DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

1997-1998 Bulletin Information

For current bulletin information see www.southalabama.edu/bulletin

Chair: William J. Korzun (434-3461)
Medical Advisor: William A. Gardner, Jr.
Associate Professor: Korzun
Assistant Professor: Geissler
Clinical Associate Professor: Hall
Clinical Assistant Professor: Barrett
Adjunct Associate Professor: Ludvigsen
Adjunct Clinical Faculty: Brown, Bru, Bryant, Grover, Jenkins, McRoyan, Penick, Stuardi, White

The Department of Medical Technology prepares graduates for careers in the clinical laboratory sciences. Most graduates work in hospital laboratories, performing analyses on blood, various body fluids, and tissues to detect and identify diseases and monitor therapies. The curriculum requires extensive preparation in science and quantitative skills. Completion of the program results in a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology and eligibility to challenge any of several national certification and state licensure examinations. The Medical Technology Program is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

The program is organized in a 2+2 format, consisting of two years (pre-professional component) of general preparation in math, science and liberal arts courses, followed by seven quarters (professional component) of advance biomedical and medical technology courses. Enrollment in the preprofessional component as a medical technology major does not automatically assure acceptance in the professional component. A limited number of students are admitted each Spring to the professional component.

The Senior Year consists of four consecutive quarters beginning with the summer term following the Junior Year. The senior year calendar varies considerably from the normal University calendar. The last 28 weeks of the senior year comprise the clinical practice curriculum. Students are assigned to University teaching hospitals for clinical practica. Courses meet each day for the indicated number of weeks. Two elective rotations (MT 490) are selected by the student, in consultation with departmental faculty, based on the student's interests and on availability of the clinical site and personnel.

Admission to the Professional Component
Students are urged to obtain academic advice early and often while taking lower division pre-professional courses. The Academic Advisor for the College (380-2772) can help with routine matters on campus. Specific questions about Medical Technology and professional course equivalents should be directed to the Chair of the Department.

Successful completion of preprofessional courses (freshman and sophomore years) as a medical technology major does not guarantee admission to the professional phase (junior and senior years). Students must complete a special application for admission to the Professional Component. Application forms can be requested by writing the Department of Medical Technology, University of South Alabama, Mobile AL 36604-3273 or by telephone, (334)434-3461. Application deadline is March 15. Interviews will be scheduled during April and notification of admission to the junior year will be made by May 31. Late applications to the program (after March 15) may 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, General Chemistry, Mathematics and Statistics; 2) overall grade-point average; and 3) interview with faculty to assess candidate's aptitude for the program and the profession.

In order to be considered for admission to the Professional Component of the Medical Technology Program, students must meet the following criteria:

  1. The following preprofessional courses must be completed by the end of the Winter Quarter in which the application for admission is submitted:
    BLY 141, 142
    CH 114, 115
    MA 171
    ST 175
  2. The student must have a cumulative G.P.A. for all college courses of 2.40 or higher and a G.P.A. in BLY 141, 142, CH 114, 115, and MA 171, ST 175 of 2.40 or higher.
  3. ALL pre-professional requirements must be completed prior to the beginning of the Fall Quarter of the Junior year. Students may not defer pre-professional prerequisites to the Junior year.

Failure to meet these criteria will disqualify an applicant from the Professional Component of the program for that year. Such an individual must reapply for admission to the Professional Program for the following year.

Requirements for a Major in Medical Technology
Successful completion of 197 quarter hours of pre-professional and professional course work are required for the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology as listed below:

  1. I. Pre-Professional Component
    (87 quarter hours)
    General Biology BLY 141, 142 			9 qtr hours 
    Microbiology BMD 210 				4 qtr hours 
    General Chemistry CH 114,115,116 	       15 qtr hours 
    Quantitative Analysis CH 266 			5 qtr hours 
    College Algebra 				4 qtr hours 
       MA 171 or higher course 
    Statistics ST 175 				4 qtr hours 
    Computer Science 				4 qtr hours 
    Communication Arts 				4 qtr hours 
       CA 110 or CA 211 as recommended 
    English CH 101, 102 				8 qtr hours 
    Fine Arts 					4 qtr hours 
    Humanities PHL 333 recommended 			8 qtr hours 
    Social Sciences 			       12 qtr hours 
    Physical Education 				6 qtr hours 
       PE, ROTC and certain health education courses 

    NOTE: Biology 141, 142 and Chemistry 114, 115 must be completed before enrolling in BMD 331. BMD 331 must be completed prior to enrollment in BMD 370. BMD 370 is a prerequisite for BMD 380. BMD 210 and BMD 331 and 332 are prerequisites for BMD 341. The sequence of prerequisite science courses requires careful planning.

  2. Professional Component
    (110 quarter hours)
    Human Physiology BMD 331, 332 			 9 qtr hours 
    Pathophysiology BMD 341 			 5 qtr hours 
    Immunology and Virology BMD 370 		 5 qtr hours 
    Medical Microbiology BMD 380 			 5 qtr hours 
    MT courses 					86 qtr hours       
    MT 330, 315, 340, 350, 410, 420, 431, 
    432, 435, 440, 441, 445, 452, 454, 455, 490 
    Special Fees 
    A special course fee is assessed in each of the following courses:
    MT 315 Research Methodology 			$ 20.00 
    MT 330 Clinical Laboratory Analysis (W) 	  20.00 
    MT 340 Physiological Chemistry 			  30.00 
    MT 350 Clinical Parasitology & Mycology 	  20.00 
    MT 394 Directed Study 				  20.00 
    MT 410 Clinical Microbiology 			 100.00 
    MT 420 Hematology 				  50.00 
    MT 431 Clinical Chemistry & Instrumentation 	  70.00 
    MT 432 Immunohematology 			  60.00 

MODEL CURRICULUM GUIDE
PRE-PROFESSIONAL COMPONENT
Freshman Year (44 quarter hours)

Fall 
BLY 141 Gen Biology I 			4 
CH 114 	Gen Chemistry I 		5 
EH 101 	Comp I 				4 
	PE or ROTC 			1 
				       14 

Winter 
BLY 142 Gen Biology II 			5 
CH 115 	Gen Chemistry II 		5 
EH 102 	Comp II 			4 
	PE or ROTC 			1 
				       15 

Spring 
MA 171  College Algebra 		4 
CH 116  General Chemistry III 		5 
	Humanities Elective 		4 
 	PE or ROTC 			2 
				       15 

Sophomore Year (43 quarter hours) 
Fall 
ST 175 	Basic Statistics 		4 
	Communications Elective 	4 
	Social Sciences Elective 	4 
	PE or ROTC 			1 
				       13 

Winter 
CH 266 	Intro Analysis 			5 
	Humanities Elective 		4 
	Social Sciences Elective 	4 
	PE or ROTC 			1 
				       14 

Spring 
BMD 210 Infect Disease 			4 
	Computer Science Elective  	4 
	Social Sciences Elective 	4 
	Fine Arts 			4 
				       16 

Junior Year (41 quarter hours) 
Fall 
BMD 331 Physiology I 			5 
MT 340 	Physiological Chemistry 	5 
MT 315 	Research Method 		2 
				       12 

Winter 
BMD 332 Physiology II 			4 
BMD 370 Immunol/Virology 		5 
MT 330 	Clin Lab Analysis 		5 
				       14 

Spring 
BMD 341 Pathophysiology 		5 
MT 350 	Parasit/Mycol 			5 
BMD 380 Med Microbiology 		5 
				       15 

Senior Year (69 quarter hours) 
Summer & Fall Quarters* 
MT 410 	Clin Microbiology 	       10 
MT 420 	Hematology 			9 
MT 431 	Clin Chemistry 			9 
MT 432 	Immunohematology 		8 
				       36 

Winter & Spring Quarters** 
MT 440 	Hematology Prac 		5 
MT 441 	Immunology Prac 		3 
MT 445 	Clin Microbio Prac 		7 
MT 452 	Immunohemo Prac 		5 
MT 454 	Clin Chemistry Prac 		7 
MT 455 	Body Fluids Prac 		1 
MT 490 	Elective Rotations 		2 
MT 435 	Lab Management 			3 
				       33 
* Course sequence is different each year. 
** Course sequence is different for each student; arranged by the Department. 

NOTE: The senior year of the professional component which consists of four consecutive quarters, commencing with the summer quarter following the junior year, varies from the University calendar.

DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY (MT) COURSES BEGIN ON PAGE 279.

College of Allied Health Professions