Undergraduate Course Catalog 2009-2010
College of Life Sciences and Agriculture
» http://www.colsa.unh.edu/
Medical Laboratory Science (MLS)
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Clinical Assistant Professor: Barry Corriveau, Adele Marone, Elise R. Sullivan
Lecturer: Joyce R. Stone
The medical laboratory science (MLS) 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 highly sought after by biotechnology companies and biomedical research facilities. Students who receive certification are highly sought after by hospitals and medical centers. 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 B.S.degree in MLS by following a clinical, research, histology, 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 24 –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 and a 2.5 grade-point average (GPA) in all MLS designated courses. These student must also have achieved a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA at the time of application for their clinical internship in April of their junior year. They must maintain that minimum until the internship begins. A personal interview at the clinical affiliate to evaluate a student's understanding of the profession, communication skills, maturity, self-confidence, and supervisory potential is required. 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 Histology Track
MLS majors following the histology track will complete MLS required courses and additional histology courses where students learn to prepare, process and stain tissue from surgery and autopsies for microscopic analysis. Histotechnology professionals perform, develop, evaluate, correlate and assure accuracy and validity of laboratory testing and procedures; direct and supervise anatomic pathology laboratory resources and operations; and, collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Upon successful completion of the MLS histology track students are awarded the B.S. degree. Students also have an opportunity to participate in an 18-week histology internship experience, and with an additional 34 weeks of work under a board-certified pathologist, they are eligible to take a national certification exam. Histologists have unlimited choice of practice settings. Hospitals, for-profit laboratories, public health facilities, and industry currently have positions for qualified histologists. Other opportunities are in industrial research, veterinary pathology, marine biology, and forensic pathology. Histology graduates also have the necessary educational experiences to pursue studies in a variety of graduate and professional programs such as pathologists' assistant programs.
MLS Research Track
MLS students following the research track will complete MLS required courses and additional courses that emphasize the theories and techniques required for the analysis of blood, cells, and tissues, and utilized in biomedical research. Upon successful completion of the MLS research curriculum students are awarded the B.S. degree. Graduates are well prepared for technically oriented jobs where their analytical, scientific, and technical skills are valuable and desired assets. They may be employed in industrial, research, or public health laboratories, as well as in forensic or pharmaceutical laboratories. Graduates are also well prepared for graduate studies in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and other science and non-science disciplines.
MLS Pre-professional Track
MLS majors following a pre-professional track 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. Upon successful completion of the MLS pre-professional curriculum, students are awarded the B.S. degree. Since 70–80 percent 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.
MLS Minor
Students may obtain a minor in MLS by successfully completing three MLS-designated courses and additional approved courses for a minimum of 20 credits. Students interested in the MLS minor should consult the MLS program director.
Required Core Courses
ZOOL 507 and 508, Anatomy and Physiology
MLS 755, Molecular Diagnostics
BIOL 604, Principles of Genetics
CHEM 403 and 404, General Chemistry
CHEM 545/546, Organic Chemistry (pre-med students substitute CHEM 651/3 and 652/4 for CHEM 545/546)
MLS 640, Phlebotomy Theory
MLS 642/643, Basic Immunology/Serology Lab
MLS 644/645, Hematology/Clinical Hematology Lab
MLS 660/661, Body Fluids/Body Fluids Lab
BCHM 658/659, General Biochemistry
MICR 503, General Microbiology
MICR 602, Pathogenic Microbiology
BIOL 528, Applied Biostatistics, or other Statistics course (PSYC 402 or SOC 502)
MLS 720/721, Mycology, Parasitology, and Virology/MPV Lab
MLS 610, Biomedical Laboratory Management
Additional required course for Clinical Track
MLS 641, Phlebotomy Clinical Internship
Additional required course for Clinical, Research and Pre-professional Tracks
MLS 658/659, Medical Biochemistry/Clinical Chemistry Lab
Additional required courses for Clinical and Pre-professional Tracks (except Pre-pathologists' Assistant)
MLS 656/657, Immunohematology and Transfusion Science/Blood Banking Lab
MLS 750, Seminar
Additional required courses for Histology Track and Pre-pathologists' Assistant
ANSC 707/807, Routine Histological Techniques
ANSC 709/809, Special Histological Techniques
ANSC 623, Comparative Histology
Additional required courses for Pre-professional Tracks
BIOL 411, General Biology
BIOL 412, (Pre-med)
ANSC 704, Principles of Pathobiology
Additional English course
Algebra (Pre-physician assistants or pathologists' assistant only)
Calculus (Pre-med only)
Additional Psychology or Sociology course (Pre-physician assistants only)
Physics 401/402 (Pre-med only)
