MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES

Program Information

This is a part-time or full-time program that enables professionals who hold a baccalaureate degree and certification (or are eligible for certification) in medical technology or a related clinical laboratory discipline to prepare for advanced clinical, technical, and administrative career opportunities. The program is jointly sponsored by the Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences of the School of Health Related Professions and the Department of Pathology of the School of Medicine. Through courses, research, and projects, students enhance their proficiency in a chosen clinical laboratory science discipline: clinical chemistry, hematology, informatics, immunohematology, laboratory operations, or microbiology. Certification as a specialist is available in some disciplines upon completion of specific requirements.

The program has three course sequence areas in which students take advanced theoretical or clinical courses: general course sequence, research course sequence, and specialty course sequence. A thesis (Plan I) or a project (Plan II) is required. The program is designed to take a full-time student one and one-half years to complete. Depending upon their individual experience, graduates of the program should bring another level of intellectual stimulation to their present position, assume new professional roles, or elect to use their graduate work in preparation for doctoral study.

Students who hold a Bachelor of Science in biology, chemistry, or a related major and who are not certified medical technologists, but who desire a career in medical technology may apply for the MSCLS program and, if accepted as Professional Entry students, take courses in both the medical technology and graduate programs. Such students, upon completion, would be eligible to take a national examination in medical technology. Professional entry students should have completed natural science and mathematics courses equivalent to those required for a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. The program for professional entry students is expected to take approximately 2-2 1/2 years to complete for a full time student.

Accreditation: The Specialist in Blood Bank Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in collaboration with the American Association of Blood Banks.

Credential Conferred: Diploma -- Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences degree.

Professional Certification: Professional entry students (not certified medical technologists) may apply and take courses in the medical technology program while enrolled in the MSCLS program. These students are eligible for the certification as a medical technologist upon completion of the curriculum. Students who are certified Medical Technologists upon entrance to the program may be eligible for specialist certification.

Length of Study: Approximately eighteen months full-time or three years part-time for certified medical technologists and approximately two to two and a half years for students who are not certified.

Program Entrance Date: Applications are accepted for each term. Students who are not certified ideally should begin in the fall term.

Application Deadline: All materials must be received by the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Division office at least 8 weeks prior to the term the applicant wishes to start. Applicants should consult the UAB Class Schedule for dates that the terms begin and end.

Application Procedure: The applicant should submit the following to the UAB Graduate School:

• completed application and reference forms located in the UAB Graduate School brochure,
• the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (it takes about six weeks for the testing agency to forward grades to the Graduate School, so this must be accomplished early in the application process),
• official transcripts from all colleges and universities,
• if a foreign applicant, scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language,
• complete UAB medical history questionnaire and physical, to include required immunizations, with satisfactory screening by the UAB Medical Center Student Health Service prior to enrollment.

Essential Requirements: The fundamental tasks that must be performed to successfully complete the program, have been outlined and are available upon request from the program.

Additional Requirements for Admission:

In addition to the general Graduate School admission requirements, requirements for admission include the following:

• An undergraduate degree in medical technology, biology, chemistry, or a related major.

For professional entry students the following are prerequisites

Computer science ................................................3

Statistics ..............................................................3

Pre-calculus Trigonometry ....................................3

General biology ....................................................4

Microbiology ........................................................3

General and analytical chemistry ............................8

Organic Chemistry ................................................4

(upper division level cell biology and genetics may be taken prior to or during the program)

• Possess a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (A=4.0), computed overall or alternatively computed over the last sixty semester hours of earned undergraduate credit.
• Earn scores of a least 500 in each section of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test.
• Provide a written statement of career goals.
• Participate in interviews with admissions committee and faculty.
• If accepted, prior to enrollment, complete a medical history questionnaire and physical, including required immunizations with satisfactory screening by the UAB Medical Center Student Health Service.
• Applicants for the program, who are Medical Technologists, must provide evidence of current certification as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) from the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel, or Medical Technologist (MT[ASCP]) from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, or provide evidence of eligibility for certification.

The Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences consists of a minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate academic credit. For professional entry students, additional undergraduate courses are taken and the student is certification eligible upon completion of the program. Students must:

• pass required courses and electives,
• maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 (A=4.00),
• present a thesis or project that reports original research within the student's chosen discipline, and
• pass a final thesis or examination.

Students complete general, research, and specialty course sequences and select electives:

General:

The general course sequence requires a minimum of nine semester hours. It includes a multi-term divisional seminar and courses in quality improvement management, technical assessment, and educational methodology. Students may gain lecture, discussion, and laboratory teaching experience by instructing in undergraduate Medical Technology courses.

Research:

The research course sequence consists of a minimum of nine semester hours and includes courses in research methodology, quantitative methods, scientific inquiry, and statistics. Thesis and project credits are recorded as part of the research core.

Specialty:

The specialty course sequence consists of at least nine semester hours and includes courses in the specialty discipline of the student's choice. Specialties include clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology, laboratory operations, informatics and microbiology. Specialty course sequences are designed to provide in-depth scientific knowledge in the discipline of choice.

Electives:

Electives may be drawn from any core or other areas as approved by the advisor.

Typical Program

Course Descriptions

Faculty

Comments and Questions

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