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Bachelor of Science Degree
 Clinical Laboratory Sciences

The Clinical Laboratory Science Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 5600 N River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018; 773-714-8880.

Purpose

The purpose of the baccalaureate degree program in clinical laboratory sciences (CLS) is to provide cognizant and adept scientists capable of competing and excelling in today's progressive job market. Graduates of this program will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful in the CLS profession and will be eligible to take the national certification examination offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), and/or the National Certification Agency (NCA) for Medical Laboratory Personnel. 

Program Goals

The purpose is further defined in the following goals:

  1. Admit, retain and graduate a diverse population of academically qualified students.
  2. Provide a high quality educational experience which imparts to the students the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure success as clinical laboratory professionals.
  3. Provide the healthcare community with knowledgeable and skilled entry-level practitioners.
  4. Promote within the classroom and encourage in the clinical setting the development of: a) Franciscan values as defined by the OLOL College mission statement and Ex Corde Ecclesiae, and b) professional ethics and conduct according to the standards of the profession and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Healthcare Services.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to:

  1. Analyze and evaluate discipline-specific case studies, accurately interpreting the results of laboratory testing.
  2. Apply knowledge of basic and advanced laboratory science concepts and theories to the practice of clinical laboratory medicine.
  3. Competently perform manual and automated laboratory science procedures as an entry-level practitioner.
  4. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills within academic and clinical settings.
  5. Demonstrate Franciscan values and professional ethics/conduct within academic and clinical settings.

Program Admission Requirements

The applicant must meet the following minimum requirements for admission to the CLS bachelor's degree program:

  1. Requirements for acceptance into the program are the same as for acceptance to OLOL College (See the Admissions section of this catalog for more information); and
  2. Completion of the general education requirements with a grade of "C" or better (See CLS Curriculum Plan below).

Program Admission Process

Admission decisions for clinical programs are made in a manner consistent with the College’s policy on admission and with the "application to selective admission program" statement. The program will look carefully at a number of factors that have been determined generally to be good indicators of success in the program. Although these factors are not absolute prerequisites (the policy states that "no single factor shall automatically preclude admission), they are considered carefully in making admission decisions and a student is strongly encouraged to plan his/her academic work and other activities with them in mind.

Entrance into the CLS program is competitive, and the academic course work within the clinical program itself is very demanding. The prerequisite general education requirements provide a necessary academic foundation. The applicant's performance in such prerequisite coursework is an indicator of the applicant's potential for success within the clinical program. Priority is given to applicants who have completed the prerequisite course work at a level which indicates their potential for success in the program, and who have provided evidence of understanding the demands of the profession.

Program Application

  1. All interested students must meet with the program director before program application packets may be obtained.
  2. Applications for admission to the Clinical Laboratory Science Program must be submitted by March 15.

After acceptance, students must pass a criminal background check to meet clinical agency requirements, and final program acceptance may be contingent upon background check results. Information on the procedure for completing the criminal background check is in the student health packet distributed by the Office of Health and Campus Safety.

Requirements for Graduation

The Bachelor of Science degree in CLS is conferred upon students when the following conditions are met, in addition to the general requirements for graduation:

1.   Completion of 123-127 semester credit hours, including the required core curriculum, program prerequisites and program courses

2.   A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher on all college work with grades

 of C or better in all courses leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in CLS.         

  1. Fulfillment of the residency requirement of OLOL College (36 credit hours)                            

Certification

Students successfully completing the program are eligible to take the national certification examination. Graduation from OLOL College and the CLS Program is not dependent upon taking or passing a national certification examination. However, obtaining state licensure and employment is dependent on passing a national certification examination.

Applications for national certification examinations are available on-line from ASCP and NCA: www.ascp.org  and www.nca-info.org

Licensure

Graduates of the CLS program who wish to work in the State of Louisiana must obtain a temporary license from the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME - www.lsbme.louisiana.gov) immediately upon graduation. A permanent license to practice as a CLS-Generalist will not be issued until the graduate has passed one of the national certification examinations.

Upon application for licensure, applicants will be required to declare whether they have ever been arrested or convicted of a felony, and will be subject to criminal background searches which may disqualify them from obtaining state licensure.

Curriculum Plan for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Transfer credit for arts and science courses from other institutions and credit-by-examination will be accepted according to OLOL College policy. Clinical laboratory technicians that have completed an associate degree CLT program at a regionally-accredited institution will be given transfer credit for CLSC 1110, 1115 and other appropriate CLS coursework.

Interested persons with baccalaureate degrees in science or a related field should contact the Clinical Laboratory Science Program director regarding admission and curriculum requirements.  Note:  students entering the CLS program in Summer, 2009 will follow the General Education Requirements published in the 2008-09 Catalog and the program requirements listed below. 

Curriculum Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Core Curriculum

  • ACSM 1110 - Academic Seminar (1 hr)
  • ENGL 1310 - English I (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 1311 - English II (3 hrs)
  • SPCH 1310 - Interpersonal Communication (3 hrs)
  • MATH 1315 - College Algebra (3 hrs)
  • MATH 2315 - General Studies (3 hrs)
  • Humanities - Electives (2) - Must include History and one chosen from Art, English, History, Language, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy (6 hrs)
  • RELS 1310 - Introduction to Theology (3 hrs)
  • PHIL 2315 or 2320 - Current Moral Problems/Ethical Issue in Healthcare
  • Social/Behavioral Science- Electives (3) - Three classes chosen from Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Civics (9 hrs)
  • BIOL 1315 or 2310 - General Biology I or Anatomy and Physiology I (3 hrs)
  • CHEM 1315 - Fundamentals of Chemistry (3 hrs)
  • CHEM 1315 L - Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (1 hr)

Total (44 Credit Hours)

Program Prerequisites

  • BIOL 1316 or 2311 - General Biology II or Anatomy and Physiology (3 hrs)
  • BIOL 2325 - Fundamentals of Microbiology (3 hrs)
  • BIOL 2325L - Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory (1 hr)
  • BIOL >3000 - BIOL elective (3 hrs)
  • BIOL >3000 - BIOL elective (3 hrs)
  • CHEM 1316 - Fundamentals of Chemistry II (3 hrs)
  • CHEM 1316L - Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (1 hr)
  • CHEM 2310 - General Organic Chemistry I (3 hrs)
  • CLSC 1110 - Introduction to Medical Laboratory Sciences (1 hr)
  • CLSC 1310 - Introduction to Laboratory Methods (1 hr)

Total (22 Credit Hours)

Clinical Program Sequence                                                                                            

  • CLSC 3710 - Urinalysis and Body Fluids (1 hr)
  • CLSC 3710L - Urinalysis and Body Fluids Laboratory (1 hr)
  • CLSC 3715 - Mycology, Parasitology, and Virology (2 hrs)
  • CLSC 3720 - Clinical Immunology and Serology (3 hrs)
  • CLSC 3725 - Immunohematology (3 hrs)
  • CLSC 3725L - Immunohematology Laboratory (1 hr)
  • CLSC 3730 - Clinical Biochemistry I (3 hrs)
  • CLSC 3730L - Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory (1 hr)
  • CLSC 3740 - Clinical Hematology I (3 hrs)
  • CLSC 3740L - Clinical Hematology Laboratory (1 hr)
  • CLSC 3750- Clinical Bacteriology (3 hrs)
  • CLSC 3750L - Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory (1 hr)
  • CLSC 4730 - Clinical Biochemistry (3 hrs)
  • CLSC 4740 - Hematology II (3 hrs)
  • CLSC 4750 - Clinical Bacteriology II (2 hrs)
  • CLSC 4760 - Molecular Diagnostics and Medical Genetics (2 hrs)
  • CLSC 4765 - Clinical Diagnosis Laboratory (2 hrs)
  • CLSC 4770 - Laboratory Education and Research (2 hrs)
  • CLSC 4775 - Laboratory Management (2 hrs)
  • CLSC 4910 - Seminar (2 hrs)

Practica for students without an Associate Degree in CLS

  • CLSC 4785 - Immunohematology Practicum (1-5 hrs)
  • CLSC 4786 - Clinical Chemistry Practicum (1-5 hrs)
  • CLSC 4787 - Hematology Practicum (1-5 hrs)
  • CLSC 4788 - Clinical Microbiology Practicum (1-5 hrs)

Practica for students with an Associate Degree in CLS

  • *CLSC 4795 - Immunohematology Articulation Practicum (2 hrs)
  • *CLSC 4796 - Clinical Chemistry Articulation Practicum (2 hrs)
  • *CLSC 4797 - Hematology Articulation Practicum (3 hrs)
  • *CLSC 4798 - Clinical Microbiology Articulation Practicum (3 hrs)

Total (57-61 Credit Hours)

Total for Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (123-127 Credit Hours)