - Diagnostic Cytotpathology I (5 credits)
Prerequisites; Cyto. 210, 210L & 220. Cytopathology of malignant and benign lesions involving the trachea, bronchi, lungs, serous membranes, and the central nervous system. Cytopathology of childhood tumors, leukemia and lymphomas are also presented. Lecture hours 40, laboratory hours 100)
CYTO 250 - Diagnostic Cytopathology II (4 credits)
Prerequisites; Cyto. 210, 210L, 220 & 230. Cytopathology of malignant and benign lesions involving the breast, thyroid, and salivary glands, bone and soft tissue, genital urinary system and miscellaneous body sites. (Lecture hours 30,laboratory hours 90)
CYTO 260 - Diagnostic Cytopathology III (2 credits)
Prerequisite; Cyto 230, & Cyto 250. Cytopathology of the oral cavity, stomach, small and large bowel, liver, pancreas and miscellaneous body sites. Problems of differentiating benign from malignant lesions using conventional cytologic techniques and fine needle aspiration cytology are emphasized. (Lecture hours 15, laboratory hours 35)
CYTO 280 - Clinical Practice in Cytopathology II (2 credits)
Prerequisites; CYTO 210, 210L, 215, & 220. Clinical laboratory practice in diagnostic Cytology at UNC Hospitals and other affiliated laboratory sites. Course includes microscopic examination and interpretation of gynecologic and non-gynecologic specimens routinely encountered in a clinical Cytology laboratory setting. (Laboratory hours 120)
CYTO 299 - Clinical Practice in Cytopathology III (3 credits)
Prerequisites; CYTO 210, 210L, 215, & 220. Clinical laboratory practice in diagnostic Cytology at UNC Hospitals or an affiliate laboratory site. Course includes microscopic examination and interpretation of all gynecologic and non-gynecologic specimens encountered in daily clinical laboratory practice. (Laboratory hours 320)
CYTO 301 - Independent Study (2 credits)
Prerequisites; CYTO 210, 210L, 215, & 220. Students pursue an independent study topic in Cytology. Emphasis is placed on developing and implementing an independent study design. This includes search of the literature, writing a research paper and an oral presentation of the project. (120- hours minimum independent study)
CLSC 193 -- Clinical Laboratory Administration (2 credits)
Prerequisite; Permission of course director. On line course Interdisciplinary content includes leadership, administration: environment, organizations, service delivery models, collaborative relationships, human resource management, and discipline specific application.
CLSC 210 -- Principals of Molecular Diagnosis (3 credits)
Prerequisites; Cell biology, biochemistry and genetics. This on-line course will cover the principals of molecular technology and techniques used in clinical and research laboratories. Topics include: nucleic acid extraction and hybridization; target, signal and probe amplification; micro-array and in-situ hybridization techniques. Techniques will be addressed in the context of the human genome and common mutation detection.
CLSC 220 -- Applications of Molecular Diagnostic Techniques (3 credits)
Prerequisites; Cell biology, biochemistry and genetics. This on-line course will cover the performance of basic techniques of molecular technology to clinical and forensic situations. Molecular applications in oncology forensics paternity, transplantation and infectious disease will be discussed. Quality assessment, regulatory and ethical issues associated with molecular testing will be included.
PATH 225 -- Cancer Pathology (3 Credits)
Prerequisites; Biochemistry, cell biology and genetics. This course examines the pathobiological features of cancer. An interdisciplinary approach draws from epidemiology, genetics, molecular biology, and clinical medicine to investigate cancer etiology, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment. The intent is to provide a firm foundation in pathobiologc features of cancer and thereby facilitate the translation of bench science into the clinical laboratory. For each of the four organ system systems (lung, breast colon and leukemia / Lymphoma) two sessions will include discussion of: epidemiology, genetics, molecular oncogenesis, animal models, histopathology, and clinical management. (3 lecture hours)
Path 164 Light Microscopy (3 credits)
Prerequisite; Permission of the course instructor and Program Director. Course focuses on the practical fundamentals of light microscopy including optics, contrast mechanisms, fluorescence, laser scanning confocal microscopy, photography and digital imaging. (3 lecture hours / week).
Path 292 Seminar in carcinogenesis (2 credits)
Prerequisite; Permission of the course instructor and Program Director. Survey of classical and current literature on selected critical issues in carcinogenesis. Students discuss experimental methods and observations as well as theories and generalizations.
2 Credit hours.
Path 213 Mechanisms of Disease (3 or 5 credits)
Prerequisites; Cell biology, histology, permission of the course instructor and Program Director. A intensive graduate course on cell injury and pathogenesis of disease with emphasis on basic mechanisms at the molecular, cellular and organismal levels. 3 lectures hours, 2 1/2 laboratory hours / week.