Undergraduate Course Catalog 2007-2008
College of Life Sciences and Agriculture
» http://www.colsa.unh.edu/
Medical Laboratory Science (MLS)
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Program Director: Adele Marone
Affiliate Assistant Professor: Jill Polito
Clinical Assistant Professor: Barry Corriveau, Adele Marone
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, biomedical research facilities, and in the fields of forensic medicine, public health, and biological and chemical industry sales, service and education. Graduates of the program are also uniquely qualified to continue a post-baccalaureate education in a wide variety of disciplines and professional fields including medicine, health management and policy, business administration, education, microbiology, biochemistry, and in physician assistant programs.
Students may pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in MLS by following a clinical, research, or pre-professional curricula. Students obtain detailed curricula information in the Introduction to Medical Laboratory Science course (MLS 401) and in consultation with their academic advisers.
MLS-Clinical Curriculum
MLS majors following the clinical curriculum will complete MLS required courses and a 22-26 week clinical internship. Clinical internship positions are filled on established criteria published in the MLS Student Handbook, including professionalism, academic performance, interviews, and references.
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 Curriculum Academic Requirements and Essential Functions
Students planning on participating in a clinical internship must obtain a grade of C or better in all MLS courses. These students must also have achieved a minimum 2.50 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: 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 Curriculum
MLS students following the research curriculum 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 Curriculum
MLS majors following a pre-professional curriculum will complete MLS required courses and additional courses required by physician assistant programs or medical schools. 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 laboratory assistants, medical 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 requirements through credit by examination. Written and practical examinations are available in the areas of clinical microbiology, clinical hematology, clinical immunohematology, clinical chemistry, and urinalysis/body fluids. 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.
MLS Fast Track
This program is designed for students with a B.S. degree in a life science who wish to become eligible for certification as a medical technologist. The student must have a clinical sponsor to provide the clinical training. Students will take MLS theory classes in hematology, medical biochemistry, immunohematology, body fluids, mycology, parasitology, laboratory management, and molecular diagnostics, as well as any prerequisites, or background courses required for the program. Courses are taken through Education and Summer Studies, and no degree is conferred at completion. Contact the MLS Program director for more information.
Required Courses
ANSC 512, Anatomy and Physiology
ANSC 754, Molecular Diagnostics
BIOL 411/412, Principles of Biology I and II
BIOL 604, Principles of Genetics
CHEM 403-404, General Chemistry
CHEM 545/6 Organic Chemistry
BCHM 658/9 General Biochemistry
MICR 503, General Microbiology
MICR 602, Pathogenic Microbiology
BIOL 528, Applied Biostatistics I,
or
PSYC 402, Statistics
or
SOC 502, Statistics
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
