Clinical Laboratory Sciences Major
The clinical laboratory science major, although offering the same strong biomedical background as the biomedical laboratory science major, is designed specifically for students aiming toward careers working in medical laboratories. So in addition to the scientific foundation, the curriculum provides an introduction to managing medical laboratories and the skills needed to teach and orient staff.
Medical laboratory employers prefer to hire individuals holding national certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS). One way to earn this professional credential is to complete an accredited educational program that incorporates a hospital laboratory experience. The clinical laboratory science (CLS) major does that with 16 credits of courses earned in residence at affiliated laboratories in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana – total credits = 136. Availability of clinical slots is limited, so admission to the CLS major is competitive.
The CLS major is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)**. Completion of the CLS major qualifies students for the Medical Laboratory Scientist examination of the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Upon passing the examination, certificants use the designation MLS(ASCP) after their name. In the calendar years 2011 and 2012, 35 of 39 students taking the certification examination for the first time passed (pass rate = 90%). In that same time frame, the national pass rate for first time examinees graduating from NAACLS-accredited programs was 84%. All students who failed on their first effort passed on a subsequent attempt.
For more information about the full curriculum and the admission process, visit the Academic Programs guide at: http://goo.gl/2GLzO. Click here for a sample course plan. Click here for a CLS major application form.
** National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018
773-714-8880
www.naacls.org
