The Clinical Genetic Molecular Biologist Scientist Program, offered by the Department of Biological Sciences , is a 12-month postbaccalaureate training program that prepares students for the American Society for Clinical Pathology Technologist in Molecular Biology Certification Exam and State of California CGMBS licensure.
Student Admissions
Admission to the program will require:
- A bachelor’s degree in genetics, molecular biology, or a related field with a minimum GPA of 2.8
- 18 semester units of biology including:
- 3 semester units of general genetics
- 3 semester units of molecular biology or cell biology
- 12 additional units in basic biology, human genetics, cell biology, microbiology, molecular biology or related subjects
- 10 semester units of chemistry, including biochemistry
- Of the above, at least 10 semester units of upper division biology or chemistry must have been completed with a grade of B or better
- Experience with molecular biology techniques, either through hands-on work (at least 500 work hours) or through classes (at least 9 semester units of laboratory credits in molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology or genetics related labs)
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- Possession of a Clinical Genetic Molecular Biologist Scientist Trainee License
- Acceptance by the SJSU CGMBS Program admissions committee and a clinical affiliate
- Legal right to work in the United States
- Successfully passing a drug test and background check
- Proof of current immunity to Hepatitis B and other infectious diseases as required by our clinical affiliates
- For applicants with prerequisites or a degree from a foreign country, a course-by-course transcript evaluation is required from one of the following agencies:
University Advanced Certificate Requirements
Advanced certificate programs offer post-baccalaureate students coursework leading to a specific, applied, focused goal. In order to be eligible for admission to an advanced certificate, students complete an intake form or apply through CalState Apply and submit an official transcript(s) (noting the completion of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited and/or recognized institution from a foreign country). To be admitted, students must have a minimum of 2.5 undergraduate GPA.
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all advanced certificate coursework, and no course with a grade less than “C” may be counted toward the certificate. A maximum of 4 units of coursework with a grade of “C” can count toward an advanced certificate. A maximum of 4 units of coursework may be repeated. Undergraduate lower division courses are not applicable to advanced certificates.
Generally, a maximum of 33% of advanced certificate units (e.g., 3 units for a 9-unit certificate) can be completed in non-matriculated status at SJSU with approval from the department or school. In some cases, an advanced certificate may be completed entirely in non-matriculated status if the student has received approval from the department or school and the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs in the College of Graduate Studies.
A maximum of 30% of any graduate degree program units (e.g., 9 units for a 30-unit Master’s degree) can be completed from another institution and/or units from Open University (including advanced certificate courses) at SJSU with approval from the department or school.
The choice of grading requirements may have implications for transferability to degree programs (University Policy S16-17).
The advisor/director of the program is responsible for verifying a student’s satisfactory completion of the academic requirements established for the program and for forwarding a copy of the certificate audit completion form to the Office of Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations. The Office of the Registrar records the completion of the program on the student’s transcript.
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