Clinical Laboratory Science, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Program Description
The Clinical Laboratory Science Certification and Post-Baccalaureate CLS Courses
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 requires professional certification that is regulated both from within the profession and, in some states, by law. Clinical Laboratory Science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is approved through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science. In addition to the coursework for the baccalaureate degree, professional certification as a clinical laboratory scientist requires the completion of post-baccalaureate courses. A student who has a baccalaureate degree in Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, or Microbiology, or who is completing the requirements for such a degree, may obtain one of three post-baccalaureate certifications in clinical laboratory science: generalist, clinical chemist, or medical microbiologist. To apply for certification in any area, a student must complete those Pre-Clinical Laboratory Science Option courses required for certification in that area. Complete information may be obtained from the clinical laboratory science program director.
To apply for clinical laboratory science certification examinations, a student must earn a “C” or better in all CLSC courses. Application for certification programs should be made directly to the clinical laboratory sciences office. An interview and reference letters may be required. Contact a clinical laboratory science faculty mentor for additional information.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required 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 | 1 |
| CLSC 4200 | Professional Skills for Clinical Laboratory Scientists | 2 |
| CLSC 4280 | Introduction to the Clinical Laboratory Profession | 2 |
| CLSC 4297 | Professional Practicum I | 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 |
| CLSC 4420 | Hematology | 4 |
| CLSC 4430 | Clinical Immunology | 4 |
| CLSC 4598 | Professional Practicum II | 5 |
| CLSC 4599 | Professional Practicum III | 5 |
| Total Hours | 44 | |
Course Sequencing
Certificate Coordinator: Jean Sparks, PhD, MLS(ASCP)
Students should take the courses in the following sequence to complete in the most timely manner:
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| CLSC 3200 | Essentials for Applied Laboratory Sciences | 2 |
| CLSC 3102 | Essentials Laboratory for Clinical Laboratory Science | 1 |
| CLSC 4420 | Hematology | 4 |
| CLSC 4430 | Clinical Immunology | 4 |
| CLSC 4370 | Clinical Microbiology I | 3 |
| CLSC 4325 | Clinical Chemistry I | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLSC 4120 | Hemostasis | 1 |
| CLSC 4326 | Clinical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CLSC 4371 | Clinical Microbiology II | 3 |
| CLSC 4382 | Advanced Medical Laboratory Procedures | 3 |
| CLSC 4280 | Introduction to the Clinical Laboratory Profession | 2 |
| CLSC 4297 | Professional Practicum I | 2 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Summer | ||
| Summer I | ||
| CLSC 4200 | Professional Skills for Clinical Laboratory Scientists | 2 |
| CLSC 4598 | Professional Practicum II | 5 |
| Summer II | ||
| CLSC 4599 | Professional Practicum III | 5 |
| CLSC 4182 | Seminar – Clinical Correlations | 1 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 44 | |
Students seeking the CLS certificate must have completed a BS degree and have taken Genetics, Biochemistry, and Immunology.
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.