Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences

DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES

Chair: Holly K. Hall (251) 434-3461

Medical Advisor: J. Allan Tucker

Associate Professor: Hall

Assistant Professor: Carliss

Clinical Assistant Professors: Barrett, Ravine

Adjunct Associate Professor: Aliabadi

Adjunct Clinical Faculty: Cale, Engels, Gale, McRoyan, Miller, Stuardi, White

Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences web site
http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/cls/

The Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences prepares graduates for careers in the clinical laboratory sciences, involving the performance of laboratory tests used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the maintenance of health. Most graduates work in hospital laboratories in Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Immunohematology and Microbiology, performing analyses on blood, various body fluids, and tissues. Clinical laboratory scientists help diagnose conditions such as diabetes, anemias, infectious disease and blood transfusion compatibility. The curriculum is designed to provide a broad education in the humanities and social sciences, extensive preparation in basic math and sciences followed by strong, in-depth study of the various clinical laboratory sciences. Completion of the program results in a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and eligibility to challenge any of several national certification and state licensure examinations.

The program is organized in a 2+2 format, consisting of a 2-year pre-professional component and a 2-year professional component. The pre-professional component (freshman and sophomore years) consists of 64 units of prescribed general preparation and elective studies. The professional component (junior and senior years) comprises 5 semesters of advanced biomedical and clinical laboratory science course work. Enrollment in or successful completion of the pre-professional component as a clinical laboratory sciences major does not automatically assure acceptance in the professional component. A limited number of students are admitted each Spring to the professional component which begins in the fall semester.

The Senior Year consists of three consecutive semesters (12 months) beginning with the summer term following the junior year. The senior year calendar varies considerably from the normal University calendar. Twenty-eight weeks of the senior year comprise the clinical practica in the University teaching hospitals under supervision of clinical instructors. Students gain skills and confidence necessary for the entry-level professional. The students return to the University classroom for the final 5 weeks of the program for clinical correlation studies and certification examination review. During this time students evaluate case studies and practice advanced problem solving skills in preparation for national certification examinations.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL COMPONENT

Students are urged to obtain academic advice early and often while taking lower division pre-professional courses. Specific questions about Clinical Laboratory Sciences and professional course equivalents should be directed to the Chair of the Department.

All candidates for admission to the professional component must complete 2 years of pre-professional course work prior to entry into the program. Students must submit a special application for admission to the Professional Component. Application forms can be requested by writing the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of South Alabama, 1504 Springhill Avenue, Room 2309, Mobile AL 36604-3273 or by telephone, (251)434-3461, or on the Allied Health Application deadline is February 1. Interviews will be scheduled during March and notification of admission to the professional component will be made by May 1. Late applications to the program (after February 1) will be considered if positions are available.

Students are selected by various criteria that predict probability of success as a laboratory professional. Selection criteria include: 1) Science/Mathematics grade-point average to include course work in General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, General Chemistry, Mathematics and Statistics; 2) overall grade-point average; and 3) interview with faculty to assess candidates’ aptitude for the program and the profession.

In order to be considered for admission to the Professional Component of the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program, students must meet the following criteria:

1.	The following pre-professional courses should be completed by the end of the fall semester in which the application for admission is submitted: BLY 121, MA 112, BMD 210, ST 210, CH 131, 132, CLS 114.
2.	The student must have a cumulative GPA for all college courses of 2.40 or higher and a GPA in BLY 121, MA 112, BMD 210, ST 210, CH 131, 132, CLS 114 of 2.40 or higher.
3.	ALL pre-professional requirements must be completed prior to the beginning of the fall semester of the junior year. Students may not defer pre-professional prerequisites to the junior year.
4.	The student must be in good academic standing to begin the Professional Phase of the Program. (See ACADEMIC STATUS, in the section titled ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES). Senior didactic courses (CLS 410, CLS 420, CLS 431 and CLS 432) must be completed at USA to receive a B.S. degree in CLS. )

Failure to meet these criteria will disqualify an applicant from the professional component of the program for that year. Such an individual may reapply for admission to the professional program for the following year.

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to consider exceptional applicants who may not meet all requirements.

CORE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS are fundamental tasks and skills that are required for successful completion of the program. They have been outlined and are available from the Department upon request.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN
CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES

Successful completion of 134 semester hours of pre-professional and professional course work are required for the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences as listed:

I. Pre-professional Component

Area I - Written Composition

(6)

EH 101, EH 102

3,3

Area II - Humanities & Fine Arts

(12)

CA 110

ARH 100, ARH 103, ARH 123, ARH 240, ARH 242, ARS 101, DRA 110, MUL 101

EH 215 or EH 216 or EH 225 or EH 226 or EH 235 or EH 236

*Humanities elective (recommend PHL 131 if HY sequence chosen)

Area III - Natural Sciences & Math

(11)

MA 112

CH 131/CH 131L, CH 132/CH 132L

4,4

Area IV - History, Social & Behavioral Sciences

(12)

History elective (HY 101, HY 102, HY 135, HY 136)

*Social Science Electives (3 courses)

Area V - pre-professional, Major & Electives

(23)

BLY 121/BLY 121L

CH 201

BMD 210

ST 210

CLS 114

CLS 115

*Must complete a two-course sequence in Literature or History.

II. Professional Component

Junior Year
Fall		Spring
CIS 150	3	CLS 330	4
CLS 340	3	CLS 341	3
CLS 320	4	CLS 345	4
CLS 350	4	BMD 402	5
BMD 401	3		16
	17
Senior Year
Summer
**CLS 410	5
**CLS 420	3
	8
Fall/Spring ***
**CLS 431	3
**CLS 432	5
CLS 435	2
CLS 436	1
***CLS 440	2
***CLS 441	1
***CLS 445	2
***CLS 446	1
***CLS 452	2
***CLS 453	2
***CLS 454	1
***CLS 455	1
***CLS 490	1
CLS 495	4
CLS 496	1
	29

**Course sequence may vary each year.

***Course sequence is different for each student; arranged by the Department.

Special Fees

A special course fee is assessed in each of the following courses:

CLS 330	Serology/Immunohem	$30.00
CLS 350	Clin Parasit, Mycol, Virol	30.00
CLS 394	Directed Study	30.00
CLS 410	Clinical Microbiology	150.00
CLS 420	Hematology	75.00
CLS 431	Clinical Chem/Instrumentation	100.00
CLS 432	Immunohematology	90.00
CLS 436	Intro Research	30.00

The Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 670, Chicago, IL 60631, (773)714-8880.

DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES (CLS) COURSES

College of Allied Health Professions