Michigan State University CLS/MT Program

Molecular Laboratory Diagnostics Program

Program Description
Who should take these courses?
The Courses
Books for BLD 830
The Faculty
Recognition of completion
Scheduling
Program cost
Registration
Receiving & Paying Your Online Bill
Computer needs
Contact Information
Local Hotels
Housing
How To Print A Grade Report
How To Begin The Course Once Registered
Seeking Certification by a Certifying Body?

Before you can log on to your course, you must activate your MSUnet ID and choose a password. For directions on activating your account use this link: http://netid.msu.edu

You must also activate your MSU email account at: http://mail.msu.edu

Program Description
The Michigan State University (MSU) Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics (formerly Medical Technology) Program is pleased to offer a Certificate Program in Molecular Laboratory Diagnostics. Completion of the three courses is required for the certificate, though individual course enrollment is possible with appropriate prerequisites. The didactic courses are taught via computer on the World Wide Web through MSU's Virtual University. The laboratory component is taught over one week on the University's East Lansing campus. Participants can also arrange to complete this segment at a remote site where proper equipment and instrumentation available.
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Who should take these courses?
This program is designed for working medical laboratory professionals in need of updating their skills and knowledge to meet the demands of modern molecular biology applications. Individuals working in veterinary, forensic, industrial, and pharmaceutical laboratories will also find the content pertinent. Individuals seeking certification in molecular biology from the National Credentialing Agency (NCA) or American Society for Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) will find the courses to provide solid preparation for national credentialing examinations. However, these courses are not a prerequisite or a requirement for the certifying exams. To determine your eligibility contact the Agency of your choice by clicking on the links above. The courses will also be applicable to recertification by NCA for individuals holding any NCA credential. The program also provides valuable preparation for work in modern medical and biological laboratories for graduate and upper-level undergraduate students in the biological sciences.
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The Courses
The two on-line courses are organized into modules. There are approximately 15 modules in each course. The instructor expects that you will complete one module per week. This may vary, depending on your schedule. The time spent with the on-line module and assigned readings (see link at top of page to order your books) should take approximately 4-5 hours per week. There are also on-line chat rooms with other course participants and the instructor or you can post questions to a bulletin board if you are on-line at a time when other participants are unavailable. The grading for the on-line courses is based on an “open book” midterm and final exam. The third course in the certificate program takes place on the campus of Michigan State University during the summer semester so that inexpensive on-campus housing can be offered to participants. The course is offered as a one-week intensive format (e.g. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday).It is also possible to make special arrangements with the instructor to complete the laboratory requirements in a laboratory in your local area, as long as proper equipment and supervision are available.

BLD 830 - Concepts in Molecular Biology (2 cr) is an introduction to the practice of molecular biology and its applications in the clinical laboratory. Prerequisites include undergraduate courses in both biochemistry and biology. The topics include genetics, DNA chemistry, nucleic acid extraction and modification, electrophoresis, southern blotting, hybridization, amplification, sequencing, laboratory practice, laboratory design, business, marketing, and regulatory standards.

BLD 831 - Clinical Applications of Molecular Biology (2 cr) focuses on the specific applications of molecular techniques within a variety of disciplines. Prerequisites include BLD 830 or documented molecular diagnostics experience. The disciplines covered include cytogenetics, hemostasis, hematology, immunology, infectious diseases, forensic science, oncology, paternity, and transplantation immunology. Participants will develop a focal problem related to their area of interest.

BLD 832 - Molecular Pathology Laboratory (2 cr) allows learners to perform the techniques described in BLD 830 and BLD 831. Prerequisites include BLD 830 and BLD 831 (or you can take BLD 831 concurrently with the lab) or documented molecular diagnostics experience. The laboratory is an intensive one-week course. Activities include operation of equipment, DNA extraction and measurement, Southern blotting, hybridization, amplification, detection, and sequencing.
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The Faculty
Course director and primary faculty member:
John A. Gerlach, PhD, MT(ASCP), dip ABHI
Professor and Director, Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics
Director, Histocompatibility Laboratory
Michigan State University
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Recognition of completion
Participants will earn 2 semester hour credits from Michigan State University for each course completed successfully. Individuals completing the 3-course sequence also will be awarded a Certificate in Molecular Laboratory Diagnostics from the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program, Michigan State University.
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Scheduling
BLD 830 - For Fall Semester 2009 - the course will come on-line on Wednesday, September 2, 2009; students must complete the course work by December 11, 2009. This course will also be offered during Spring Semester 2010; those dates are January 11, 2010 - April 30, 2010.

BLD 831 - This course will be offered during Spring Semester 2010; those dates are January 11, 2010 - April 30, 2010. There will also be an offering during the full Summer session beginning May 17 - August 19, 2010.

BLD 832 - This course may be taken concurrently with BLD 831 during the Summer Session. It will be offered Summer session A. Dates for 2010 are between May 17 - July 1, 2010 (Times for Summer 2010 are not set yet). Class times to be arranged. On-campus housing can be arranged for participants at a reasonable cost.
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Housing
On-campus housing in a graduate dormitory can be arranged for participants at a reasonable cost (The 2009 cost is $37.50/night). Most of the housing on campus is unairconditioned. Owen Graduate Hall does not have air-conditioning. For more information on Owen Hall, click here and choose Graduate Housing on the list. If you prefer to stay in one of the local hotels, click here for more information and whom to contact to make reservations.
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Program cost
Participants beginning the program in the 2009-2010 academic year as out-of-state lifelong education students will pay a cost of $1,241.50 for each 2 credit course; in-state lifelong education students will pay a cost of $1056.50 for each 2 credit course. Lifelong education students may withdraw from a course before one-quarter of the course is complete and receive a full refund. International Students living in the United States must also pay a $25.00 international student fee. International students living in the United States will also automatically be charged a fee for health insurance, UNLESS they provide proof of health insurance by filling out a Health Waiver Form by clicking on this link (Note, you will have to use your newly established MSU Net ID to login to the waiver form).
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Registration
Participants can register directly on-line as a lifelong education student (either domestic or international). You will need to know the course number (either BLD 830, BLD 831 or BLD 832). When you click on the link below a new page will open for you to apply to the University. There are two "drop down" boxes - one that says I am a "Domestic" student and then it says "Freshman". You need to drop down the two boxes and choose the correct options. If you are a US citizen you are a "domestic" student; otherwise choose "international". For the box that says "Freshman" drop it down and and choose "Lifelong". That way you will not have to pay an application fee or provide transcripts. The other information you need to fill out the application is biographical in nature (e.g. name, address, high school and other schools attended, etc.) It is not necessary to submit any transcripts, since you will not be pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Once you fill out the on-line application, you will receive an email from the Registrar’s Office with a Personal Identification Number (PID) and a Personal Access Number (PAN) - and a link to go to a designated website where you will establish your own MSU Net ID and your own MSU email address. All future communication from MSU will come to your MSU email account - including the bill for the course. You can forward email from your MSU account to another email account (e.g. hotmail, or aol, etc.) - or you can leave your MSU email separate. It is important to set these up as your bill for the course will come via email and the payment options will be on line (e.g. use a credit card, have it paid directly from your bank account) or you can send a check to pay your bill. If you do not pay your bill, you will be dropped from the course.

To register for the course and fill out the online application click here.
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Computer Needs
ANGEL works with Macintosh, Windows, and other platforms and is accessible through almost any Internet browser. However, for best results we recommend using Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape Navigator version 7.0 (or higher).

For 24-hour assistance, contact the ANGEL Help Line at 1.800.500.1554.
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Contact Information
For additional information, contact the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics (formerly Medical Technology) Program at:

Michigan State University
322 N. Kedzie Hall
E. Lansing, MI 48824-1031
517-353-9225 (Mark Bitman)
fax 517-432-2006
medtech@msu.edu

For 24-hour assistance, contact the ANGEL Help Line at 1.800.500.1554.
Handicapper accommodations may be requested by calling the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program at 517.353.7800 or by e-mail to medtech@msu.edu.
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How to Print A Grade Report
1.) Go to the MSU Student Information website http://stuinfo.msu.edu
3.) Sign in with your MSUnet ID & password then hit submit
4.) Welcome To STUINFO Menu
5.) Look under "Academic" and Select "Grade History: Grade Report"
6.) Select the term & type in student number then press enter
7.) Grade History Screen - select Create Grade Report
8.) Grade Report - scroll down the screen and click on Print Grade Report
9.) Close the window
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How To Begin The Course Once Registered
You must activate your MSUnet ID and email account and then choose a password. For Directions on Activating your MSUnet ID, use this link: http://netid.msu.edu. Your email account must also be activated since all subsequent communication from MSU will be sent to your MSU email account (including billing information). To activate your email account use this link: http://mail.msu.edu.

If you have set up you MSUnetID and want to start the course Click Here and then enter your MSUnet ID and password. Click on your course when it comes up
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