Clinical Laboratory Science, BS
Program Description
The Bachelor of Science in CLS degree prepares students to function as clinical laboratory scientists in a wide variety of settings including hospital laboratories, clinics, research labs, physician office laboratories, public health laboratories and reference labs. The requirements the first 3 years include courses in biology, chemistry, math, social sciences, and humanities. The senior year includes advanced study in the CLS disciplines along with clinical practice in the clinical facilities.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Possess a broad understanding of science and its in-depth applications, techniques, principles, and instruments used to their specific option within the clinical laboratory sciences major.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills
- Practice the skills necessary to analyze and interpret test results through knowledge of physiological and pathological conditions that affect testing.
Admission to the CLS program is one time per year. Students must complete an application to the CLS program and submit to the Program Director before May 30. An interview may be requested. Students should consult their Academic Advisor for additional information.
Clinical Laboratory Science Certification
The clinical laboratory scientist holds a key position in life-and-death matters involving the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Therefore, the practice of clinical laboratory science is regulated both from within the profession and, in some states, by law. In addition to the coursework for the baccalaureate degree, employment as a clinical laboratory scientist requires professional certification. A student may obtain one of three certifications in clinical laboratory science: generalist, clinical chemist, or medical microbiologist. Complete information (and an application for the certification examination in any area) may be obtained from the clinical laboratory science director. To apply for certification, a student must earn a “C” or better in all CLSC courses; and an interview and reference letters also may be required.
Clinical Laboratory Science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is approved through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS).
General Requirements
The Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science degree requires a minimum of 120 semester hours: 42 are from designated Core Curriculum Program courses, 20 are from clinical laboratory core courses, 12-14 are required Foundation courses and 44 are Clinical courses. After their sophomore year (60 semester hours), students must have (and maintain) a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or above in their course work, with no course work older than 6 years. No “D” or “F” grades will be accepted as credit within the clinical laboratory core or clinical courses (see Notes).
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| First-Year Seminars (when applicable)1 or Professional Skills | 2 |
| Core Curriculum Program | 42 |
| Clinical Laboratory Core Courses | 20 |
| Required Foundation Courses | 12-14 |
| Clinical Courses | 44 |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-122 |
- 1
Full-time, first time in college students are required to take the first-year seminars.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time, First-year Students1 | ||
| UNIV 1101 | University Seminar I | 1 |
| UNIV 1102 | University Seminar II | 1 |
| Core Curriculum Program | ||
| University Core Curriculum | 42 | |
| Statistics for Life 2 | ||
| Clinical Laboratory Science Core Courses | ||
| Biology I | ||
| Biology II | ||
| BIOL 2416 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 2421 | Microbiology | 4 |
| CHEM 1411 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 1412 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 3411 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| Required Foundation Courses | ||
| Although no specific courses are required, students will find familiarity with anatomy and/or physiology, or other science electives, to be extremely beneficial. | ||
| Statistics for Life (included in University Core) 2 | ||
| BIMS 4406 | Immunology | 4 |
| or BIOL 4406 | Immunology | |
| CHEM 4401 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| ELECTIVES - to reach 120 | 4-6 | |
| Clinical Courses | ||
| CLSC 3102 | Essentials Laboratory for Clinical Laboratory Science | 1 |
| CLSC 3200 | Essentials for Applied Laboratory Sciences | 2 |
| CLSC 4120 | Hemostasis | 1 |
| CLSC 4182 | Seminar – Clinical Correlations 3 | 1 |
| CLSC 4200 | Professional Skills for Clinical Laboratory Scientists | 2 |
| CLSC 4280 | Introduction to the Clinical Laboratory Profession 3 | 2 |
| CLSC 4297 | Professional Practicum I 3 | 2 |
| CLSC 4325 | Clinical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CLSC 4326 | Clinical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CLSC 4370 | Clinical Microbiology I | 3 |
| CLSC 4371 | Clinical Microbiology II | 3 |
| CLSC 4382 | Advanced Medical Laboratory Procedures 3 | 3 |
| CLSC 4420 | Hematology | 4 |
| CLSC 4430 | Clinical Immunology | 4 |
| CLSC 4598 | Professional Practicum II 3 | 5 |
| CLSC 4599 | Professional Practicum III 3 | 5 |
| Total Hours | 120-122 | |
- 1
Students entering with some college credit may not be required to take one or both of the First-Year Seminar courses (see The First Year Learning Communities Program for rules and exceptions concerning these courses). Clinical Laboratory Science students must take CLSC 4200 Professional Skills for Clinical Laboratory Scientists (2 sch) whether or not they have taken none, one or both First Year Seminars.
- 2
The 3 hours of lecture is included in the University Core of the Math Foundations area, and the 1 hour of lab is included in the Component Area Option.
- 3
Admission to these courses is limited to students who have a minimum GPA of 2.7, and who have a “C” or better in all prerequisite Biology, Chemistry, and Biomedical Sciences courses. Full-time students will be given preference for admission to these courses.
Notes:
- If a student earns a grade of D, F or W in a CLSC course, that course must be repeated. A course in which a grade of less than C (i.e., D, F or W-withdrawal) was earned may be repeated only once.
- A student who has earned a grade of less than C (i.e., D, F or W-withdrawal) in two CLSC courses or who has earned a grade of less than C (D, F or W-withdrawal) twice in the same CLSC course will be dismissed from the CLSC program.
- Students receiving a grade of D, F or W (withdrawal) or I (Incomplete) in a CLSC course may not progress to courses for which that course is a pre-requisite.
- Following dismissal, students may apply for reinstatement to the CLSC program. Reinstatement is competitive and is based upon space availability.
- In order for students to progress through the program, they must be in compliance with immunizations and hospital orientation regulations.
Course Sequencing
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| UNIV 1101 | University Seminar I | 1 |
| ENGL 1301 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
| BIOL 1406 | Biology I | 4 |
| CHEM 1411 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| UNIV 1102 | University Seminar II | 1 |
| ENGL 1302 or COMM 1311 | Writing and Rhetoric II or Foundation of Communication | 3 |
| CHEM 1412 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| BIOL 1407 | Biology II | 4 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MATH 1442 | Statistics for Life | 4 |
| CHEM 3411 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| BIOL 2421 | Microbiology | 4 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 2306 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| HIST 1301 | U.S. History to 1865 | 3 |
| BIOL 2416 | Genetics | 4 |
| CHEM 3412 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| POLS 2305 | U.S. Government and Politics | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | U.S. History Since 1865 | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Creative Arts Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIMS 4406 | Immunology | 4 |
| CHEM 4401 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| Language, Philosophy & Culture Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CLSC 3102 | Essentials Laboratory for Clinical Laboratory Science | 1 |
| CLSC 3200 | Essentials for Applied Laboratory Sciences | 2 |
| CLSC 4420 | Hematology | 4 |
| CLSC 4430 | Clinical Immunology | 4 |
| CLSC 4325 | Clinical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CLSC 4370 | Clinical Microbiology I | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLSC 4297 | Professional Practicum I | 2 |
| CLSC 4326 | Clinical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CLSC 4371 | Clinical Microbiology II | 3 |
| CLSC 4280 | Introduction to the Clinical Laboratory Profession | 2 |
| CLSC 4120 | Hemostasis | 1 |
| CLSC 4382 | Advanced Medical Laboratory Procedures | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Summer | ||
| CLSC 4200 | Professional Skills for Clinical Laboratory Scientists | 2 |
| CLSC 4598 | Professional Practicum II | 5 |
| CLSC 4599 | Professional Practicum III | 5 |
| CLSC 4182 | Seminar – Clinical Correlations | 1 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Courses
Application of essential practices for clinical laboratory science. Offered fall semester every year.
Introduction to general laboratory procedures, laboratory safety and regulations, quality assurance, professional ethics, specimen acquisition, sample maintenance and microscopy. Includes an introduction to the health care, public health and criminal investigation system. Offered fall, spring and summer semesters every year.
Studies of blood coagulation with an emphasis on the interaction of blood vessels, platelets, and certain plasma proteins. Disorders of hemostasis will be discussed along with diagnostic testing.
Informal lectures covering the newest developments in laboratory medicine. Includes discussion of the patient's clinical laboratory results, selection and interpretation of laboratory tests, and presentation of research. Requires permission of instructor and application. Offered summer semester (summer II only) every year.
Study of the role of the medical laboratory professional in the health care system. Includes professional ethics, legal responsibility, medical laboratory management, instructional methods, evaluation of clinical laboratory methods, medical laboratory instrument selection, clinical research and current professional topics. Requires permission of instructor and application. Offered summer semester (summer I only) every year.
Studies of the latest instrumentation, instrument selection, basic research, quality assurance and statistics used in the clinical laboratory.
Supervised learning experience in selected departments of the clinical laboratories.
Principles and practice of procedures found in general clinical chemistry. Includes the methodology of diagnostic tests and normal and abnormal human physiology as applied to diagnosis of pathological conditions.
Prerequisite: CHEM 4401.
Continuation of CLSC 4325 - Clinical Chemistry I. Emphasis on advanced clinical chemistry topics and procedures.
Prerequisite: CLSC 4325.
Lecture and laboratory studies of common pathogenic bacteria. Emphasis is on staining, cultural, and differential biochemical characteristics, methods of isolation from body fluids and susceptibility to therapeutic agents.
Prerequisite: BIOL 2421.
Lecture and laboratory studies of parasitic, viral, mycological and unusual bacterial human pathogens. Emphasis on methods of isolation from body fluids, identification methods and correlation with pathology.
Prerequisite: CLSC 4370.
Lecture and laboratory studies of the newest development in laboratory diagnostic medicine. Includes advanced clinical chemistry, immunology and molecular diagnostic procedures.
Studies of the formation, function and identifying characteristics of the cellular elements of human blood and other body fluids in health and diseased states and laboratory studies on blood coagulation. Lecture and laboratory emphasize the enumeration, morphology and staining characteristics of normal and abnormal cells and hemostasis.
Theoretical aspects of the immune response and its relationship to the diagnosis of disease and clinical immunohematology. Lecture and laboratory stress the detection, identification and characterization of antibodies, blood grouping and typing, compatibility testing, blood component therapy, HLA testing and diagnosis of pathological conditions.