Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences

Department Website

The Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences (CDS) offers programs designed to prepare students for professional opportunities in a variety of settings. Graduates may find employment in hospital or commercial clinical laboratories, research laboratories or public health facilities. Positions within biomedical corporations, including research and development, quality assurance and sales or service may also be prospective sources for employment. Furthermore, because it meets basic academic requirements, the CDS curricula provide excellent preparation for entry into post-baccalaureate professional programs including physician assistant, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, osteopathy, and veterinary medicine.

The Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences Department at Oakland University offers several specializations including diagnostic medical sonography, histotechnology, medical laboratory science, nuclear medicine technology, pre-clinical professions, pre-pharmacy, pre-physician assistant and radiologic technology.

Admission to Specializations

Students are admitted to the CDS major directly from high school or by transfer from other colleges or universities. Students have the option of earning the CDS degree by completing a clinical specialization internship (described below in “admission to clinical specialization internship”). A medical laboratory science internship is completed post-baccalaureate. Acceptance into the internship programs is competitive and based on grade point average, personal interview, and letters of recommendation. The application process for each of the specializations is unique. Students are advised to read carefully about their chosen specialization. In some cases, it is the policy of the affiliate institution that a criminal background check, at the student’s expense, is required for acceptance into a clinical program.

All students should select their desired area of specialization by the end of sophomore year, since the coursework in the junior year is different for each specialization. The actual acceptance into a student’s chosen clinical program (specialization) shall define specialization standing for course prerequisites and professional course requirements. The junior and senior year curricula will vary depending upon the specialization.

Pre-Clinical Professions Specialization

Students who wish to pursue post-baccalaureate degrees (MD, DO, PA, PhD, etc.) may complete the Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences Pre-Clinical Professions Specialization. These students may still be eligible to apply for clinical internship opportunities either before or after graduation.

Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences

Admission to Specializations

Pre-Clinical Professions Specialization

Programs

Courses