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Undergraduate Course Catalog 2008-2009

College of Life Sciences and Agriculture

» http://www.colsa.unh.edu/


Medical Laboratory Science (MLS)

» http://www.mls.unh.edu

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Program Director: Adele Marone
Affiliate Assistant Professor: Ellen J. Dijkman Dukes, Jill Polito
Clinical Assistant Professor: Barry Corriveau, Adele Marone, Elise R. Sullivan
Lecturer: Joyce Stone

The medical laboratory science program provides students with a quality education in the fundamentals of biomedical laboratory science and laboratory skills in addition to a broad-based university general education. The curriculum enables students to determine the presence, extent, or absence of human disease and to provide the valuable data needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment of human disease. The program also provides an excellent background for students intending to pursue careers in the medical field and upon completion of a clinical internship qualifies them to become certified medical technologists.

Baccalaureate degree holders in medical laboratory science are not only highly sought after by hospitals but also by biotechnology companies and biomedical research facilities. Forensics, public health, education, and diagnostic product development, sales, and service are additional areas of employment for MLS graduates. Graduates of the program are also uniquely qualified to continue their post-baccalaureate education in a wide variety of professional programs including physician assistant programs, pathologists’ assistant programs and medical school. They are prepared for advanced studies in many other fields including biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, molecular biology, health management and policy, and business administration.

Students may pursue a Bachelors of Science degree in MLS by following a clinical, research, or pre-professional track. Students obtain detailed curricula information in the Introduction to Medical Laboratory Science course (MLS 401) and in consultation with their academic advisers.

MLS Clinical Track
MLS majors following the clinical track will complete MLS required courses and a 22-26 week clinical internship. Clinical internship positions are not guaranteed and are filled on established criteria published in the MLS Student Handbook, including professionalism, academic performance, interviews, references, and faculty recommendations.

Clinical students may become certified in all areas of the laboratory by completing courses in Advanced Clinical Microbiology (MLS 751), Advanced Hematology (MLS 752), Advanced Immunohematology (MLS 753), and Advanced Clinical Chemistry (MLS 754) during their internship. Upon successful completion of the clinical internship these students are awarded the B.S. degree and are eligible to take a national certification exam offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or the National Certification Agency (NCA). Clinical students may choose to become certified in only one area of the clinical laboratory by completing either a Clinical Microbiology Internship (MLS 761), a Clinical Hematology Internship (MLS 762) a Clinical Immunohematology Internship (MLS 763), or a Clinical Chemistry Internship (MLS 764). Upon successful completion of the clinical internship these students are awarded the B.S. degree and are eligible to take a national certification exam offered by the ASCP or NCA in their categorical specialty area.

MLS Clinical Track—Academic Requirements and Essential Functions

Students applying for a clinical internship must have obtained a grade of C or better in all MLS courses. These student must also have achieved a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) at the time of application for their clinical internship (junior year), and must maintain that minimum until the internship begins. A personal interview at the clinical affiliate is required. This interview evaluates a student’s understanding of the profession, communication skills, maturity, self-confidence, and supervisory potential. Students must demonstrate these attributes to participate in the clinical courses.

The medical laboratory science clinical curriculum is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). NAACLS requires students in this program to have the following essential functions: a sound intellect; good motor skills; eye-hand coordination and dexterity; effective communication skills; visual acuity to perform microscopic analyses, or read procedures, graphs, etc.; professional skills such as the ability to work independently, manage time efficiently, and comprehend, analyze and synthesize various materials, as well as have sound psychological health and stability. Additional information regarding the essential functions listed above may be obtained by contacting the MLS program director.

MLS Research Track

MLS students following the research track will complete MLS required courses and an undergraduate research project under a faculty mentor, presenting their findings at a UNH undergraduate research conference at the end of their senior year. Upon successful completion of the MLS research curriculum students are awarded the B.S. degree. While they are not eligible to take a national certification exam upon graduation they are qualified to seek a post-graduation clinical internship if they wish to attain certification as a medical technologist or a specialist.

MLS Pre-Professional Track

MLS majors following a pre-professional curriculum will complete MLS required courses and additional courses required for admission to professional programs such as physician assistant programs, pathologists’ assistant programs or medical schools. Since 70-80% of what medical professionals do is diagnose based on laboratory testing results, medical laboratory science program graduates are well prepared for continuing their medical education in professional programs. Upon successful completion of the MLS pre-professional curriculum students are awarded the B.S. degree.

Career Mobility Program

This option is designed to make the B.S. degree in MLS available to certified clinical laboratory technicians, military-trained laboratory personnel, and other individuals with at least two years of full-time recent experience in a clinical laboratory. Career mobility program participants may challenge MLS clinical course requirement through credit by examination. Students interested in the career mobility program should contact the MLS program director.

MLS Minor
Students may obtain a minor in MLS by successfully completing three MLS core courses and two additional approved electives for a minimum of 20 credits. Students interested in the MLS minor should consult the MLS program director.

Required Courses
ZOOL 507 and 508, Anatomy and Physiology
ANSC 754, Molecular Diagnostics
BIOL 604, Principles of Genetics
CHEM 403 and 404, General Chemistry
CHEM 545/546, Organic Chemistry
BCHM 658/659, General Biochemistry
MICR 503, General Microbiology
MICR 602, Pathogenic Microbiology
BIOL 528, Applied Biostatistics or other Statistics course
MLS 602, Seminar
MLS 610, Biomedical Laboratory Management
MLS 640, Phlebotomy Theory
MLS 641, Phlebotomy Clinical Internship
MLS 642/643, Basic Immunology/Serology Lab
MLS 644/645, Hematology/Clinical Hematology Lab
MLS 656/657, Immunohematology and Transfusion Science/Blood Banking Lab
MLS 658/659, Medical Biochemistry/Clinical Chemistry Lab
MLS 660/661, Body Fluids/Body Fluids Lab
MLS 720/721, Mycology, Parasitology, and Virology/MPV Lab

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