The Division of Biological and Physical Sciences offers all the prerequisite courses needed for admission to clinical laboratory sciences programs (CLS). Listed below are some of the questions students often ask about preparation for CLS. The answers to these questions are based primarily on admission requirements for the CLS program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson, but most of these questions apply equally well to other CLS programs. For more detailed information on CLS at UMMC, visit the School of Health Realated Professions.
This FAQ is currently quite brief, but new questions are added regularly. If your question is not answered here, please contact Dr. Tiftickjian, the CLS advisor, by email or in person. New questions will be answered and added to this FAQ.
For more informaiton, see the suggested curriculum for pre-clinical lab sciences.
Admission requirements
What is a clinical laboratory scientist?
The clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) functions in multiple roles including: performing and evaluating diagnostic procedures on body fluids, developing new procedures, supervising biomedical research projects, consulting, managing clinical and research laboratory departments, and implementing laboratory information systems. The major areas of interest are hematology, microbiology, clinical chemistry,What is the difference between a clinical laboratory scientist and a medical technologist?
How does clinical laboratory science differ from medical technology?
Both terms refer to the same field. The profession has just changed its name from medical technology to clinical laboratory science to better define itself. The term clinical laboratory scientist is more descriptive of the work actually performed.
How long does it take to be trained as a CLS?
CLS at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) is a 2+2 program. This means that you need about 2 years of basic college prerequisite courses to meet the admission requirements. Once admitted to the CLS program at UMMC, it takes 2 additional years to complete the program. Other bachelor's level programs outside of Mississippi are similar.
When does the CLS program begin at UMMC?
May
What is the application due date for UMMC?
Applications become available during July of the previous year, but the application deadline can vary from year to year. Check the website for the current deadline.
I am not a Mississippi resident, but I am planning to apply to UMMC. What are my chances of being admitted?
Preference is given to applicants who are legal residents of Mississippi. Out of state applicants will be considered only if there are positions available after all qualified Mississippi applicants are accepted. (Basically, this means that only Mississippi residents will be admitted.)
How competitive is admission to CLS programs?
All health profession programs are very competitive. More qualified students apply each year than can be accepted into the program. To give yourself a good chance of getting accepted, you need to work hard to maintain a high GPA starting from your first semester of college work.
What factors are used to decide who is accepted?
Most important are overall GPA, GPA in prerequisite courses, related work or volunteer experience, and extracurricular activities.
What is the minimum GPA needed for acceptance to CLS school?
It varies from school to school. As examples: UMMC states a minimum GPA of 2.00. However, keep in mind that the average GPA of those that are accepted is significantly higher. So to be competitive, you must have a GPA of at least 3.0, and usually, significantly higher.
How do CLS schools calculate your GPA?
Most professional schools calculate your overall GPA as one factor and your GPA on specific prerequisite courses as a second factor. That is, they use both your overall GPA and your GPA on just the prerequisite courses to determine your academic qualifications. You overall GPA is important, but you should also strive to do the best you can in your prerequisite courses.
What are the prerequisite courses needed for admission to CLS at UMMC?
English composition, 2 courses
Humanities and fine arts, 3 courses
Social/behavioral science, 2 courses
General biology, 2 courses
Microbiology, 1 course
Biology elective, 1 course
General chemistry, 2 courses
College algebra, 1 course
Enough electives to give 58 hours total
These are the minimum requirements. Study the other questions in this FAQ, and talk to your advisor for more details on each of these prerequisites. Be sure to download the detailed curriculum list for this program from the DSU sciences website.
Does admission to CLS require observation time?
No. However, shadowing experience is desirable, and any experience in the health fields will strengthen your application. Try to arrange with one or more clinical laboratories to do some informal observation time.
Is an interview required?
No. Unlike many health related programs, an interview is not required. However, it is to your advantage to visit the campuses of programs you are considering applying to. You will learn more from an on-site tour than you can from just reading about the program.
Prerequisite courses
Are minimum grades required in prerequisite courses?
Yes. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Can non-majors science courses count for CLS prerequisites?
No. Courses such as BIO 110, CHE 110, PHY 110, and PHY 205 will not count toward the prerequisites. These courses are designed for non-science majors and are not acceptable.
Can I take courses at a community or junior college?
Yes, all courses required pre-CLS courses are at the 100-200 level, which are offered at 2-year colleges. Keep in mind, however, that once you start your science coursework at DSU, you should take all required sciences at DSU. This is because courses are structured as part of an overall curriculum. Taking a "mix and match" approach can present problems, and CLS schools may question why you did not take all prerequisites at the same institution. It is a mistake to take some courses at a community college just because you think they may be "easier." One advantage of taking your prerequisites at Delta State is that we offer upper-level science courses which are recommended as electives for the pre-CLS curriculum. Community colleges cannot offer upper-level courses.
Is a bachelor's degree required for admission?
No. Applicants with a degree, however, are certainly encouraged to apply.
When should I take the science perquisites?
You must have completed at least 12 hours of the required science courses before you submit your application. Typically you submit your application in the Fall semester for the upcoming admission cycle beginning the following May. So you should complete at least 12 hours of science in your first two semesters (freshman year). If you follow our recommended program of study, you will complete general biology I and II and general chemistry I and II in the first year. This gives you at least 18 hours of science before you begin your sophomore year.
Must I complete all the prerequisite courses before the application deadline?
No. However, you must plan to have all courses completed by the start date of the program.
Which courses count as humanities and fine arts?
You may choose from art, history, literature, languages, music, philosophy, religion, or theater.
Which courses count as social and behavioral sciences?
You may choose from anthropology, economics, sociology, political science, or psychology.
Does it matter whether my science courses have a laboratory?
You may take some science courses that do not have a laboratory component as part of your electives, but general chemistry, general biology, and microbiology must have lab components. CLS is a laboratory career, so obviously the more lab experience you get, the better.
Would it be to my advantage to take more science courses than the minimum required?
Yes. The advanced science courses of a CLS program are difficult. Students need a strong background to be successful in professional school. Remember that the CLS program will be more challenging than your undergraduate coursework.
Which courses should I take as electives?
At least one elective course must be in the biological sciences above the level of general biology. Good choices are cell biology, genetics, and anatomy/physiology. Other good electives are additional math courses, such as calculus or statistics; computer applications; and management.
I had to retake a prerequisite course because I made a D the first time. Will this hurt my chances?
It will be a disadvantage, although it won't eliminate you from consideration if the majority of your science grades, especially the most recent ones, are excellent. All grades are used to compute your GPA. Repeated course grades are averaged, not dropped, so retaking a course does not improve your overall GPA as much as you might think. Of course, if you have a grade below a C in a required prerequisite course, that course must be repeated.
The clinical laboratory science program
Can I attend CLS school part-time?
No (at least for most schools). CLS programs are generally full-time only.
Will I be able to work while attending CLS school?
The best answer is: No. Like other health professional programs, CLS is a very demanding. Most students find it difficult to work while pursuing this program. Experience points to a high correlation between working and difficulty in progressing through the program.
Are there any 2-year CLS programs nearby?
There are several 2-year medical laboratory programs provided by Mississippi community colleges. These programs lead to associate degrees, after which you take a national licensing exam. Examples of community colleges that offer these programs are: Mississippi Delta Community College, Pearl River Community College, Hinds Community College, and MS Gulf Coast Community College.
Is there any advantage to a 4-year program (like UMMC) over the 2-year programs?
Yes. Upon completion of a 4-year program, you are awarded a bachelor's degree. Having that degree may improve your chances for advancement once you enter the CLS field.
Where can I find more information?
The best place to start is the School of Health Related Professions (SHRP) website at: http://shrp.umc.edu/CLS. SHRP also offers programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, dental hygiene, radiologic sciences, and others. You might want to investigate those programs as well.
Delta State University > DSU Sciences > Faculty > Dr. Tiftickjian > Clinical Laboratory Sciences FAQ