Clinical Chemistry, Graduate Certificate

INTRODUCTION

The accredited program in Clinical Chemistry is a dynamically integrated certificate program merging the fields of clinical diagnosis, biomedicine and analytical chemistry. This program, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry (ComACC), is in the Ph.D. Clinical-Bioanalytical Chemistry degree program in the Department of Chemistry. Students completing the requirements of the certificate program are granted a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Chemistry, concomitant with the conferral a Ph.D. degree in Clinical-Bioanalytical Chemistry. The instructional and training components are carried out by clinical chemistry, analytical chemistry and pharmaceutical science faculty in the Department of Chemistry at Cleveland State, with active involvement of clinical chemists and clinical scientists at the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Saint Vincent Charity Medical Center and other area medical institutions.

The mission of the accredited certificate program in Clinical Chemistry is to give Ph.D. graduate students intensive didactic instruction, as well as some practical experience, in the field of clinical laboratory science and to give them appropriate biomedical/bioanalytical research experience in their dissertation work, in order to prepare students for one of the following paths upon graduation:

1. to obtain further practical training in the field through clinical chemistry post-doctoral fellowships, in order to prepare them for careers as directors of clinical laboratories;
2. to assume scientific positions in clinical and other types of laboratories;
3. to assume positions in the in-vitro diagnostics, pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, which are increasingly seeking scientists having knowledge of clinical chemistry.

CURRICULUM

The curriculum of the accredited certificate program in Clinical Chemistry, for which this certificate applies, is designed to give an in-depth education in clinical laboratory science.

Comprehensive and rigorous instruction in disease processes as it relates to disease diagnosis is covered in clinical lecture and seminar courses which include two of the core courses, Clinical Chemistry I and II (CHM 651 and CHM 652), four Special Topics in Clinical Chemistry courses (CHM 750), and two Clinical Chemistry Seminar (CHM 759) courses. This approach allows for the systematic and comprehensive coverage of the clinical aspects of the clinical chemistry field. The curriculum also gives instruction in the methodology, instrumentation, statistics, and general laboratory procedures and quality issues related to the clinical laboratory. This is done in the graduate laboratory course covering biochemical and molecular biology techniques, Biotechnology Techniques I (CHM 655), in the Clinical Laboratory Topics: Instrumentation and Quality Operation course (CHM 658), the Pharmaceutical Analysis Laboratory course (CHM 557) and the Internship in Clinical Chemistry I course (CHM 756). Students get practical training in the clinical laboratory in the Internship in Clinical Chemistry I course. The other required courses for the certificate are two graduate biochemistry courses, Advanced Biochemistry I and II (CHM 653 and CHM 654).

The curriculum of the certificate program meets the coursework requirement for the Ph.D. degree in Clinical-Bioanalytical Chemistry. Besides this coursework there are additional requirements for Ph.D. degree which must be met, since the certificate is awarded only with the conferral of the Ph.D. degree in Clinical-Bioanalytical Chemistry. These additional requirements are passing a Candidacy Examination (CHM 891), enrolling in Annual Research Report (CHM 790) each year at the second year and after (except for the year taking CHM 891) and credits associated with the performing dissertation research culminating in the writing and approval of a dissertation [Advanced Chemistry Laboratory (CHM 679/779) and  Ph.D. Dissertation (CHM 899)]. Dissertation research opportunities in biomedical/clinical areas, sophisticated analytical methodologies, and therapeutic agent development are available. Finally, a minimum of 90 credit hours of graduate study is required for the Ph.D. degree.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for admittance into the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Chemistry program are:

1. Holding regular graduate admittance status in the graduate chemistry program,
2. Having a minimum of B (3.0) grade in each of Clinical Chemistry I and II (CHM 651 and CHM 652) and Advanced Biochemistry I and II (CHM 653 and CHM 654) courses,
3. Having a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 for the above courses.

Students interested in pursuing the certificate should seek advising from the Director of Clinical Chemistry and complete the required Intent to Complete the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Chemistry Form.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

1)  Complete all the courses of the certificate program (see required courses below)

2)  Meet grade requirements for the certificate courses given below

• B (3.0) grade or higher for all 3-credit and 4-credit lecture courses
• S grade for the Internship in Clinical Chemistry I (CHM 756) and Clinical Chemistry Seminar (CHM 759) courses
• B (3.0) average for the four 1-credit Special Topics in Clinical Chemistry (CHM 750) courses
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher at graduation

4) Meet all the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Clinical-Bioanalytical Chemistry

ADVISING

Students interested in the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Chemistry program can meet with the Director of Clinical Chemistry to obtain information about the program at any time in their graduate studies. Those meeting the admission requirements for the certificate and interested in pursuing the certificate program should meet with the Director to fill out the Intent to Complete the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Chemistry Form. A tentative schedule for completing the coursework will be filled out on the form. Meeting with the Director provides an opportunity for the Director to discuss the requirements of the certificate program and to answer questions. Certificate students should meet with the Director once a year going forward.