BS in Biological Science (Clinical Laboratory Sciences)

Units required for Major: 73-85, includes units of study in chosen concentration (see below).
Total units required for BS: 120

Program Description

The curriculum in Clinical Laboratory Sciences meets the undergraduate coursework requirements of the State of California for eligibility to take a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CSL) licensure examination. Eligibility to take a licensure examination also requires a one year (CLS) internship training program at a state approved clinical laboratory. Completion of BS degree requirements in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences concentration does not guarantee admission to a CLS internship training program. Information on admission criteria and application procedures for the various CLS internship training programs throughout the state is available through the California Association for Medical Laboratory Technology (CAMLT) at their website. Information about state and out-of-state programs can be found at NAACLS.org. 

Program Requirements

Required Lower Division Core Courses (37-41 Units)
BIO 1Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology 15
BIO 2Cells, Molecules and Genes5
CHEM 1AGeneral Chemistry I 15
CHEM 1BGeneral Chemistry II5
Select one of the following:3 - 6
Organic Chemistry Lecture--Brief Course 2
Organic Chemistry Lecture I
Organic Chemistry Lecture II
Select one of the following:3 - 4
Calculus I for the Social and Life Sciences
Calculus I
PHYS 5AGeneral Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Sound4
PHYS 5BGeneral Physics: Light, Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics4
STAT 1Introduction to Statistics 13
Required Upper Division Core Courses (7 Units)
BIO 100Introduction to Scientific Analysis3
BIO 184General Genetics4
Concentration (29-37 Units)
Select from the following concentrations:29 - 37
General Biology
Biomedical Sciences
Cell and Molecular Biology
Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
Forensic Biology
Microbiology
Total Units73-85
1

Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement.

2

CHEM 24 and CHEM 124 may be taken in lieu of CHEM 20. (CHEM 124 is not counted toward the 36 upper division unit requirement in the major except in the Biomedical Sciences Concentration.)

Notes:

  • Pre-Health Professional students should take the Chemistry and Math requirements as stated in the Pre-Health Professional Program section of this catalog.
  • With approval, up to six units of upper division coursework from related fields may be applied as electives in the major.

Concentration in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (34 units)

Required courses (34 Units)
BIO 121Molecular Cell Biology3
BIO 124Clinical Hematology3
BIO 131Systemic Physiology4
BIO 139General Microbiology4
BIO 144Pathogenic Bacteriology4
BIO 149AImmunology3
BIO 152Human Parasitology3
CHEM 31Quantitative Analysis4
CHEM 161General Biochemistry 13
CHEM 162General Biochemistry Laboratory 23
Total Units34
1

CHEM 160A and CHEM 160B may be taken in lieu of CHEM 161. Only three units of the package may be counted toward the upper division requirement.

2

CHEM 162 can be included in the 36 upper division unit requirement for this concentration.

Note: A minor in Chemistry may be attained if either CHEM 20L or CHEM 25 is taken.

  • No more than 3 units from the following combined can be applied to the Biological Sciences upper division major requirement.  No more than 2 units from BIO 195 and BIO 197 series courses will count toward the degree requirement.
BIO 195Biological Internship1 - 2
BIO 197ALaboratory Teaching Assistant1 - 2
BIO 197BLaboratory Techniques1 - 2
BIO 197CCo-curricular Activities in Biology1 - 2
BIO 199AIntroductory Undergraduate Research1 - 2
BIO 199BDirected Readings1 - 2

General Education Requirements1

Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units)
A1 - Oral Communication3
A2 - Written Communication3
A3 - Critical Thinking3
Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms
B1 - Physical Science 20
B2 - Life Forms 20
B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) 20
B4 - Math Concepts 20
B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 20
Area C: Arts and Humanities (12 Units)
C1 - Arts3
C2 - Humanities3
C1/C2 - Area C Course3
C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements.3
Area D: The Individual and Society (9 Units)
Area D Course3
Area D Course3
Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements.3
Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units)
Area E Course3
Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 Units)
Area F Course3
Total Units36
1

To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.

Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.

2

Required in Major; also satisfies GE.

Graduation Requirements1

Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (9 Units)
American Institutions: U.S. History3
American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government3
Writing Intensive (WI)3
Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (12 Units)
English Composition II3
Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE)3
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 26
1

To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.

Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.

2

If not satisfied before entering Sacramento State, it may be satisfied in General Education Area C2 (Humanities). "C- or better required." The alternative methods for satisfying the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement are described here: https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/world-languages-literatures/foreign-language-requirement.html  

The following roadmaps are sample planning resources. Please consult your academic advisor and Academic Catalog for graduation requirements as you develop your individualized academic plan.

Biological Science (Clinical Laboratory Sciences), BS: 4-Year Roadmap

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
First SemesterUnits
STAT 1 Introduction to Statistics 3
GE Area 1A - English Composition 2 3
GE Area 3B - Humanities 2 3
GE Area 6 - Ethnic Studies 2 3
GR American Institutions (US History) 2 3
 Units15
Second Semester
CHEM 1A General Chemistry I 5
MATH 26A
Calculus I for the Social and Life Sciences 3
or Calculus I
3 - 4
GE Area 1B - Critical Thinking 2 3
GE Area 1C - Oral Communication 2 3
 Units14-15
Year 2
First Semester
BIO 1 Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology 5
CHEM 1B General Chemistry II 5
GE Area 3A - Arts 2 3
GR American Institutions (GOVT) 2 3
 Units16
Second Semester
BIO 2 Cells, Molecules and Genes 5
CHEM 31 Quantitative Analysis 4
ENGL 20 College Composition II 3
PHYS 5A General Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Sound 4
 Units16
Year 3
First Semester
BIO 100 Introduction to Scientific Analysis 3
BIO 184 General Genetics 4
CHEM 20
Organic Chemistry Lecture--Brief Course 3
or Organic Chemistry Lecture I
or Organic Chemistry Lecture II
3
PHYS 5B General Physics: Light, Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics 4
Foreign Language Semester 1 2 4
 Units18
Second Semester
BIO 121 Molecular Cell Biology 3
BIO 139 General Microbiology 4
CHEM 161 General Biochemistry 3
Foreign Language Semester 2 2 4
 Units14
Year 4
First Semester
BIO 144 Pathogenic Bacteriology 4
BIO 149A Immunology 3
CHEM 162 General Biochemistry Laboratory 3
Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences + Writing Intensive 2 3
Elective of Choice 3
 Units16
Second Semester
BIO 124 Clinical Hematology 3
BIO 131 Systemic Physiology 4
BIO 152 Human Parasitology 3
Upper Division GE Area 3 - Arts or Humanities 2 3
 Units13
 Total Units122-123

Biological Science (Clinical Laboratory Sciences), BS: 2-Year Roadmap

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
First SemesterUnits
BIO 100 Introduction to Scientific Analysis 3
BIO 184 General Genetics 4
Foreign Language Semester 1 2 4
GR American Institutions (US History) 2 3
 Units14
Second Semester
BIO 121 Molecular Cell Biology 3
BIO 139 General Microbiology 4
CHEM 161 General Biochemistry 3
Foreign Language Semester 2 2 4
 Units14
Year 2
First Semester
BIO 144 Pathogenic Bacteriology 4
BIO 149A Immunology 3
CHEM 162 General Biochemistry Laboratory 3
Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences + Writing Intensive 2 3
Elective of Choice 3
 Units16
Second Semester
BIO 124 Clinical Hematology 3
BIO 131 Systemic Physiology 4
BIO 152 Human Parasitology 3
GR American Institutions (GOVT) 2 3
Upper Division GE Area 3 - Arts or Humanities 2 3
 Units16
 Total Units60
1.

Any course not completed in the first semester should be taken in the second or a later semester.

2.

Please see General Education/Graduation Requirement course options.

3.

Please see an academic advisor for elective options.