Clinical Laboratory Science
Clinical laboratory scientists are the unseen heroes of health care. CLS students receive an education that informs the diagnoses providers make in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities.
Clinical Laboratory Science Program Overview
Do you enjoy solving puzzles and problems? Are you interested in medicine but don't want to work with patients?
A clinical laboratory scientist is an individual who performs and evaluates laboratory tests using a variety of methods. The results of these tests provide the information needed to diagnose disease or monitor treatment. The clinical laboratory science program at ECU consists of two years of pre-professional study. During your sophomore year, you will apply to the professional program, which begins in the fall semester of your junior year.
The professional program explores the areas of hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, and immuno-hematology. During your senior year, you will spend part of your time in a clinical setting practicing what you have learned in the classroom.
With a BS in clinical laboratory science, you can pursue a multitude of options for additional education. The CLSC curriculum meets requirements to apply to medical or dental school. A BS in clinical laboratory science is one of the recommended majors for applying to a master's program in physician assistant studies. If you are interested in pursuing advancement as a clinical laboratory or health services administrator, you can enter a MBA program or graduate program in health services administration. Graduate work in a field of public health is also an option for those who wish to advance in this arena. For those who wish to become a researcher, you are prepared to enter a doctoral program in the biological, biomedical, and chemical sciences.
ECU Advantage
The College of Allied Health Sciences is the largest university-based allied-health provider in the state of North Carolina. The college has eight departments: Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies, Biostatistics, Clinical Laboratory Science, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Health Services and Information Management, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistant Studies, and offers degrees on the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
Delivering a comprehensive professional education that will prepare allied-health graduates to make a difference in the health of the region, state, and nation was the primary reason for the creation of the College of Allied Health Sciences and its departments. Fueled by the growth and aging of our population, the demand for these highly skilled specialists is expected to greatly increase as health care continues to be a priority for our citizens.
What You Will Study
Program Coordinator: Guyla Evans (3410-B Health Sciences Building; 252-744-6063; evansgu15@ecu.edu)
Clinical laboratory scientists, also known as medical laboratory scientists or medical technologists, are hands-on scientists who provide accurate, timely diagnostic test results that directly impact patient care. These professionals perform biochemical testing of blood and body fluids, culture microbial pathogens, operate high-tech instrumentation, and prepare blood products for transfusion.
Admission into the professional phase of the program is competitive. A minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA in biology and chemistry courses is required, and majors must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA in all clinical laboratory science (CLSC) courses during the professional phase of the curriculum. A student earning a D (1.0) in any of the CLSC courses must petition the Department of Clinical Laboratory Science for probationary continuation. Graduates are eligible for national certification.
The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:
Core Requirements:
1. General education requirements including those listed below - 40 s.h.
(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)
- CHEM 1150 - General Chemistry I
- CHEM 1151 - General Chemistry Laboratory I
- CHEM 1160 - General Chemistry II
- MATH 1065 - College Algebra
- MATH 2228 - Elementary Statistical Methods I OR
- PSYC 2101 - Psychological Statistics
2. Core - 50 s.h.
- CLSC 3410 - Hematology I
- CLSC 3411 - Hematology I Laboratory
- CLSC 3420 - Hematology II
- CLSC 3421 - Hematology II Laboratory
- CLSC 3430 - Clinical Immunology
- CLSC 3440 - Clinical Microscopy and Serology
- CLSC 3441 - Clinical Microscopy and Serology Laboratory
- CLSC 4210 - Immunohematology
- CLSC 4211 - Immunohematology Laboratory
- CLSC 4430 - Clinical Chemistry I
- CLSC 4431 - Clinical Chemistry I Laboratory
- CLSC 4440 - Clinical Chemistry II
- CLSC 4441 - Clinical Chemistry II Laboratory
- CLSC 4460 - Clinical Bacteriology
- CLSC 4461 - Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory
- CLSC 4470 - Clinical Mycology, Parasitology, and Other Microorganisms
- CLSC 4471 - Clinical Mycology, Parasitology, and Other Microorganisms Laboratory
- CLSC 4491 - Molecular Diagnostics in Clinical Laboratory Science I
- CLSC 4492 - Molecular Diagnostics in Clinical Laboratory Science II
- CLSC 4801 - Professional Practice Issues I
- CLSC 4802 - Professional Practice Issues II
- CLSC 4992 - Clinical Education: Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis
- CLSC 4993 - Clinical Education: Chemistry
- CLSC 4994 - Clinical Education: Blood Bank and Serology
- CLSC 4997 - Clinical Education: Microbiology
3. Cognates - 17 s.h.
- BIOL 1150 - Principles of Biology: A Human Approach
- BIOL 1151 - Principles of Biology: A Human Approach Discussion
- BIOL 2110 - Fundamentals of Microbiology
- BIOL 2111 - Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory
- BIOL 2130 - Survey of Human Physiology and Anatomy
- CHEM 1130 - Organic and Biochemistry for the Allied Health Sciences
- CHEM 1161 - General Chemistry Laboratory II
4. Electives to complete requirements for graduation.
For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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