Bachelor of Science
Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, B.S.
Get a head start on a health science career with our clinical and diagnostic sciences degree.
Oakland University’s clinical and diagnostic sciences program equips you for all kinds of health science careers. You’ll be prepared for immediate employment in clinical laboratories, imaging clinics, and treatment centers. Our clinical and diagnostic sciences degree is also an excellent first step toward becoming a doctor, pharmacist, physician assistant, or other clinical professional. You’ll get a level of hands-on experience that’s rare in an undergraduate health sciences degree, learning the same advanced techniques and technologies used by clinical laboratory scientists and health care providers. Our school of health sciences students routinely have job offers waiting for them at graduation, and they have a stellar track record of postgraduate admissions—including a 98 percent acceptance rate to medical school.
Oakland University’s clinical and diagnostic sciences program equips you for all kinds of health science careers. You’ll be prepared for immediate employment in clinical laboratories, imaging clinics, and treatment centers. Our clinical and diagnostic sciences degree is also an excellent first step toward becoming a doctor, pharmacist, physician assistant, or other clinical professional. You’ll get a level of hands-on experience that’s rare in an undergraduate health sciences degree, learning the same advanced techniques and technologies used by clinical laboratory scientists and health care providers. Our school of health sciences students routinely have job offers waiting for them at graduation, and they have a stellar track record of postgraduate admissions—including a 98 percent acceptance rate to medical school.
Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences Degree: The Oakland University Advantage
Whether you work in a clinical laboratory or face to face with patients, it takes more than scientific expertise to excel in the health sciences. Our clinical and diagnostic sciences degree combines high-tech knowledge with a human touch, reflecting the health care industry’s growing emphasis on compassionate, patient-centered care. You’ll develop well-refined interpersonal skills that help you succeed, regardless of what health sciences career path you choose.
In addition, our clinical and diagnostic sciences degree stands out for its:
- Academic flexibility. The program offers seven specialized tracks that align with specific career pathways. Choose the pre-clinical professions specialization if you want to continue to medical, dentistry, or veterinary school. For those students who wish to attend Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs, choose the pre-pharmacy sciences specialization, and for those who want to continue to physician assistant (PA) programs, choose the pre-physician assistant track. If you’re interested in other health sciences careers, you can specialize in histotechnology, nuclear medicine, radiologic technology, or medical laboratory science.
- Career opportunities. The health sciences workforce is rapidly expanding, and Oakland University has a reputation for educating well-prepared professionals. Our clinical and diagnostic sciences graduates have sky-high rates of job placement and graduate school admissions. Many of our students have job offers waiting for them at graduation.
- Clinical and research experience. Our health sciences students participate in scientific research at a deep level that’s usually reserved for graduate students—a particular benefit if you’re planning to apply to medical or dental school. You’ll also get hands-on experience in diagnostic labs and imaging clinics, gaining valuable workplace experience that stands out in the job market.
- Pathway to postgraduate schools. Oakland University school of health sciences students excel in the grad-school marketplace because they’re exceptionally well-rounded. In addition to high levels of academic achievement, they have real-world experience, professional polish, and maturity that stands out.
- Supportive faculty. You’ll get lots of faculty attention in the clinical and diagnostic sciences program. Most classes are taught by full-time instructors (not adjuncts or grad students), and small class sizes allow you to form strong relationships with professors. Our faculty share knowledge that goes far beyond the classroom, offering career guidance and mentorship that can have an impact long after you’ve graduated.
What can you do with a clinical and diagnostic sciences degree?
Clinical and Diagnostic Science Careers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an increase of more than 2 million health sciences jobs over the next decade. Many kinds of organizations employ clinical and diagnostic sciences majors, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, independent laboratories, radiological clinics, and private medical practices.
The clinical and diagnostic science degree prepares you for the full spectrum of health science careers. Sample job titles include:
- Clinical pathologist
- Histotechnologist
- Radiologic technologist
- Medical laboratory scientist
- Genetic technologist
- Forensic laboratory scientist
- Physician
- Dentist
- Physician assistant
- Nuclear medicine technologist
- Optometrist
- Pharmacist
- Veterinarian
Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences Degree: What You’ll Study
The clinical and diagnostic sciences degree offers five distinct specializations. The pre-professional specialization caters to students who seek future admission to medical, dentistry, physician assistant, or veterinary school. The histotechnology and medical laboratory science tracks prepare you for lab careers, while the nuclear medicine and radiologic technology tracks equip you to work directly with patients for specialized diagnostic procedures and treatments.
While each track has distinct course content, all incorporate core coursework in:
- Biology
- Human anatomy
- Physiology
- Chemistry
- Statistics
- Contemporary issues in health care
- Medical terminology
- Health care law and values
- Health science careers