Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program
Graduate Program
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Michigan State University has had a successful program in Medical Technology education since 1926. Throughout the years the goal of this program has been that of a leader in the advancement of the clinical sciences through the dissemination and acquisition of knowledge pertinent to the field at both a graduate and undergraduate level. Consistent with the land grant philosophy and the mission of the College of Natural Science, the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program carries on this commitment through the promotion of our graduate program. This program addresses the needs of the practitioner in terms of understanding new emerging technologies and their application to the field of clinical laboratory science. A multiple disciplinary approach to the laboratory sciences is emphasized, which encourages innovative thinking that crosses traditional boundaries. The acquisition of a Masters Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science not only offers the opportunity to expand current knowledge but also personal credentials. The Master of Science Degree can be acquired by following one of three available tracks.
Plan A emphasizes basic scientific research. This involves the generation of data within the areas of biochemistry, microbiology, and biology and related fields. It is an expectation that study within these areas will be focused as the mechanism of disease or the characterization of such from a diagnostic viewpoint. The writing and defense of a thesis is reuqired for Plan A. with a written thesis and defense. Plan B requires a project, usually involving the review of the literature, with a written summary and defense. PSMBoth require prescribed course work which consists of a core set of courses and additional courses which suit the intent of the individual. The Plan B Masters Degree is usually considered terminal. Plan B is available on campus or on-line. Plan A research or Plan B projects may be conducted under the auspice of either a resident or adjunct faculty member. The minimum number of credit hours required for the Master's Degree is 30 semester hours beyond the Bachelor's degree.
Plan B emphasizes clinical research. This involves the generation and/or the evaluation of clinical data related to clinical laboratory practices and/or processes with an emphasis on clinical laboratory operations and/or related patient outcomes. The focus areas acceptable to this tract are very broad. Included here could be study areas such as education, quality assurance/improvement, clinical decision making using laboratory data or improvement of operational processes. Other possibilities can exist as well. The writing and defense of a project report is required for Plan B.
The third option is the Professional Science Masters (PSM). This tract emphasizes the blending of basic clinical science with the business/regulatory aspects of this field. The goal of this tract is to produce graduates with upper level scientific knowledge and the ability to apply this to business decision making processes. The writing and defense of a project report is required for the PSM tract.
Because the Plan A tract requires the generation of laboratory data, it is only available on-campus. Research facilities are available in any of the newly renovated laboraties withinthe BLD prgram or in associated laboratiories across campus. The Plan B and PSM tracts are availabe either on-campus or on-line. Completion of projects assocaited with these tracts can be accomplished in a variety of different setting dependent on the student's focus. Plan A research or Plan B/PSM projects can be conducted under the auspice of either a resident or adjunct faculty member.
Study in all areas of clinical laboratory practice are available.
Independent of the focus area, promotion and advancement of clinical laboratory practice is emphasized through research and process improvement. This pathway is supported by internal ane external faculty expertise representative of the scope of practice within the clinical laboratory sciences.
The Clinical Laboratory Science Graduate committee of the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program is responsible for screening candidates for admission, recommending graduate curriculum and establishing procedural guidelines. This committee is composed of BLD faculty members. The committee meets at least twice per year to evaluate applications. Only complete applications will be reviewed by the graduate committee. Prospective applicants for admission must possess or be a candidate for a Bachelors Degree in Science (B.S.) from an accredited college or university. Applicants must have at least an overall undergraduate 3.0 (B) grade point average. A complete application consists of the application form (this is available on line at http://admissions.msu.edu/apply.asp), official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a letter of intent or purpose statement, a brief resume, and the general GRE (Graduate Record Exam) score (CLICK HERE for GRE info). GRE scores can be up to 10 years old. For applicants in which English is not their first language, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be taken.
For applicants with degrees from universities/colleges outside of the U.S.A., evaluation of degree is required. This evaluation should be done through the World Evaluation Service (WES). CLICK HERE to go to the WES website. If applicable, verification of credentials (ASCP or NCA) is also required.
Applications are reviewed twice yearly. For on-campus students, applications for Fall admission (late August start), are reviewed in May and for Spring admission (January start) the review occurs in early November.
For on-line applicants, applications for Fall admission (late August start) are reviewed in mid-March and applications for Spring admission (January start) are reviewed in mid-August.
Further information regarding the application process can be obtained by contacting the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program office (bld@msu.edu) or the Graduate School on the Internet at http://www.msu.edu/user/gradschl/apply.htm.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Contact:
Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program
Michigan State University
322 N. Kedzie Laboratory
E. Lansing, MI 48824-1031
Phone: (517) 353-9225
Fax: (517) 432-2006
E-Mail: bld@msu.edu
A minimum of 30 semester hours is required to complete the requirements for a Plan A or B Master's Degree and 31 semster hours for the PSM. There are no specific tracks which reflect an emphasis within a specific discipline. Course requirements beyond the core requirements are determined by the student's guidance committee or the graduate advisor. Courses may be selected from either undergraduate and graduate courses in the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program or other departments in the College of Natural Science. Up to nine (9) hours of 400 level undergraduate courses may be taken and applied towards the Master's Degree. Undergraduate Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics (Medical Technology) courses will be required for those who do not have a background in this field. Undergraduate Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics (Medical Technology) courses and a complete series of biochemistry are prerequisites for graduate BLD courses. The course or courses which satisfy these requirements should reflect the student's goals and be approved by the guidance committee or the graduate advisor.
*Although more than the required hours of BLD 899, BLD 890 or BLD 895 (depending on which tract you are following) may be taken, only the indicated number will be applied towards graduation.
PROFESSIONAL MASTERS DEGREE IN BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY OPERATIONS
The Concept
Numerous situations can be recalled that describe how being technically well versed does not necessarily ensure success in a science-based career path. In a similar manner, effective management and leadership requires more than the rote application of economic and business principles. This concept holds true for many fields including those related to biomedical laboratories. With this in mind, the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program at Michigan State University has created a blended master's degree program. This program emphasizes the changes in economics, governmental regulations and markets that influence our scope of practice and yet retains the fundamental science base integral to the profession. With this interdisciplinary approach, graduates will be business savvy scientists uniquely qualified for a variety of supervisory and management positions in industrial or clinical settings.
Graduate level studies have been offered by the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program at Michigan State University for the last 40 years. This traditional degree solely emphasized scientific competence. We have found that in many instances, graduates of this program found little benefit for career advancement with this degree only. Many only realized its benefit as a stepping stone to a Ph.D program. The Biomedical Laboratory Operations (BMLO) is intended to be a terminal degree. This implies the program will provide a platform for rapid career advancement without a need for further formal education. It is hoped that graduates of this program will effectively compete with individuals with similar educational backgrounds (ie MBA, traditional MS or PhD in science). The advantage BMLO students will have arises from the hybrid characteristics of this degree that integrates biology, chemistry and the diagnostic sciences with information management, business, and an understanding of the regulatory environment of healthcare.
Further information on Professional Masters Degree Programs can be found at the following links.
Michigan State University College of Natural Science
http://naturalscience.msu.edu/students/graduate/professional_masters_program/
Sloan Foundation
http://www.sciencemasters.com/
Meeting Needs
The field of laboratory medicine has been subject to dramatic changes over the last decade. Changes in technology, supply/demand, the regulatory environment, the roles of laboratory testing in good medical practice and the volatility of a prospective payment environment are a few of the factors which have influenced what we are today. The changes have modified our scope of practice, roles and responsibilities. Mental dexterity has largely replaced manual manipulation. Laboratory professionals are becoming process and information managers. Success in this field now requires a clear understanding of the diagnostic sciences and the incorporation of this knowledge into the social, public policy and strategic issues of healthcare. The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) has recognized this transition and in response has recently rewritten the guidelines used to develop and evaluate educational programs with this field. The primary difference between this and previous versions is an emphasis on management, supervision, budgeting and the application of educational methodology. The need for these skills has also been recognized by professional societies representing the field as well as other general health care organizations which indicate individuals capable of interfacing technical expertise with business prowess are a rare commodity. The goal of the Professional Masters Program in Biomedical Laboratory Operations is to produce graduates to meed these demands.
Further information in this area can be found at:
Sloan Foundation
http://www.sloan.org/programs/supresearch_cmb.shtml
Curriculum
The curriculum for the BMLO Program uses a combination of preexisting courses with an array of courses specifically designed to allow focused development of problem-solving skills pertinent to the biomedical laboratory using basic management and scientific principles. A wide variety of courses can be used to satisfy the curricular requirements. This flexible approach allows for the custom construction of course requirements to meet the interest and needs of the individual student.
Details of Curriculum
The student must complete a minimum of 31 credits hours. At least 11 credits must be taken which have a management/business focus. At least 17 credits must have a science focus. There is also a requirement for completion and defense of a industrial/clinical project (minimum of 3 credit hours).
The exact courses needed to fulfill the management and science requirements are variable. Specific course requirements are established by the students guidance committee. This is intended to allow for the creation of curriculums to meet the individual career goals of students. However, all curriculum will include three BMLO courses (five credit hours) that directly address the business aspects of operating a biomedical laboratory.
Other Information
The curriculum has 3 major areas of emphasis; management, science and the BMLO courses. The only required courses within this curriculum are the three BMLO management courses, course in statistics 2 semesters of the seminar course (BLD 801), and the Industrial/Clinical project. Additional curriculum requirements are established by the student's guidance committee. Below are courses that can be taken into consideration when establishing a curriculum. However, other courses may also be considered.
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MGT 813 | Human Resource Training | 3 |
| MGT 824 | Management and Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| EC 498 | Economics of Health Care | 3 |
| UIC BHIS 510 | Health Care Information Systems Offered through University of Illinois Chicago through distance education |
4 |
Science Courses minimum of 17 credits within this focus. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
| BLD 830 | Concepts of Molecular Biology | 2 |
| BLD 831 | Clinical Application of Molecular Biology | 2 |
| BLD 832 | Molecular Pathology Laboratory | 2 |
| PTH 851 | Advanced General Pathology | 3 |
| BMB 461 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| BMB 462 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| STT 425 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| STT 426 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| EPI 810 | Introduction to Descriptive and Analytical Epidemiology | 3 |
| BMB 521 | Medical Biochemistry | 5 |
| MMG 431 | Microbial Genetics | 3 |
| MMG 461 | Molecular Pathogenesis | 3 |
| MMG 851 | Immunology | |
| MMG 833 | Microbial Genetics | 3 |
| BMB 831 | Physicologic Biochemistry | 4 |
| BMB 801 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BMB 802 | Metabolic Regulation and Signal Transduction | 3 |
| BMB 825 | Cell Structure and Function | 3 |
| BLD 815 | Cell Biology | 2 |
| NSC 840 | Writing in the Sciences | 2 |
| PHM 830 | Pharmacology and Toxicology Exp Design & Analysis | 3 |
| BMLO Courses - These courses are required. | ||
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
| BLD 842 | Managing Biomedical Laboratory Operations | 2 |
| BLD 844 | Topics in Biomedical Laboratory Ooperations | 1 |
| BLD 846 | Decision Processes for Biomedical Laboratory Operations | 2 |
| Master's Project - This course is required. | ||
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
| BLD 895 | Industrial/Clinical Project | 3-6 |
| Fall - Year 1 | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHM 830 | Exp Design and Analysis | 3 |
|
| MMG 431 | Microbial Genetics | 3 |
|
| BLD 842 | Managing Biomedical Laboratory Operations | 2 |
|
| Total Semester Credits | 8 |
||
Spring - Year 1 |
Course | Course Title | Credits |
BLD 830 |
Concepts in Molecular Laboratory Operations |
2 | |
BLD 844 |
Topics in Biomedical Laboratory Operations |
1 | |
MGT 824 |
Organizational Behavior |
3 | |
MMG 461 |
Molecular Pathogenesis |
3 | |
Total Semester Credits |
9 | ||
Summer - Year 1 |
Course | Course Title | Credits |
BLD 831 |
Clinical Application of Molecular Biology |
2 | |
BLD 832 |
Molecular Pathology Laboratory |
2 | |
BLD 815 |
Cell Biology Health/Disease I |
2 | |
Total Semester Credits |
6 | ||
Fall - Year 2 |
Course | Course Title | Credits |
MMG 833 |
Microbial Genetics |
3 | |
BLD 846 |
Decision Processes for Biomedical Laboratory Operations |
2 | |
NSC 840 |
Writing in the Sciences |
2 | |
Total Semester Credits |
7 |
||
Spring - Year 2 |
Course | Course Title | Credits |
BLD 895 |
Projects in Biomedical Laboratory Operations |
3 | |
Total Semester Credits |
3 | ||
Total Degree Credits |
33 | ||
This curriculum has a total of 33 credits plus the BMC program. The minimum number of credits needed to graduate is 31. As indicated above, the actual number needed will be dependent on the course requirements established by the advisory committee. In this example, 6 credits are at the 400 level or below. Of these 33 credit hour, 19 are science, 14 are non science. Similar curriculums can be established with other emphasis. The time-line goal for completion is 5 semesters.
Description of Courses
http://www.reg.msu.edu/Courses/Search.asp
Schedule of Courses
http://schedule.msu.edu
