Effective Fall 2024, the Cytotechnology submajor has suspended admission.  

Students in the Biomedical Sciences major are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree upon completion of all requirements. Students choose from one of the following seven areas or submajors:

• Medical Laboratory Science
• Biomedical Science
• Cytotechnology
• Radiologic Technology
• Diagnostic Medical Sonography
• Diagnostic Imaging (degree completion program)
• Health Science (degree completion program)
• Public Health Microbiology

All students will be required to comply with a background check, drug screen, and maintain health insurance during the professional training experience.

Cytotechnology

Cytotechnologists examine human cells under the microscope, looking for early signs of cancer or other diseases. When abnormal cells are detected, the cytotechnologist works with a pathologist to arrive at a final diagnosis. Students enrolled in the Cytotechnology Program will complete their senior year of professional clinical training at the UW / State Lab of Hygiene in Madison.

Effective Fall 2024, the Cytotechnology submajor has suspended admission. 

Requirements

Students in the Biomedical Sciences major are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree upon completion of all requirements. All students, with the exception of students in the Diagnostic Imaging or Health Sciences degree completion program, will be required to comply with a background check and maintain health insurance during the professional training experience.

The process of application to the professional training occurs at the end of the first semester of the junior year.

The minimum degree requirement is 120 credits including the following. Entry into professional training is competitive and dependent upon completing the requirements below. The program will attempt to place all students who meet academic requirements but cannot guarantee that every student will be placed in a clinical rotation.

1. Completion of UWM's General Education Requirements (GER);
2. A cumulative UWM minimum grade point average of 2.5;
3. A cumulative minimum grade point average of 2.5 in specific, required science courses;
4. Completion of:
   1. all required courses and electives (87 credits) through the second semester of junior year for students pursuing Cytotechnology, or Medical Laboratory Science;
   2. all required courses and electives (114 credits) through the first semester of senior year for students pursuing Public Health Microbiology; and
5. A grade of C or better in all junior-level courses.

Students who meet these minimum requirements for entry into professional training will be evaluated on the basis of their science GPA for placement at one of the training sites.

To remain eligible to continue in the professional training, students must earn a grade of C or better in all senior-level courses.

Degree Requirements

¹

 Course counts towards a student's science GPA.

Pre-Clinical Requirements

The junior year for students pursuing the Cytotechnology, or Medical Laboratory Science submajor consists primarily of pre-clinical courses, and the senior year is a 12-month professional training experience.

Medical Laboratory Science and Cytotechnology students must be prepared for full-time study (40 hours per week) that could also require additional study time at night and on weekends.

²

BMS 101 and BMS 205 are highly recommended but not required.

Cytotechnology Submajor Requirements

Biomedical Sciences Requirements

¹

BMS 101 and BMS 205 are highly recommended but not required.

²

ENGLISH 207 is required for students without any credit prior to Fall 2013.

Cytotechnology Submajor Requirements

Honors in the Major

Honors in the major are granted to students who earn a GPA of 3.500 or above on a minimum of 30 completed credits at UWM.

College of Health Professions and Sciences Dean's Honor List

GPA of 3.500 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.

Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction

Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.

Commencement Honors

Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).

Final Honors

Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.