Bachelor of Science Degree in Histotechnology

The Bachelor of Science in Histotechnology Program at Mt. SAC will prepare students for a career in medical diagnostics by training them to prepare and evaluate tissues on a macroscopic and microscopic level and by developing strong supervisory and leadership skills necessary for high level management positions in a laboratory setting. In addition to performing complex tissue specimen preparations in the laboratory, students will complete courses in biochemistry, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, advanced histotechnology, histology and cytology, pathophysiology and anatomic pathology, advanced microscopy, and medical ethics. Clinical rotations will provide opportunities to apply these skills, while courses in laboratory management, leadership, and professionalism will prepare them for supervisory and management positions. Completion of this program will prepare students for certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (HTL Exam).

Mt. SAC has strong enrollment trends in the current Histotechnology Associate of Science Degree. With the implementation of the Histotechnology BS Program, Mt. SAC will have two cohorts in the Associate Degree Program and two cohorts in the BS Degree Program with a total of four cohorts. Each cohort has an average enrollment of 24 students. We anticipate that the annual enrollment trends will match the current enrollment of approximately 100 students per year (with 24 students per cohort). This program has strong enrollment trends with classes filling within the first twenty-four hours of registration.

Currently, the histotechnology program experiences zero attrition once students begin the second half of the program. Very few students leave the program once they are in their second year. In working with the Office of Research and Institutional Effectiveness, a student survey to all graduates of the Mt. SAC Histotechnology program indicated a very strong desire to transfer into  the baccalaureate program.

The BSHTL program offers an advanced curriculum which seeks to produced certified histotechnologists, who possess not only the specialized technical skills needed in their field, but who are positioned for management and leadership positions in the histotechnology laboratory. The following program objectives will help them achieve these goals.

1) To prepare graduates for higher-level positions as histotechnologists.

2) To develop student's ability to think critically in both the didactic and clinical settings.

3) To engender professionalism, teamwork, and collaboration in the workplace.

4) To prepare students with necessary tools to be competent, ethical, and successful laboratory managers

5) To provide advanced training in histotechnology and encourage life-long learning.

Our proposed baccalaureate program dovetails seemlessly with the A.S. degreee program in histotechnology at Mt SAC. Students who complete the lower division A.S. degree have met the GE requirements and science specific requirements which prepare them for the upper division courses needed to complete the B.S. degree. Mt SAC has existing curriculum for the A.S.  program and is building on the already created upper division course work--both in the discipline and G.E.s to allow students to complete a strong baccalaureate program. The curriculum at both levels is guided by standards set by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and professional level competencies set by the American Society of Clinical Pathology.  

The baccalaureate program in Histotechnology is a featured goal of the 2018 Mt. San Antonio College Education and Facilities Master Plan update.  The college has been planning to apply for, and support if awarded, the ability to offer a B.S. in Histotechnology. Planning for Institutional Effectiveness (PIE) has included support for this new program since 2017.  The college has positioned itself to present a strong case for this application. Included in the planning is recognition of additional resources needed to support the program, including faculty, staff, equipment, and classroom/lab space. Curriculum supported in the Master Plan of 2018 has already been developed. If our application is accepted, Mt. SAC has planned and is ready to fully support. the implementation of the B.S. degree in Histotechnology program. 

Mt. SAC offers a variety Certificates of Achievement and AS Degrees in the health professions, including Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic (certificate); Mental Health Technology – Psychiatric Technician (certificate and AS); Emergency Medical Services (AS); Nursing (AS); Radiologic Technology (AS); Respiratory Therapy (AS); Public Health (AS); and Histotechnology (AS). When students complete these programs and pass the licensing examinations, they are immediately eligible for employment in these allied health fields. The Histotechnology Program aligns seamlessly with these allied health programs and provides immediate employment for students completing the Histotechnology Program.

 Students enrolled in the current associate degree program can transition smoothly into the baccalaureate degree program. Graduates of the program will also be able to transition into the program. Mt. SAC students currently enrolled in a medical/science major can apply for the BS degree in Histotechnology. A BS in Histotechnology is a natural progression in Mt. SAC’s existing program inventory providing the college with its first baccalaureate degree.

There are no similar programs in the region.

60 students per year

This is not a program modification.