The California State University, Los Angeles Biomedical Sciences Program.

The Biomedical Sciences Program at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), is described. The federally funded program was designed to help economically disadvantaged students to pursue careers in biomedical sciences. The program provided academic support in mathematics, science, and English; study skills development; experiences in laboratory and health care delivery settings; and exposure to biomedical science professionals. At CSULA the program was designed to serve 100 secondary school students, initially all in the ninth grade. Characteristics of the target high schools included: 86 percent of the student population was Hispanic, and many lacked basic writing skills and specialized vocabularies. Information is provided on: selection of student participants; the academic year program (biomedical science modules, mathematics tutorials, and communication skills tutorials); three summer programs (1981-1983); academic/career counseling; a psychology component (i.e., emotional growth); the college admissions process; involvement of the parents in the program; and program termination. Program results are described, with attention to retention rates in the program and in high school, achievements of Hispanic students in their high schools, and performance on the Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test and the Scholastic Aptitude Test. (SW)