Clinical Laboratory Sciences Cooperative Degree Program Bachelor of Science (BS) to Master of Science (MS) in Medical Laboratory Sciences

Admission Requirements

Download: Admissions Self Appraisal Checklist (.docx)

• Have 60 semester credit hours of prerequisite course work (or be in the process of completing the prerequisite requirements). Application procedures may be initiated upon completion of 30 semester hours of college work.
• Present a minimum overall 3.0 GPA and a 3.0 GPA in science courses on a 4.0 scale.
  
• Submit three letters of recommendation. One letter of recommendation must be from your advisor at your college.
• International applicants will be considered. Applicants from non-English speaking countries must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score.

Applicants holding baccalaureate degrees in other fields may enroll in the Medical Laboratory Sciences curriculum and work toward a second baccalaureate degree, provided the prerequisites have been completed prior to matriculation.

With departmental approval, non-degree-seeking students may be enrolled in Medical Laboratory Sciences courses. Non-degree-seeking students who desire degree-seeking status must be competitive with other applicants. In addition to successfully fulfilling all other criteria in the application process, these students must have earned a minimum of "C" in all Medical Laboratory Sciences courses in which they have been enrolled.

Additional Admission Information

• Admission to the professional phase of the program is determined by the CLS Admissions Committee. (Must meet the Technical Standards.)
• As a condition of admission, all matriculating students must complete a security background check, at cost to the student. Information will be sent to you about this background check after you are granted admission to the program.
• Classes begin in the Fall Term for on-campus students. Distance (MLT) students may begin the program in any semester, though not all courses are offered every semester.

Application Process

To be considered for acceptance into the UTMB BSMLS Program, the applicant must:

1. Complete the application (submit online). You must also include the following items:
   1. the required application fee
   2. your signed and dated supporting statement
   3. if you are an ASCP certified MLT, please indicate this fact in your supporting statement
2. Send transcripts from all previously attended universities and colleges.
   1. Applicants are requested to have their transcripts sent to AHCAS.  Electronic submission greatly expedites processing and improves the accuracy of transcript evaluation.
   2. Provide foreign transcripts evaluation information, such as WES or ECE.
3. Include three (3) references* (name and email address) MUST be listed in the application prior to submission
4. Complete personal interviews with the faculty of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

* Reference letter forms should be completed by individuals who can evaluate your work and professional ethics, study habits, and classroom/laboratory outcomes. These individuals may include a faculty member, teaching assistant, or work supervisor. If you have volunteer experience in the field of health care, the volunteer coordinator who supervised your experience may be able to complete the form.

Essential Functions

The medical laboratory scientist must possess scientific curiosity and good judgment. Patience and thoroughness are necessary to perform test with precision. However, when necessary, the medical laboratory scientist must be able to work quickly without sacrificing precision. Also important to the scientist are an interest in technical instrumentation, manual dexterity, the ability to concentrate and normal eyesight. The scientist must possess communication and interpersonal skills to interact with patients and other member of the health care team.

• Manual Dexterity and Fine Motor Skills
• Mobility
• Vision
• Hearing
• Communication
• Intellectual
• Behavioral

Manual Dexterity and Fine Motor Skills

1. Maneuver equipment to safely collect valid laboratory specimens from patients
2. Control laboratory equipment (i.e. pipettes, inoculating loops, test tubes) and adjust instruments to perform laboratory procedures
3. Use a computer keyboard to operate laboratory instruments and to calculate, record, evaluate and transmit laboratory information

Mobility

1. Move freely and safely about a laboratory
2. Reach laboratory bench tops and shelves, patients lying in hospital beds or patients seated in specimen collection chairs
3. Perform moderately taxing continuous physical work, often requiring prolonged sitting, over several hours use a computer keyboard to operate laboratory instruments and to calculate, record, evaluate and transmit laboratory information

Vision

1. Observe laboratory demonstrations in which biological specimens (i.e. body fluids, culture materials) are analyzed for their biochemical, hematological, cytologic, immunologic and microbiological components
2. Characterize the color, odor, clarity and viscosity of biological specimens, reagents or chemical reaction products
3. Operate a clinical grade binocular microscope to discriminate among fine structural and color differences of microscopic specimens, to include hue, shading and intensity
4. Read and comprehend text, numbers and graphs displayed in print and on a video monitor

Hearing

1. ability to adapt with assistive devices as needed in order to communicate understandably in English (i.e. phone receivers, hearing aid, etc.)

Communication

1. Ability to verbally communicate understandably in English
2. Ability to communicate effectively in the written form of English
3. Ability to read, comprehend and follow directions printed in English

Intellectual

1. Possess the following intellectual skills: comprehension, measurement, mathematical calculation, reasoning, integration, analysis, comparison, self-expression and critical thinking

Behavioral

1. Provide technical and professional services while working within stresses of time constraints, emergency demands, ambiguous test ordering, ambivalent test interpretation, unpleasant biological specimens and distracting environment
2. Be willing to adapt to technical change
3. Recognize potentially hazardous materials, equipment and situation and follow safety procedures in order to minimize risk to patients, self and nearby individuals
4. Support and promote activities of fellow students and other health care professionals
5. Exhibit honesty, compassion, ethical and responsible behaviors to include:
   1. being forthright about errors or uncertainty
   2. being able to critically evaluate self-performance
   3. being able to accept constructive criticism
   4. seeking professionally and personally enriching activities

International Students

Applicants whose tertiary-level education has been completed at international institutions in a non-English speaking country must meet the following requirements, in addition to providing the credentials for their prospective program:

• Take and score satisfactorily on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if the native language is not English. A minimum satisfactory score is a total of 550 for the TOEFL PBT (or a minimum score of 79 on the TOEFL iBT (internet based)) or 6.5 for IELTS; however, TOEFL or IELTS score requirements are one of the many criteria of a student's admission, and the requirement could vary based upon previous education, GPA, and related factors. Test of Spoken English is recommended for applicants to the BSMLS program
• Submit an acceptable English translation with the transcripts if the transcripts are not in English. If the degree is not indicated on transcript, a copy of the diploma and/or certificate issued by the school is required.

Please review a summary of the TOEFL Requirements for International Students.

Prerequisite Courses

To enter the MLS Program at UTMB, a student must complete a minimum of 60 semester credit hours of preparatory coursework. After the completion of approximately two years of medical laboratory education at UTMB, in addition to the 60 hours of prerequisites, the student graduates with a Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences.

Interested individuals may request an exploratory meeting with the MLS admissions coordinator by emailing unofficial transcripts with your Name, Address and Phone number and the name of the program to the following email address CLS Admissions.

Prerequisite Courses

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Total Prerequisite Credit Hours: 36

Biology and chemistry science courses must be for science majors and include laboratories.

1. Anatomy and Physiology II or Human Physiology will be required to satisfy 3 hours of Physiology.
2. The mathematics course must be college algebra or higher.
3. Students are strongly encouraged to take courses in genetics and statistics to satisfy their elective prerequisites.
4. All labs sessions must be completed on campus. Online/virtual labs will not be accepted.
5. Biochemistry and Immunology are prerequisites but may be completed while in the UTMB MLS Master's program.

• Up to 6 credit hours of prerequisites can be withstanding upon entry with the exception of Mathematics, Sciences, or English/Speech prerequisite courses and all need to be completed by the fall prior to graduation

A grade of 'C' or higher is required to satisfy any prerequisite.

Visit the Texas General Education Core Web Center for more information about core curriculum requirements for Texas institutions of higher education.

University Partners

Visit the links below to view each university's curriculum.

• University of Houston-Clear Lake
• St. Edwards University
• Texas A&M Galveston
• University of North Texas
• University of St. Thomas Houston