Associate of Science in Histotechnology
- Program Director: Clinical Assistant Professor D. Wood
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
In order to meet health care manpower needs in both urban and rural settings nationwide, the program functions as a cooperative effort between IUSM and qualifying histology laboratories around the United States. Laboratory training sites are located nationwide and change based on the student and/or laboratories need. Courses are taught via distance education to employed and non-employed students.
Length of Program As a solution to the workforce shortage the Associate of Science in Histotechnology has a flexible completion timeline. Students should aim to complete the 30 credit hours of prerequisite course work in approximately . Completion of the 12-month professional program course work must be completed full-time (See Feasibility of Work for Students section). Alternately, prior certification by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology is accepted in lieu of the certification program.
Structure of the Program
Required program prerequisite courses may be transferred from any regionally accredited college or university or completed through any I.U. campus or I.U. Online in accordance with university and school policy. The professional program course work (24 credit hours) and the histotechnology capstone course (6 credit hours) are completed as the final courses of the degree. All course work, whether lecture or lab, are completed at the student’s location giving them the benefit of training in the environment they are/or will be working in. Assignments are submitted to the program for evaluation.
Alternately, the previously certified HT(ASCP) may apply for special credit in lieu of completion of the certificate course work. The histotechnology capstone course, offered by distance education, will be taken as the last course for degree completion. A minimum 30 credit hours must be completed at Indiana University. .
Design of Professional Curriculum Students who are employed/non-employed at the laboratory that qualifies as a clinical affiliate site are accepted into the Histotechnology Program to begin the course of study in the fall semester. The curriculum consists of a balance of didactic and practicum courses delivered by distance learning to students at their location. The program curriculum is delivered in a highly structured, sequential format that utilizes multiple methods of instruction to meet different learning styles.
Weekly lectures are recorded and are accompanied by related assignments that require approximately 3.5 hours per week for completion. The live 60-minute interactive video-conference review sessions are held bi-weekly using Zoom. The practicum course modules are designed to be accomplished in approximately 10 hours per week for the employed student; however, as part of on-the-job training, it is assumed that students in the program receive full-time technical training at their place of employment. The non-employed students should expect to spend additional hours to gain the technical skills required. All course work, whether lecture or lab, are completed at the student’s location giving them the benefit of training in the environment they are/or will be working in. Assignments are submitted to the program for evaluation.
The Histotechnology Program is designed to
- Provide educational and clinical experiences in all area of histologic technology to prepare students for beginning a career as a histologic technician.
- Provide medical communities nationwide with individuals qualified to effectively carry out the functions of the histotechnology discipline.
- Assist affiliate sites' histology trainers in meeting the student's needs in accomplishing the course work.
- Assist students in reaching their goals by providing academic, occupational, and personal guidance.
Program Facilities The Histotechnology Pis in Van Nuys Medical Science Building at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
Opportunity to Work ; full- or part-time employment is assumed.
Feasibility of Work for Students In addition to the didactic courses, students should plan on completing the minimum practicum hours: employed student- 10 hours/week minimum, non-employed student: should expect to spend additional hours to gain the technical skill required. This The program is designed for students employed full-time in a histology laboratory.
Additional Costs of the Program In addition to tuition and course fees, students are required to purchase a textbook and student membership to the National Society for Histotechnology and Exam Simulator. The program will supply the major reagents for special stains completed during the second semester. Clinical training laboratories may cover some expenses for laboratory supplies and mailing costs for submission of assignments to the program office. Additional training costs to student and/or laboratory are estimated at $400.00 per year.
Accreditation The Histotechnology Program (associate degree) at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Rosemont, Illinois; (312) 714-8880.
Updated: April 2021
